UNIT 2 PARLIAMENT Flashcards
the selection pf members of the HoC - diff types of peers
-650 MPs elected from a constituency
-MPs represent political parties (independents = very
rare!)
-MPs are divided in front and back bench
-Frontbenchers hold positions in the government
Backbenchers are more independent but mostly ‘toe the party line’
Parties appoint whips who manage their MPs
-MPs do much of their work in committees
-The Speaker manages proceedings and debate in the
Commons
the selection of members in the HoL- different types of peers
-Currently 805 members - not fixed like HoC
-92 hereditary peers (House of Lords Act 1999)
-The majority of peers of life peers and are political appointments
-The party balance driven by the governing party (e.g. most
appts post 2010 have been Tory)
-Non political peers are known as crossbenchers
-Non political appointments made by the House of Lords Appointments Commission
-26 Lords Spiritual are bishops from the Church of England
-Much of the work of peers is done in committees
the exclusive powers if the HoC
examine and approve financial affairs of the government
permanent veto of legislation in certain circumstances
dismiss govt via a vote of no confidence
select comittee examination of the work of departments
dinal approval of ammendments to legislation
the main powers of the HoL
delaying primary legislation by a year
examine secondary leg and make further suggestions for improvement,
both houses can- debate and propose ammendemnets to legislation, debate key issues of the day , call govt and ministers to account
debates about the relative power of the two houses
Hoc has power over HoL because they are elcted and have a mandate from the people
HoL has a lot of memebers - some memebers 26 are religious people, and 92 hereditary peers
the stages for a bill to go through and become a law
House of Commons (HoC):
First Reading:
Bill’s title is introduced, and a date is set for the second reading.
No debate or vote at this stage.
Second Reading:
Bill is debated in detail.
MPs vote; the bill can be defeated here.
Committee Stage:
Bill is examined by a Public Bill Committee.
Amendments may be made.
Report Stage:
Committee changes are reviewed and either accepted or rejected.
Further amendments can be added by MPs who were not on the committee.
Third Reading:
Final debate and vote.
Rarely results in the bill being rejected.
House of Lords Stage:
The bill follows a similar process as in the Commons.
Lords focus on revising legislation and may suggest significant amendments.
Parliamentary ‘Ping-Pong’:
If Lords make amendments, the bill moves back and forth between the two houses.
The House of Commons has the final say on whether to accept or reject Lords’ changes.
the salisbury convention
Salisbury Convention
Established in 1945 to respect the elected government’s mandate.
Lords cannot block legislation from the governing party’s manifesto.
Can suggest amendments, but not to derail the bill.
the role and significance of backbenchers in hoc
House of Commons (HoC):
Parliamentary Privilege: Established in 1689, protects MPs from legal action for statements made in Parliament.
Key Responsibilities:
Represent their constituents’ interests.
Scrutinise and hold the government accountable.
Debate and assess legislation.
Approve significant decisions (e.g., military action).
Raise issues of public concern.
Influence Depends on Government Majority:
Large majorities (e.g., Blair 1997, 2001) allow PM to override rebellions.
Smaller majorities (e.g., May 2017) force governments to compromise.
Examples of Backbench Influence:
2003: 84 Labour MPs rebelled against the Iraq War, but Blair still won the vote.
2005: Blair’s smaller majority led to a failed attempt to introduce 90-day detention for terrorist suspects.
2017-2019: Theresa May’s lack of a majority forced cross-party Brexit negotiations, ultimately leading to her resignation.
the importance of parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege
A principle that protects
MPs and peers from being sued for libel or slander, so ensuring that they have freedom of speech within the Palace of Westminster.
It also includes the right of Parliament to exclusive cognisance, which means it controls its own internal affairs without outside interference.
work of select committees
public accounts committee
- grenfell fire in homes
Departmental Select Committees
back bench buisness comittes
laison comitee
the role and significance of the opposition
the media
govt programmes set out in kings speech
-opposition allocated 20 days in the year to propose subjects for debate –17 allocated to leader of largest opposition
purpose and nature of ministerial question time
Ministerial Questions:
Purpose: A mechanism for the legislature to regularly question the executive and hold ministers accountable for government policy.
In the House of Commons:
Oral Questions: An hour of business time from Monday to Thursday is reserved for oral questions to ministers.
