UK Parliament Flashcards
Parliamentary Sovereignty
Parliament has ultimate power
Confidence and Supply
A confidence and supply agreement is where a party or independent members will support the government in motions of confidence and budget by voting or abstaining.
Salisbury Convention
The Lords are not allowed to oppose any second or third reading legislation that is on the governments manifesto.
Parliamentary Privilege
Legal immunity granted to MPs that allows Parliamentarians to carry out their duties without interference.
Backbenchers
A member of Parliament who does not hold office.
Cronyism
The appointment of friends and associates to positions of power.
PAC
Public Accounts Committee is a select committee which oversees the governments spending.
Life Peer
Member of Lords whose title cannot be inherited.
Their title is essentially based upon experience.
White Paper Document
Official government document before it is a bill
Private Members Bill
Public bills that are introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers.
Bicameral
Two chambers.
Party whip
They ensure party discipline.
Give an example: Lords not passing legislation
The Hunting Ban, 2004
Give an example: Defeat of bill in the legislative process
The Shops Bill 1986 - introduced by Thatcher Gvt, and was defeated at its second reading.
Rob Marris debated fiercely for the Assisted Dying Bill, but it failed to pass with 74% of MPs voting against it.
Give an example: Which bill had over 1000 amendments made to it?
The 2012 NHS reform bill
What is knee jerk legislation, and give an example.
Forming legislation without much though or consideration.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 - rushed through as a reaction to people being attacked.
What are the four functions of the Commons?
legislate
represent
debate
hold government to account
What was the Armed Forces (Flexible Working) Act and what year was it introduced?
This allowed members of the armed forces to work part time and be restricted by geographical location.
2018
What did the Children and Family Act 2014 set out to do? When did it gain royal assent?
Wide-ranging act designed to fully reform services for vulnerable children, by giving them greater protection, paying special attention to those with additional needs, and also helping parents and the family as a whole.
Gained royal assent and became law on 13th March 2014.
What did the 1965 Race Relations Act do?
Made it illegal to discriminate based on skin colour.
How many previous pieces of legislation that outlawed discrimination did the Equality Act 2010 bring together?
116 pieces
What major debate was debated in 2017, and later approved?
Whether to trigger Article 50.
What year was there a debate on the proposal to start air strikes in Syria?
2015
What did Jo Johnson say after resigning from his ministers post.
That it was a travesty not to hold another vote on Brexit.
