The structure and role of the House of Commons and House of Lords 2.1

Question 1

what are the two reasons as to how an early general election happens (Using the Fixed-term Parliament Act)

Answer 1

• government loses a vote of no confidence ( and PM fails to form another administration in the next 14 days)
• 2/3 MPs vote for a general election to take place

Question 2

What happened to the Fixed-terms Parliament Act 2011

Answer 2

new law (Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022) meant MP can call a general election whenever they want

Question 3

what are the two ways of becoming an independent MP

Answer 3

• You come in as an independent MP
• you resign or get expulsed from Political party and have to do the rest of the term as an indepedent ( only if you get past the Recall of MPs Act)

Question 4

what percentage of MPs are known as ‘backbenchers’

Answer 4

3/4

Question 5

who are backbenchers and what are their roles

Answer 5

• MPs who do not have a ministerial or shadow- ministerial position.
• They occupy the benches in the debating chamber behind their leaders.
• Their main role is to represent their constituencies.
• They are also expected to support the leaders of their respective parties.

Question 6

how many members of the house of lords are there since 6th March 2025

Answer 6

832

Question 7

what are the three categories of ‘peers’ in the house of lords

Answer 7

• hereditary peers
• life peers
• 26 ‘Lords Spiritual’ (Anglican archbishops and bishops) who sit in the Lords for historic reasons, as the Church of England is the official church of the British state.