Unit 2: Structure and role of parliament

Question 1

Define a crossbencher

Answer 1

House of Lords member with no political affiliation

Question 2

Define the whip

Answer 2

MP or Lord appointed by each party in Parliament to help organise voting and enforce discipline

Question 3

Define parliamentary privilege

Answer 3

Certain legal immunities are given in Parliament e.g freedom of speech or exclusive cognisance

Question 4

Name a recent reform in House of Commons membership

Answer 4

All-women shortlists

Gender quotas - significantly boosted no. of elected female MPs in 1997

Question 5

Name a recent proposed reform in the House of Lords membership

Answer 5

2012 House of Lords bill: proposed chamber involving elected and appointed members

Government abandoned bill

Question 6

Name the 5 stages needed for primary legislation (Acts of Parliament) to pass in both houses

Answer 6

First reading (presentation)

Second reading (main debate)

Committee stage (sent to Public Bill comm. for scrutiny)

Report stage (Amendments considered by full house, can accept/reject/alter)

Third reading (debate on amended bill)

Then sent to Lords and repeated, then royal assent if approved

Question 7

Name an advantage and disadvantage of private members bills, and two important examples

Answer 7

Important legislation can be passed by any member, chosen by ballot so most important issues not prioritised

Question 8

Name an success and failure of EVEL

Answer 8

Made government more devolved, making power more equal

Added delays and complexity, was eventually removed showing ineffectiveness

Question 9

Name 2 reasons for the UK’s legislative process being effective

Answer 9

Extensive debate and scrutiny, PMBs so all members can create legislation

Question 10

Name two ways the UK legislative process is less effective

Answer 10

House of Lords unelected chamber has to approve (e.g 2014 gov. tax credits delayed even though in manifesto)

Limited time for PMBs

Question 11

Name three routes of parliamentary scrutiny

Answer 11

Parliamentary questions

The opposition

Select committees

Question 12

Name a way parliamentary question are successful and unsuccessful

Answer 12

+ Hold gov. to account

• For show rather than effective scrutiny
• Regular members cannot debate with PM

Question 13

Name a way the opposition as scrutiny are successful and unsuccessful

Answer 13

+ Opposes government, has 20 days every year to choose debate topic

• Limited opportunities to set agenda e.g cannot pass legislation

Question 14

Name two ways each select committees are successful and unsuccessful in scrutiny of the executive

Answer 14

+ Gov. must respond, Decide what to examine themselves, wide powers to summon documents, highly influential examples e.g phone hacking

• Gov. not required to accept recommendations, some MPs overly aggressive

Question 15

Name 3 ways select committees are effective

Answer 15

Often chaired by MPs with subject knowledge (e.g Julian Knight MP, former journalist, chairing Digital, culture, media and sport)

Government must formally respond within 60 days

Can review QUANGO appointments e.g Charlotte Hogg resigned from Bank of England after treasury select committee criticised her

Question 16

Name 3 ways select committees are NOT effective

Answer 16

Party loyalty - governing party always has a majority

Those criticised may face minimal punishment e.g Rupert Mudoch

Cannot directly veto QUANGO appointments

Gov doesn’t have to follow recommendations- only change 40%

Question 17

Name 2 ways each the Culture, Media and Sport select committee was/was not effective in the 2011 enquiry into phone hacking

Answer 17

Successful: newspaper shut, police investigation

Unsuccessful: Murdoch had little personal implications (still owns the Sun etc.), couldn’t reach unanimous decision about whether Murdoch misled them

Question 18

Define representation

Answer 18

Speaking or acting on behalf of someone

Question 19

What is the delegate model of representation?

Answer 19

Acting on behalf of others to make decision, not following own judgement or preference

Question 20

What is the Trustee/Burkean model of representation?

Answer 20

MPs can decide how to vote based on their own independent judgement once elected as they have a greater understanding of political issues

Question 21

What is the constituency model of representation?

Answer 21

MPs protect and advance the collective interests of their constituency, and represent the interest of individual constituents (e.g raising this in the Commons)

Question 22

What is the Mandate model of representation?

Answer 22

MPs should vote according to their party manifesto as this is why they were elected