UK Parliament Flashcards
What is parliament?
The supreme legislative body of the UK, crown dependencies and British Overseas Territories. Possesses legislative authority over all other political bodies.
How is parliament divided?
Divided between two houses:
- House of Commons (Elected representatives of the people)
- House of Lords (Unelected life peers)
How many members are there of the House of Commons? How often are they elected?
650 elected members elected every 5 years
What is the House of Commons the source of?
All primary legislation and Acts of Parliament
In cases of disagreement which House of Parliament overrides who?
The Commons overrides the Lords
Who are usually members of the House of Commons?
The Prime Minister and cabinet (although Lords can serve in cabinet too)
How many members are there in the House of Lords? How long are they appointed for?
About 809. they are appointed for life
How many hereditary peers and lords spiritual are there?
92 hereditary peers (used to be a lot more pre-1999 reform) and 26 Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England.
How do parties work in the House of Lords?
There is a mixture of party members but gov’t and opposition are mirrored in the Lords, ‘crossbenchers’ (of which there are numerous do not sit with a party)
What can the House of Lords actually do if they disagree with a bill from the commons?
They can delay bills from becoming law but can’t prevent them from becoming law.
What is the Salisbury Convention (HoL)?
The House of Lords will not block Commons bills if they were in the governing party’s manifesto.
What does parliament refer to vs what does government refer to?
Parliament = House of Commons, House of Lords and the Monarch Government = refers to the governing party (or parties), in particular the PM, their cabinet and other junior ministers (about 100 or so people with different departmental responsibilities)
Does America have a parliamentary style of government? Does the UK?
No. It has a presidential style of government. The UK has a parliamentary style of government though.
How long are parliament terms fixed to?
5 years, introduced as part of the 2010 coalition agreement which set election dates and took away the power of the PM to call an election at the time of their choosing.
What are the two times when there are elections outside of the 5 year fixed term?
- If government loses a vote of confidence (vote of no confidence in gov’t)
- PM wants an early election and has approval from the commons (e.g. June 2017, and 2019)
What is a zombie parliament? What was an example?
A parliament with little enthusiasm to pass legislation. Example was the coalition government of 2010-2015 in its final months which was fixated on the upcoming vital election.
What are the 4 main functions of parliament?
- Passing legislation
- Parliamentary scrutiny
- Providing ministers
- Represent the electorate
Explain the key elements parliament’s function of passing legislation?
Important to recognise that parliament is the supreme legislative body of the UK with authority to pass or amend laws
- Most legislation is not initiated by parliament but by the government, and because the government has a majority (most of the time), it is rare for parliament to defeat or amend legislation significantly because it requires solid opposition, however, rarely a small number of bills are poorly drafted that they are virtually unworkable
- Only the HoC has rights over consent to taxation legislation, HoL has rights in all other legislative fields
- Parliament limited in its power because the government may use the argument of overriding necessity to push through legislation
What is an example of legislation pushed through without parliamentary consent due to overriding necessity?
2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act
What is an example of a virtually unworkable (poorly drafted) bill that did not get through parliament?
1991 Dangerous Dogs Act (didn’t tackle actual issue of irresponsible dog ownership)
Explain the key elements parliament’s function of parliamentary scrutiny?
Effectively parliament has a responsibility to exercise oversight of the executive’s actions
-Opposition in parliament seeks to hold the government to account and expose its errors and ministers in government (e.g. Priti Patel, Home Secretary) have to explain and defend their policies in parliament
What are the three ways in which parliamentary scrutiny is performed?
- Questions to ministers + Prime Ministers Questions (weekly Q&A session in the HoC often dominated by the opposition leader and the PM)
- Parliamentary select committees (these shadow individual government departments and are appointed from the commons)
- Debates (notably 2013 HoC debate on military action in Syria)
Explain the key elements parliament’s function of providing ministers?
Convention means that ministers of the government must sit in one of the two Houses of Parliament.
- Parliament acts as a recruiting ground for future minsters
- Whips make recommendations for ministers from the houses but the PM possesses the wide powers of patronage
- Peerage (position in HoL) can be awarded on occasion to secure the services of an individual who is not an MP
Who is a famous example of peerage being awarded to secure the services of a non-MP in a Government position?
Peter Mandelson. Following the 2008 financial crisis Gordon Brown recalled Mandelson from the European Commission so he could be appointed to the Lords and serve as Business Secretary as business secretary.
Explain the key elements parliament’s function of representing the electorate
- Commons has a direct representation function as it is the elected House of Parliament
- Lords is representative in that it contains people with a wide range of professional backgrounds to represent wider British society, not dominated by a single party (like the Commons)
- Many believe the Lords does not accurately represent wider British Society though
- MPs in the commons are expected to respond to individual concerns from constituents and represent these in UK Parliament
What is an example of MPs in UK Parliament representing local issues of their constituents in UK Parliament?
HS2. A number of the 44 MPs which voted against plans for the London to Birmingham HS2 line in March 2016 represented constituencies that would be affected by the planned routes (e.g. Chiltern Hills)
