UK GOV: PARLI 2.2.2.1 Functions of parliament Flashcards
What are the functions of Parliament?
- Representation
- Offering government ministers
- Legislation
- Legitimisation
- Scrutiny
Functions are often summarized by the acronym ROLLS.
What is primary legislation?
An Act of Parliament.
Primary legislation includes public, private, and hybrid acts.
Define public legislation.
An Act that applies to everyone in the UK.
What is private legislation?
An Act that is local or personal in effect.
What is hybrid legislation?
An Act that combines public and private elements.
What is secondary legislation?
Laws made by a minister under powers conferred by an Act of Parliament.
What does Standing Order 14 in the House of Commons state?
Government business shall have precedence at every sitting.
What percentage of Commons time was used for government bills in the 2019-21 session?
22%
What is a Private Member’s Bill (PMB)?
A bill proposed by a private member (a backbencher) rather than the government.
How many Fridays are allotted to consider PMBs in a Parliamentary session?
13 Fridays.
What is a Ten Minute Rule?
MPs are given 10 minutes to introduce a bill or comment on existing legislation.
What is a quorum for PMBs to be considered?
40 MPs.
What is filibustering in the context of PMBs?
Denying time to be considered as an earlier bill has been ‘talked out’.
What are Green Papers?
Consultation documents where interested parties can forward views.
What are White Papers?
Firm proposals for a new law, sometimes ending in a draft bill that is scrutinised by a select committee.
What occurs during the First Reading of a bill?
Name and aims of the bill are read out. No formal debate or vote.
What happens during the Second Reading of a bill?
Debate follows the reading, and a vote occurs afterward.
What is the Committee Stage in the Commons?
Most bills are considered by a Public Bill Committee that examines a bill line by line.
What is the Report Stage?
The Public Bill Committee reports to the House on any amendments made.
What is the Third Reading?
Final chance for the House to debate; no further amendments can be made.
What is parliamentary ping pong?
The process of a bill going back and forth between the Houses until both agree on the wording.
What is Royal Assent?
The Monarch formally gives approval to the Bill, and it becomes an Act of Parliament.
What percentage of secondary legislation is scrutinised using the negative procedure?
75%.
What is the last time legislation failed in the Lords?
2015, when the Lords refused to allow government cuts to tax credits.
What is legislative supremacy?
The ability of Parliament to ‘make or unmake any law whatsoever’.
What are some limits to legislative supremacy?
- The willingness of the people
- The Human Rights Act 1998
- Devolution
- International law
Example includes the UN’s argument against the Illegal Migration Act 2023.
What is a three line whip?
A directive from party leadership to ensure party members vote in a particular way.
What is the significance of the 1999 House of Lords Act?
It reduced the number of hereditary peers.
What is the role of the Speaker in the House of Commons?
Controls debates and decides who speaks and when.
What is a backbencher?
An MP who is not part of the government or opposition frontbench teams.
What is the purpose of Whips in Parliament?
To ensure party discipline and manage the legislative agenda.
What is a life peer?
A member of the House of Lords who is appointed and holds their title for life.
What is the significance of the term ‘tjitjee’ in the context of the text?
Indicates a placeholder or informal commentary.
