Week 3: Scrutiny of Government; Elections; Relations between Government, Parliament and the Courts Flashcards
What is the weekly event in the commons where parliamentarians may ask oral questions to the Prime Minister?
PMQs
How often does a minister appear for questions.
Once every five weeks.
What is the maximum number of written questions an MP or peer can table in a day?
Five.
How many times has the government been defeated on a motion?
13
Where is the government more likely to be defeated on a motion: the House of Lords, or the House of Commons?
House of Lords.
How many MPs comprise a select committee?
11-16 MPs
Are select committees partisan?
No.
No one party will have an overall majority in a select committee.
What is the overall aim of select committees?
To hold Ministers and Departments to account for their policy and decision -making and to support the House in its control of the supply of public money and scrutiny of legislation
Name three select committees.
Joint Committee on Human Rights.
Lords Committee on the Constitution.
Commons Select Committee on Health and Social Care.
Discuss the Rwanda Policy in regard to accountability.
- Mass opposition to policy (Theresa May, EU, Archbishop of Canterbury and UNHRC)
- SC declares that Rwanda is not a safe country
- UK signs Rwanda treaty
- Opposition to the ability of executive to sign treaties without consulting Parliament.
- UK passes emergency legislation declaring Rwanda to be a safe country.
Which series of Acts regulate voter eligibility?
Representation of the People Acts
What are three methods of direct democracy?
- Elections
- Petitions
- Referendums
What is meant by ‘payroll’ vote?
Those on the government payroll are obligated to vote along party lines.
How has the government circumvented the cap on the number of MPs on the government payroll
Unpaid ministerial positions
How many MPs can be on the government payroll?
95.
‘Iron cage of parliamentary discipline’
Rose: Poliitics in England
What are the four primary restraints on parliamentary scrutiny?
- Political party affiliations (Parliamentary decline thesis)
- ‘Payroll vote’
- Professional aspirations of MPs
- Conflicts of interest i.e. second jobs
- David Lammy & LBC
- Nigel Farage & GB News
The 2009 Expenses Scandal had a great number of consequences to parliamentary functioning. Name the reforms that followed.
‘Wright Reforms’
- Expanded the role of backbench MPs
What are the two primary disadvantages of written questions
- Non-answers
- Budgetary restraints on the number of written questions that can be answered by a department
What is the name given to the day in which the opposition determine what the business of the day is?
Opposition day debates.
What is the counterpoint to the Parliamentary Decline Thesis.
Harold Wilson and James Callaghan.
Theresa May and Boris Johnston.
How were chairs of select committees originally appointed?
Appointed by party whips.
What are the three advantages to Select Committees?
Government departments can be scrutinised to a greater extent than that done in the House
Have developed in their role and significance
Have an important preventive effect.
What are the four disadvantages of Select Committees?
By expanding the remit and responsibilities of select committees you therefore will make a greater demand of the MPs time, which in some circumstances cannot be met
Powers are weak when compared to other legislatures - no ability to amend, veto or propose any legislation
Restricted to resources available. If an MP is not able to provide sufficient time to the committee, as a consequence the quality of scrutiny will suffer.
The evidence that is used the committee is only limited to that which the government will allow it to be - government may refuse to attend and therefore circumvent the exposure of any hypothetical maladministration or poor decision making.
What are the three E’s in financial scrutiny?
- Effectiveness
- Efficiency
- Economy
What public body is supported by the NAO?
The Public Accounts Commission. (PAC).
Identify the composition of PAC and the NAO.
PAC - 15 MPs
NAO - 850 accountants
What were Benton and Russel’s 8 metrics for measuring the effectiveness of select committees? (3).
- Acceptance of recommendations
- Influencing policy debates
- Spotlighting and altering policy priorities
- Brokering policy disputes
- Providing expert advice
- Holding government and associated public bodies to account
- Exposure
- Generating government/ministerial fear fear
Which independent public body regulates elections?
Electoral commission.
What are the three circumstances under which an MP can be removed.
- When the MP has committed an offence
- When they are suspended from the House (pending review from the Standards Committee)
- When they have committed an offence under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009
How many signatures for a petition to elicit a government response?
10,000
How many signatures for a petition to be considered for debate?
100,000
When did e-petitions come about?
2015.
What was the original purpose of petitions.
Much lower level. Personal grievances.
