UK Parliament

Question 1

Frontbench MPs selected by the leader of the leader of the official opposition party in the Commons that presents himself as an alternative government in waiting

Answer 1

Shadow Cabinet

Question 2

A vote in Parliament

Answer 2

Division

Question 3

Bills introduced by backbench MPs or members of the House of Lords rather than government ministers

Answer 3

Private members’ bills

Question 4

The constitutional principle that Parliament has supreme legal authority, able to make or unmake any law and unable to bind any future Parliament

Answer 4

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Question 5

Committee that includes the chairs of all committees and questions the PM on public policy twice a year

Answer 5

Liaison Committee

Question 6

Where MPs examine and potentially challenge the expenditure, administration and politics of the government

Answer 6

Parliamentary Scrutiny

Question 7

Collective name for frontbench MPs who hold ministerial positions

Answer 7

Government

Question 8

The constitutional convention under which the House of Lords should not delay government bills that were included in the party’s election manifesto

Answer 8

Salisbury-Addison convention

Question 9

First established in 1979, these permanent committees scrutinise the government and hold ministers accountable for spending, policies and administration

Answer 9

Select Committees

Question 10

Term for legislature that are divided into two chambers or houses

Answer 10

Bicameralism

Question 11

MPs that do not hold a ministerial or shadow ministerial position

Answer 11

Backbench MPs

Question 12

Terms used to describe a parliament dominated by a strong executive, which determines the legislative programme and passes virtually all of its bills

Answer 12

Executive dominance/Elective dictatorship

Question 13

A political system where the government is drawn from and held accountable to Parliament

Answer 13

Parliamentary government

Question 14

In a Parliamentary government, this is the principle that ministers have an obligation to explain or justify their actions to Parliament

Answer 14

Accountability

Question 15

Where MPs and Members if the House of Lords are given the opportunity to question government ministers for which they are responsible

Answer 15

Question Time

Question 16

Policy documents produced by the government setting out detailed proposals for legislation and form the basis for consultation with interested groups

Answer 16

White papers

Question 17

An elected assembly responsible for passing legislation and granting the government the right to levy taxation

Answer 17

Parliament

Question 18

The monarchs approval that is necessary for a Bill to become an Act of Parliament - by convention, approval is always given and is now a formality

Answer 18

Royal Assent

Question 19

Temporary committees formed to scrutinise a bill after its second reading, with the power to take edited and oral evidence, debate and amend the bill

Answer 19

Public bill committees

Question 20

A means of increasing female representation in Parliament by requiring constituency parties to choose between exclusively female candidates

Answer 20

All-women shortlists

Question 21

Name given to peers who inherited their title and membership in the House of Lords. All but 92 were removed by the House of Lords Act 1999

Answer 21

Hereditary peers

Question 22

Changes to the law made by government ministers, using powers granted by Acts of Parliament

Answer 22

Secondary/Delegated legislation

Question 23

The long-standing constitutional convention that the House of Lords should not oppose the Commons on issues of taxation and public spending

Answer 23

Financial privilege

Question 24

Where the head of government/head of state is directly elected by the people rather than drawn from and held accountable to the legislature

Answer 24

Presidential government

Question 25

Form of government, associated with the UK, in which Parliament is sovereign, the executive and legislative branches are fused and power is centralised

Answer 25

Westminster model

Question 26

Created in 2010, this committee is allocated 35 days in each session of Parliament for scheduling debated on subjects suggested by backbench MPs

Answer 26

Backbench Business Committee

Question 27

MPs for Members of the House of Lords appointed to enforce discipline within the party, ensuring that members vote the way their party wants

Answer 27

Party whips

Question 28

MP elected by fellow MPs to impartial chair debates, keep order and call MPs to speak in the Commons chamber

Answer 28

Speaker of the House of Commons

Question 29

20 days, allocated per session in the House of Commons for the discussion of subjects chosen by opposition parties

Answer 29

Opposition days

Question 30

A Parliamentary motion, which, if passed, requires the government to resign, parliament to be dissolved and a general election to be held

Answer 30

Motion of No Confidence

Question 31

Landmark Act that removed the right of the Lords to veto money bills, and limited their ability to block other bills to just 2 years

Answer 31

Parliament Act 1911

Question 32

2009 committee chaired Tony Wright - recommended select committee elections, e-petitions, recall elections, a backbench business committee

Answer 32

Reform of the House of Commons Committee

Question 33

A type of private members’ bill- the names of 20 MPs are drawn at the start of each parliamentary year, and given priority to timetable their bill

Answer 33

Ballot bills

Question 34

Members of the House of Lords who have been appointed by the PM under powers granted by a 1958 Act of Parliament

Answer 34

Life peers

Question 35

Committee that scrutinises bills that only effect England, or England and Wales, as part of the 2015 “English Votes for English Laws” reforms

Answer 35

Legislative Grand Committee

Question 36

The idea that legislatures should contain a diverse range of representatives, who reflect the varying social characteristics and groups of the people

Answer 36

Descriptive representation

Question 37

A vote in Parliament where MPs and members of the Lords are not pressured to vote a certain way by party leaders

Answer 37

Free votes

Question 38

Where MPs vote against the party whip

Answer 38

Parliamentary rebellion

Question 39

Landmark Act that reduced the House of Lords’ powers to block bills from the House of Commons from 2 years to 1 year

Answer 39

Parliament Act 1949

Question 40

Government publications that set out different idea and option for legislation, designed to provoke comment and outside input to inform development

Answer 40

Green papers

Question 41

Frontbench MPs selected by the leader of the leader of the official opposition party in the Common, that presents himself as an alternative government in waiting

Answer 41

Shadow Cabinet

Question 42

A vote in Parliament

Answer 42

Division

Question 43

Bills introduced by backbench MPs or members of the House of Lords, rather than government ministers

Answer 43

Private members’ bills

Question 44

The constitutional principle that Parliament has supreme legal authority, able to make or unmake any law and unable to bind any future Parliament

Answer 44

Parliamentary sovereignty

Question 45

Committee that includes the chairs of all select committees and questions the PM on public policy twice a year

Answer 45

Liaison committee

Question 46

Where MPs examine and potentially challenge the expenditure, administration and policies of the government

Answer 46

Parliamentary Scrutiny