UK GOV: 2.2.1.1 Structure of Parliament

Question 1

What is Westminster known as?

Answer 1

Westminster is known as the ‘mother of Parliaments’ with a number of countries copying from the Westminster Model.

Question 2

What are the key features of the Westminster Model? (x6)

Answer 2

1. The Head of State and Head of Government are separate.
2. Parliament is sovereign.
3. Government is accountable to/may be dismissed by Parliament.
4. Government and Parliament are fused.
5. A parliamentary opposition serving an adversarial role.
6. Courts serve to clarify/uphold the law but cannot strike it down.

Question 3

How many MPs are in the House of Commons? On average, how many constituents do they represent?

Answer 3

The House of Commons is comprised of 650 MPs, with each MP representing a single member constituency of approximately 73,000, having been elected via the first past the post system.

Question 4

Which party currently forms a majority government as of November 2024?

Answer 4

The Labour party forms a majority government, taking into account the non-voting Speaker and their deputies, and the 7 abstaining Sinn Féin MPs.

Question 5

How many peers are in the House of Lords as of November 2024?

Answer 5

As of November 2024, there are 806 peers in the House of Lords, comprised of:
- 693 life peers
- 88 hereditary peers
- 25 Lords Spiritual (C of E bishops)

Question 6

What is the party proportion in the House of Lords?

Answer 6

Conservative: 34.0%
Labour: 23.1%
Crossbench: 22.9%
Liberal Democrat: 9.7%

Question 7

What bill did the Labour government propose in September 2024?

Answer 7

The Labour government proposed a bill to remove all remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

Question 8

What was Sir Gavin Williamson’s proposed amendment to the bill?

Answer 8

Sir Gavin Williamson proposed that all Lords Spiritual should be removed too.

Question 9

What did Gavin Williamson say about Lords Spiritual?

Answer 9

‘Less than 2% of the British population attend Anglican services on Sundays. Having Lord Spiritual is at least as archaic, elitist, unfair and indefensible as the seats given to hereditary peers.’

Question 10

Why does the House of Commons dominate the House of Lords?

Answer 10

1. The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949.
2. Financial privilege: Any bill determined by the Speaker as a money bill cannot be delayed or amended by the Lords.
3. The Salisbury Convention.
4. Confidence and Supply: The Commons’ permission for government spending is required.
5. Reasonable time convention: The Lords has been expected to vote on government matters within 60 days.

Question 11

What significant vote occurred in 1979?

Answer 11

In 1979, James Callaghan’s Labour government lost a vote of no confidence 310-311.

Question 12

Who held confidence votes in 1993 and 2022?

Answer 12

John Major (1993) and Boris Johnson (2022) both held confidence votes.