UK parliament Flashcards
what is the structure of the commons?
- 650 MPs elected from a constituency containing around 60,000 - 80,000 people
- nearly all MPs represent a party - Independent MPs have sometimes been elected but is rare
- MPs divided into Frontbenchers and Backbenchers
- Frontbenchers are more senior - containing ministers and party officials - normally about 90 on governing side and 50 on the opposition (around 140-50 in total)
- Backbenchers are the majority - members of smaller parties are also considered backbenchers
- MPs mostly work in committees - mainly select and legislative committees
- all main parties appoint party whips who work under a chief whip
- the proceedings of the commons are presided over by the speaker who must be an MP who is elected by all other MPs - expected to be party neutral
what does the speaker in the commons do?
- organises the business of parliament and party leaderships
- maintains order and discipline in debates
- decides who get to speak in debates and during question times
- settles disputes about Parliament’s work
- Lindsay Hoyle is the current speaker
the structure of the House of Lords
- 92 hereditary peers since the House Of Lords Act 1999 - successor must be appointed by all other hereditary peers
- 26 Archbishops and Bishops of the CofE - Leader from other Religions have been appointed as life peers
- life peers are appointed - nominated by the PM and the leaders of the other main parties - NGOs and members of the public can recommend non-political peers
- House of Lords appointments commission decides which people shall be appointed and can veto unsuitable candidates
- no firm constitutional principle on the balance of party members in the lords
- political make-up is different form that of the commons - so many crossbenchers that there cannot be an overall majority
- there are frontbenchers
- house of Lords speaker is Lord Fowler, since 2016
- most work in either legislative or select committees
how would the Lords be reformed?
- an all-appointed chamber
- an all-elected chamber
- become a unicameral legislature (abolish HOL)
functions of House of Commons
to legislate:
- to make, amend and pass laws (backbenchers can use the ballot, 10 minute bills or a presentation)
- to approve public finances
Scrutiny of Government:
- oral questions or PMQs
- departmental select committees and PBCs
- refusing legislation
- vote of no confidence
Representation:
- constituency
- causes e.g. Sex equality
- parties - Cons won 43.6% yet have 56.1% of seats - Lib Dems won 11.5% of votes but lost a seat yet having an increase of 4.5% in votes - SNP won 3.9% yet have 48 seats
- national debate - Covid
- social - age, race, gender, sexuality, religion, education - most diverse - still more male, white aged over 50 and privately educated
-
functions of House of Lords
to Legislate:
- scrutinises legislation
- can delay legislation for a year (happened 4 times) e.g. the Hunting Act 2004 - banning fox hunting
Scrutiny of Government:
- mainly through debates and committee stage
Representation:
- causes - don’t need to be re-elected so can focus on other issues and no whips meaning wider range of opinions
- national debate
- social representation - more than half are over 70 - 62% are privately educated - mainly white and male
Shared powers between the two
- debating legislation and voting on legislative proposals
- proposing amendments to legislation
- calling government and individual ministers to account
- debating key issues of the day
- private members may introduce legislation of their own
powers and functions of the commons only
- examination and approval of the financial affairs of the government
- complete veto of legislation in certain circumstances
- dismissal of a government by a vote of no confidence
- select committee examination of the work of government departments
- final approval for amendments to legislation
powers and functions of the Lords only
- examining secondary legislation and making recommendations for further consideration
- delaying primary legislation for up to one year
what are the three different types of bills
- private bills
- private members’ bills
- public bills
what is the legislative process?
- first reading
- second reading
- committee stage
- report stage
- third reading
- House of Lords stage
- Royal assent
strengths and weaknesses of PBCs
Strengths:
- can take oral and written evidence from outside experts while scrutinising bills
- the committee for selection reflects the strength of each party in the house
- most/all parties are represented
Weaknesses:
- temporary
- committee of selection is dominated by party whips
- PBC membership is agreed privately meaning backbench MPs have no control over membership
- no requirement to reflect balance of opinion in the commons
- whips often avoid MPs with direct experience and a clear interest in the bills being scrutinised
- 0.5% of opposition amendments were added to proposals (2000-2010)
-
Which house scrutinises legislation more effectively?
Commons:
- must approve tax and expenditure by the gov every time a change is proposed (rare to obstruct)
- private members bills can be presented but have very small chance of actually becoming legislation
- committee stage in theory is good, the committee for selection is controlled by party whips
- speaker can control what bills are debated
- can carry out a vote of no confidence
Lords:
- Salisbury convention
- can delay legislation up to a year but commons can bypass this
- whips are less influential
- peers selected for expertise
- reviews secondary legislation and statutory instruments
- unlimited time on debates and amendments
- committee stage is often whole house
Strengths and weaknesses of PMQs
Strengths:
- lets everyone question gov
- Backbenchers can raise constituency matters
- the leader of the opposition may try to shape the agenda or highlight policy failure
Weaknesses:
- parliamentary theatre rather than effective scrutiny
- many governing backbenchers ask questions drafted by whips designed to flatter, rather than probe
Strengths and weaknesses of the opposition
Strengths:
- if the gov has a small majority, the opposition can force policy retreats
- opposition parties are permitted to choose the topic of debate on 20 days in the parliamentary year, 17 of which are allocated to the official opposition
Weaknesses:
- the opposition relies on ‘short money’
- government can change the amount of ‘short money’
- Internal divisions