Written Questions: Ministers are required to respond within one week to written questions asked in the Commons.
In the House of Lords:
Oral Questions: Half an hour is set aside for oral ministerial questions, where queries are directed to the government as a whole rather than specific departments.
Written Questions: Ministers must respond within two weeks to written questions in the Lords.
Ministerial Code of Conduct:
Openness Requirement: Ministers must be as open as possible with Parliament and the public, with limited exceptions when disclosure would not be in the public interest.
Public Availability: Responses to both oral and written questions are publicly available.
Example of Use:
During the Russia-Ukraine war, MPs asked the Foreign Office several questions regarding whether the UK’s response was achieving the desired effect. This highlights how questions ensure ministers address critical national issues.
the purpose and nature of the PMQs
Summary of Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT):
Purpose:
Accountability: PMQT is designed to hold the prime minister accountable for government policy. For example, in early 2022, Keir Starmer used PMQT to scrutinize Boris Johnson over illegal lockdown parties and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Scrutiny: MPs, especially the Leader of the Opposition, can question the prime minister on significant issues, ensuring they respond to public concerns.
Nature:
Structured Format: Takes place every Wednesday from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.. The Leader of the Opposition asks six questions; the next biggest party gets two, followed by other MPs.
Debate or Theatre? Critics argue PMQT is more theatrical than substantive. For example, Sir Gerald Kaufman MP in 2015 described it as an exchange of “pointless declamations”, with the governing party MPs asking questions to boost the prime minister’s image.
Government Influence: Government MPs often ask questions that let the prime minister take credit for successes. This can reduce the quality of debate.
Raucous Atmosphere: The atmosphere is often loud, with the prime minister using the opportunity for counterclaims, such as deflecting questions about the government’s record. This can make it more about electioneering than genuine scrutiny.
PMQT is intended for accountability and scrutiny, but its theatrical nature and party influence can sometimes undermine its effectiveness.
HoL reforms
HoL role
Scrutinising Legislation: Reviews bills passed by the Commons, suggesting amendments but cannot block them indefinitely.2
Expert Contributions: Members bring expertise in law, business, medicine, etc., ensuring thorough debate.
Secondary Legislation Review: Examines statutory instruments to ensure they align with existing laws.2015 sees the Lords reject tax credits cut. last stoppped a SI passing in 2000, HoC last stopped one in 1979
Delaying Legislation: Can delay bills for up to a year, allowing further debate and refinement.
National Debates: Discusses key issues like climate change and public health with a long-term perspective, free from electoral pressure.
role and significance of backbenchers in Hol
House of Lords (HoL):
Parliamentary Privilege also applies, allowing Lords to speak freely in debates.
Key Responsibilities:
Scrutinise and amend legislation passed by the Commons.
Hold the government accountable through debates and committee work.
Provide expertise on specialist topics (e.g., law, business, healthcare).
Influence on Legislation:
Cannot block bills permanently but can delay and suggest amendments.
The Salisbury Convention (1945) prevents Lords from blocking manifesto commitments.
Reviews secondary legislation (statutory instruments) to ensure fairness.
Examples of Lords’ Influence:
Frequently propose amendments that force the Commons to reconsider bills.
Delayed key legislation like tax credit cuts (2015) and Brexit bills (2017-2019).
bill beginning in Hoc
House of Commons
First reading
Second reading
Public Bill Committee
Report stage
Third reading
The bill then moves to the House of Lords and the same process of debate, scrutiny
and vote is carried out
House of Lords
First reading
Second reading
Public Bill Committee (usually the whole chamber of the House of Lords)
Report stage
Third reading
Parliamentary ‘ping-pong’
Roval assent
bills beginning in hoL
House of Lords
First reading
Second reading
Public Bill Committee (usually the whole chamber of the House of Lords)
Report stage
Third reading
The bill then moves to the House of Commons and the same process of debate, scrutiny and vote is carried out
House or commons
First reading
Second reading
Public Bill Committee
Report stage
Third reading
Parliamentary ‘ping-pong’
Roval assent
govt bills
Government Bills and Parliamentary Scrutiny
Why Government Bills Succeed:
Time Allocation: The government can ensure its bills are debated thoroughly.
