UK Gov: Parliament

Question 1

Main functions of the HoC

Answer 1

• Legislation:
• debates and votes on bills before sending them to Lords.
• After bills are debated at second reading, Public Bill Committees scrutinise them.
• Providing ministers.
• Scrutiny and debate.
• Representation.
• Democratic legitimation - of laws

Question 2

Methods of debate/scrutiny

Answer 2

• **Backbench Business Committee **- provides backbenchers with 35 days of the year to control parliamentary business. MPs can raise any issues with the committe which is an opportunity to debate things which may otherwise not be discussed.
• Petitions Committe - created to schedule debates for petitions which reach 100,000 signatures.
• Urgent questions - MPs can apply to the speaker to ask an urgent question to the minister, and if approved the minister is required to answer it. In 2022 Angela Rayner was allowed to ask the PM if he had knowingly broken lockdown restrictions.

Question 3

Main functions of the HoL

Answer 3

• Legislation - Lords scrutinise bills and can propose amendments - revising chamber.
• Scrutiny - committee work of Lords is highly regarded due to their expertise. Joint committees of Lords and Commons include issues like human rights and national security.

Question 4

Are the functions of the HoC performed?

Question 5

Select committes - what they are and what they do.

Answer 5

• A small number of MPs organised to scrutinise the work of either departments or specific issues.
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