UK GOVERNMENT 2 Flashcards
Questioning is a good form of parliamentary scrutiny? (3)
Not good?(3)
-from backbenchers in commons
-PMQ’s
speaker can raise urgent questions
-political theatre
‘friendly’ back benchers self-interested
-childish speaker intervene
Select committees good form of parliamentary scrutiny? (3)
Not good? (3)
- interrogative, no notice of questioning
- members are critical/independent
- chairs well paid/independent
- reports receive publicity
- review problems after occurred
- gov not obliged to act on advice given
- ministers lots of support, MP little research support
What are other forms of scrutiny? (4)
- legislative committees
- vote of no confidence
- grievances of constituencies
- debating
What are the limits to backbenchers powers? (3)
Factors into voting? (4)
- whips
- resources
- majority
- ambition
- keeping their seat
- like PM’s agenda
- dislike PM’s agenda
What are the 3 components to the executive?
Role ? (3)
- PM
- cabinet ministers
- junior ministers
-proposing legislation
proposing budget
-running the country
What is the role of the cabinet? (5)
- make formal decisions
- coordinating government policy
- providing a forum
- managing parliamentary business
- managing emergencies
Cabinet is still important? (7)
- discusses strategy/goals
- key decisions, have large departments
- no PM survive no cabinet support
- cabinet can overrule PM
- only effective place to settle disputes
- under coalition reconciles differences
- deals with emergencies (cobra)
Cabinet not important? (6)
- PM significant powers patronage
- PM uses special advisors more
- collective responsibility PM can silence
- PM shapes agenda, meet less now
- growth of cabinet committees way for PM bypass cabinet
- cabinet untied by PM gives enormous power
Collective is responsibility necessary?
If you don’t agree you? e.g. Ian Duncan Smith
- united front against opposition
- inside cabinet private
- binds gov
- enhance PM power silence outside
What are the two forms of individual ministerial responsibility?
What are the 3 features of each?
legal
- responsible for goings on in department
- accurate info to parliament
- PM decided how long minister remains in power
political
- personal conduct
- how serious issue is perceived
- media response
- PM responds to an issue
What are the 5 royal prerogative powers?
limits ?
- patronage
- make treaties with other countries
- head of civil service
- call an elections
- deploy the military
- ‘big beasts’ included (some rivals)
- both ‘wings’ should be represented
- botched re shuffles cause problems
What 7 things are looked for when selecting ministers?
- close allies
- ‘big beast’
- ability
- ideologically balanced (diff views)
- political adversaries e.g. Boris
- socially balanced
- good parliamentarians (experience)
What are the 7 factors effecting PM’s powers?
- personality
- events
- media
- opposition
- popular
- majority
- cabinet and party
What is the good (2)/bad(4) coalition gov when legislating?
GOOD
- have solid majority
- policies have additional authority support of 2 parties
BAD
- vulnerable to rebellions
- activism from House of Lords (they considered mandate to be weak)
- potential breakdown for gov
- had to consider backbench opinion (fragile)
When was the Supreme Court established and why?
What are the 4 roles of the Supreme Court?
2009, to ensure greater separation of powers rather than a ‘fusion’ with overlaps
- final court of appeal
- hear appeals on issues, arguable points of law
- hear appeals civil/criminal cases
What did the constitutional reform act of 2005 do? (3)
- created supreme court
- removed lord chancellor as head of judiciary
- established JAC for appointments
Judicial neutrality is upheld (4)
- appointment by JAC
- set of professional ethics from experience
- broaden, background/life experiences
- legal precedent, prospect of appeal restrict influence of personal views
Judicial neutrality not upheld (3)
- demographically unrepresentative
- ‘establishment’ seen to uphold status quo
- growing judicial activism, lack neutrality
Judicial independence upheld? yes(7) no(2)
- lord chancellor
- security of tenure
- appointment
- decisions
- fixed salary
- human rights act
- supreme court
- gov retains some role
- ministers criticize judges ruling
Rule of law? (4)
- fair trial /no imprisonment
- everyone obey the law and equal
- public officials not above the law
- judiciary must be independent
Supreme Court is influential? (6)
- can stop executive action
- ‘final court of appeal’
- increased awareness of citizens rights
- judges influential comments on issues
- reputation stand up for rights
- freedom of info cases upheld publishing
Supreme court not influential? (5)
- cannot strike down statute law (even if go against ECHR)
- not pro-active have to wait for cases
- cannot make judgments beyond law
- unelected
- parliament sovereign judges no power
Aims of EU? (7)
- promote peace/scientific progress
- offer freedom/security/justice
- sustainable development
- highly competitive market economy
- combat social exclusion/discrimination
- enhance economic/social/territorial cohesion
- economic/monetary union
What are the EU’s four freedoms?
- free movement of workers
- free movement of goods
- free movement of capital
- free movement of services