Party Loyalty & Whips: Government can rely on its MPs to support bills.
Salisbury Convention: Lords cannot obstruct bills in the governing party’s manifesto.
Scrutiny Process in the House of Commons:
Second Reading: Principles of the bill are debated.
Public Bill Committees: Experts and stakeholders provide input.
Criticism of the Legislative Process:
Government Dominance:
Large majorities allow bills to pass easily.
Public Bill Committees reflect party strength, favoring the government.
Whips control committee membership and voting behavior.
MPs risk career progression if they oppose government bills.
Limited Scrutiny:
Strong party discipline can lead to poorly considered laws.
Blair’s landslide victories (1997, 2001) resulted in weak backbench scrutiny.
MPs as Independent Voices:
Backbench Rebellions:
2021 COVID Passports: 99 Conservative MPs voted against Johnson’s proposal.
2019 Minority Government: Pro-EU Conservative MPs defied Johnson, limiting his power.
June 2022 Vote of Confidence: 41% of Conservative MPs refused to back Johnson, damaging his authority.
back bench opposition examples govt bills
EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill 2019- Government lost a vote (322/308) to limit Brexit debate to three days.
Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2019- Johnson failed three times to secure a two-thirds majority for a snap election.
EU Withdrawal Agreement 2018-19 May’s Brexit deal suffered the largest government defeat in history (432-202). Two further defeats followed.
private members bills
Private Members’ Bills in the UK Parliament
Introduction Methods in the House of Commons:
Ballot:
MPs enter a ballot at the start of each Parliament.
20 bills are selected, and the top 7 are usually debated.
Most successful Private Members’ Bills come through this route.
Ten-Minute Rule:
MPs propose a bill in a short, ten-minute speech.
Rarely leads to successful legislation.
Presentation:
An MP formally presents a bill without debate.
Private Members’ Bills in the House of Lords:
Ballot System:
Similar to the Commons, Lords enter a ballot to introduce bills.
Challenges for Private Members’ Bills:
Lack of Time:
Debates typically take place on Fridays, with limited attendance.
A division (vote) is needed for a bill to progress, but quorum issues often arise.
Filibustering:
MPs can deliberately talk out a bill to prevent it from passing.
Government Control:
The government decides whether to allocate time for debate.
Even widely supported bills may fail due to lack of official backing.
Impact of Private Members’ Bills:
Raising Awareness:
Even if unsuccessful, they bring public and parliamentary attention to key issues.
Example: Peter Kyle’s Representation of the People (Young People’s Enfranchisement) Bill (2018) proposed lowering the voting age to 16. The government blocked it, but the issue remained in public debate.
LAISON COMITTEES
Liaison Committee Overview:
Composition: Composed of the chairs of all select committees in Parliament.
Purpose: Twice yearly, the committee questions the prime minister on key issues, offering an in-depth, less confrontational form of scrutiny than PMQT.
Key Features:
Less Confrontational: Unlike PMQT, the Liaison Committee allows for extended discussion, where prime ministers are less able to evade questions.
Example of Accountability: In 2019, when Boris Johnson cancelled his appearance, Sarah Wollaston (committee chair) rebuked him, emphasizing their role to question the prime minister on critical issues like Brexit and climate change.
Chair Appointment Change (2020): The government appointed its own candidate, Sir Bernard Jenkin, as chair, instead of allowing the usual selection by committee heads. However, this did not appear to diminish the committee’s influence.
Example of Scrutiny: In 2022, Sir Bernard Jenkin pushed Boris Johnson to fully outline the government’s climate change strategy for proper scrutiny. The committee held him accountable despite his declining authority.
Significance:
Important Scrutiny: The Liaison Committee’s work allows MPs to address crucial issues with greater depth than in PMQT, helping to hold the government to account.
whats a hybrid bill
hybrid Bill is a set of proposals for introducing new laws, or changing existing ones. Hybrid Bills are quite rare. They are generally used to secure powers to construct and operate major infrastructure projects of national importance. I.e HS2
whats a private bill
A public bill is a proposed law which would apply to everyone within its jurisdiction. A private bill is a proposal for a law affecting only a single person, group, or area, such as a bill granting a named person citizenship or, previously, granting named persons a legislative divorce.
