UK Government: The Structure & Role Of Parliament Flashcards
Definition of Referendum
A direct public vote on a policy measure.
E.g. 2016 EU referendum (Brexit)
Relationship between HOL & HOC
Lower chamber is HOC & they hold virtually all power. (650 MPs)
Upper chamber is HOL & they are largely advisory & can only deem HOC ‘unlawful’ and can advise to rethink their laws. (800 Lords)
HOL consists of?
-Life peers: appointed to peerage for lifetime only - Life peerages act, nominated by leaders of political parties.
-92 hereditary peers: (prior to 1999, 700 hereditary) Lords temporal.
-26 Church of England bishops selected on basis of seniority - Lords spiritual.
-& cross benchers.
What are crossbenchers?
Independent peers who sit in the Lords.
Trends & developments since nineteenth century
-democracy
-balance of power
-diversity
-checks & balances
-committees
-broadcasting
-devolution & EU membership
How has democracy developed?
Parliaments membership was increasingly chosen by the people, by reform acts, culminating in 1928 when full female suffrage was achieved.
How has balance of power developed?
Parliaments acts of 1911 & 1949 meant that power between commons and lords shifted considerably to lie with only commons.
How has diversity developed?
-Commons is increasingly diverse e.g. first female MP Nancy Astor 1919, 2019 election had 220 women MPs.
-Racial diversity increased, first chinese MP in 2010 & south Asian woman in 2010.
-65 MPs were BAME (after 2019).
-Increase in LGBTQ representatives & people with disabilities.
How has checks and balances developed?
Growing trend towards centralised control & discipline, meaning govt was able to dominate pmt.
Recently backbench MPs have become more rebellious. Theresa May was unable to get her Brexit deal and was given vote of no confidence.
How have committees developed?
Increased use for debate. PMQs are heated and entertaining, but not most effective.
How has broadcasting developed?
Parliament televised making electorate familiar with procedures and tone, raising its profile.
How has devolution and EU membership developed?
The advent of devolution and EU membership has meant that many policies and laws have been decided outside WM.
How is Parliament still traditional?
-The govt and opposition face each other, separated by a distance calculated as 2 sword lengths apart.
-Speaker starts day with formal procession preceded by a gold mace & accompanied by the chaplain.
Definition of By-election
An election held in a single political constituency to fill a vacancy arising during a government’s term of office.
Definition of Cabinet reshuffle
When PM shuffles his cabinet members around.
Key positions in parliament
-prime minister
-the speaker
-leader of the HOC
-whips
-frontbench
-backbenchers
The prime minister
Most important, leader of winning party & command majority of commons. Executive dominates legislature.
The speaker
Ensure as many MPs can speak in debates, administer rules of HOC, can suspend MPs for breaking rules e.g. calling an MP a liar.
E.g. Labour MP Dennis Skinner called David Cameron “dodgy Dave” and was suspended.
Speaker voted for by MPs in series of ballots.
Speaker post controversial recently.
E.g. Michael Martin 2000-2009 forced to resign due to expenses scandal.
Leader of the HOC
Governments business manager who sees from the executives perspective that commons runs smoothly & bills are timetabled.
E.g. Thursdays the leader of house tells commons about business scheduled for the following week.
Whips
In charge of party discipline and ensuring MPs stay loyal and vote the way their leaders dictate.
Removal for political disloyalty e.g. BJ removed whip from 21 Tory rebels who defied whips instructions not to support a motion to take control of parliamentary business form the govt during the Brexit bill saga.
Frontbench
Members of governing parties who are also ministers in govt & also to opposition MPs who are shadow ministers.
Sit in front rows.
Backbenchers
Ordinary MPs who aren’t ministers. Some revel to show independence e.g Jeremy Corbyn rebelled during Blair/Brown leadership making him the most rebellious Labour backbencher 1997-2010.
Main functions of Parliament
- Legislative: where laws are introduced, debated & passed.
- Representative: pmt represents people through constituencies & through political ideas.
- Scrutiny: pmt has vital role in checking govt by questioning legislation.
- Deliberative: debate and discussion.
Definition of Public bill
Bill that applies to everyone when it becomes law.
Definition of Private bill
Only apply to specific groups of people or public bodies, usually authorities.
How many bills are passed a year on average?
30-40.
E.g. 31 passed in 2019.
Process of passing a bill
- Green paper
- White paper
- First reading
- Second reading
- Committee stage
- Report stage
- Third reading
- HOL stages
- Green paper
Green paper: discussion document e.g. adult social care 2019.
- White paper
White paper: Pre-legislative scrutiny & draft bill published before introduced to pmt. Scrutinised by select or joint committee.
E.g. draft Tenant Fees bill.
10 draft bills handled this way 2017-19.
- First reading
Formal introduction/ reading of bills titles by relevant govt minister.
- Second reading
Main debate on principles in HOC.
Rare to defeat bill at this stage but happened last e.g. 1986 Sunday trading bill defeated.
- Committee stage
Bills are sent to public bill committees who read line by line and suggest amendments. Major changes unlikely, majority on committee.
Democratic Audit found 2/3 of committee bring relevant expertise.
87% of amendments accepted were by these specialised MPs.
- Report stage.
Amendments accepted, rejected or changed by commons.
- Third reading
Final debate on amended version of bill, no more changes.
- The HOL stages
Process repeated by Lords and any amendments are checked by commons. Could lead to ‘parliamentary ping pong’.
Definition of Parliamentary Ping-pong
Bill going back and forth between chambers.
E.g prevention of terrorist act 2007 considered 5 times.
Commons have sovereignty and can evoke parliamentary act to pass their version of law within a year
E.g. Hunting act 2004.
What is English votes for English laws? (EVEL)
Aim of EVEL is to ensure English MPs can veto bills that only apply to England.
Definition of derogation
To ignore/dismiss/disregard.
Definition of populism.
Controversial, a following of members of public who are ‘unheard as they have controversial views.
Definition of Collective responsibility
When ministers come together to back the PM.