What is the structure and function of parliament?

Question 1

What does it mean if parliament is bicameral?

Answer 1

It is comprised of 2 chambers: HOC and HOL.

Question 2

Why is the HOC more powerful?

Answer 2

By convention, the PM and government ministers sit in the Commons.

Question 3

How many MPs are in the HOC?

Answer 3

650 MPs.

Question 4

How many people does each MP represent/how many people in each constituency?

Answer 4

68,000

Question 5

Why are the majority of MPs part of a party and not independent?

Answer 5

Because they have been elected by their constituency. Eg. 365 Conservative MPs in 2021

Question 6

Why does the HOL lack powers?

Answer 6

Because the majority of peers are unelected and they lack any democratic mandate - nonpartisan and not held accountable by constituency members.

Question 7

Who’s reforms have affected the structure of the HOL and in what year?

Answer 7

Blair’s 1999 reforms.

Question 8

What is the estimated number of peers in 2024?

Answer 8

790.

Question 9

What does the HOL consist of?

Answer 9

Life peers, hereditary peers, 26 Church of England bishops, and independents (crossbenchers).

Question 10

How many hereditary peers are currently sitting in the HOL after the 1999 reforms, compared to how many used to sit?

Answer 10

92 hereditary peers out of 700+.

Question 11

What are life and hereditary peers also known as?

Answer 11

Lords temporal.

Question 12

Who are the 26 Church of England Bishops also known as?

Answer 12

Lords spiritual.

Question 13

What piece of legislation made UK a parliamentary state?

Answer 13

1689 Bill of Rights.

Question 14

What developments have there been in democracy since the 19th century?

Answer 14

1928 Representation of the People Act - gave women the full suffrage.

Question 15

What development caused a change to the balance of powers since the 19th century?

Answer 15

1911 and 1914 Parliamentary Acts - shifted power from HOL to HOC, HOL can only delay bills not veto them.

Question 16

What developments have there been in Diversity since the 19th Century?

Answer 16

First female MP (Nancy Astor) took seat in 1919, compared to 220 women MPs and 65 BAME MPs in 2019.

Question 17

What developments have there been in Checks and Balances since the 19th Century?

Answer 17

Although there is a growing trend in centralised control by the governing political party, with less opportunity for independent voting and policy-making. However, backbenchers have become increasingly rebellious - Eg. Rwanda Bill rebellion. Cash x Jenrick amendments defy the bill.

Question 18

What developments have there been in Committees since the 19th Century?

Answer 18

increase of use committees as a forum of discussion in main chambers, arguably more effective than Common debates and PMQs.

Question 19

What developments have there been in Broadcasting since the 19th Century?

Answer 19

Parliament has been televised since 1989. allows the voters to become more familiar with its procedures.

Question 20

What developments have there been in Devolution since the 19th Century?

Answer 20

increase of devolution in Scotland, Wales, and NI and EU membership (until 2020) has meant that many policies have been made outside Westminister.

Question 21

Why can a prime minister with a large majority can normally get the HOC to vote in the way they want?

Answer 21

the executive dominates legislature.

Question 22

Who is the current speaker of the HOC?

Answer 22

Lindsay Hoyle

Question 23

What is the role of the Speaker?

Answer 23

trying to keep order during debates, and administering the HOC rules and suspending those who abuse the rules.

Question 24

Who suspended an MP for insulting David Cameron and calling him ‘dodgy dave’

Answer 24

John Bercow

Question 25

What does the Speaker renounce after being elected, and why?

Answer 25

Their part allegiance to ensure impartiality.

Question 26

Why is being a Speaker controversial?

Answer 26

You can be accused of favouritism towards your previous party - Eg. John Bercow accused of favouritism towards Labour party and lacked cooperation in the progression of Brexit bill.

Question 27

What is the role of the Leader of the House of Commons?

Answer 27

essentially, the government’s business manager - they ensure the Commons run smoothly, from scheduling bills. They work closely with the Chief Whip to keep things in order.

Question 28

What is the role of Party Whips?

Answer 28

whips are in charge of party discipline and ensuring as far as lhey can that MPs stay loyal and vote the way their leaders dictate.

Question 29

What is a ‘three line whip’?

Answer 29

An indication that the party leadership expects all its MPs to tum up and vote a certain way.

Question 30

What does it mean if a party whip may be withdrawn from an MP?

Answer 30

MP is suspended from the party - temporary sanction.

Question 31

What can cause a party whip to be withdrawn from an MP?

Answer 31

Bringing the party into disrepute. Eg - Tory MP Nadine Dorries appeared on the reality TV Show “I’m a celebrity… Get me out of Here!” without informing party leadership or whips first.

Question 32

What’s another reason why a party whip to be withdrawn from an MP?

Answer 32

the whip can be withdrawn for political disloyalty. Eg - September 2019, when Boris Johnson removed the whip from 21 Tory rebels who defied the whips’ instructions not to support a motion to take control of parliamentary business from the government during the Brexit bill saga.

Question 33

What’s a final reason why a party whip to be withdrawn from an MP?

Answer 33

Collaborating with the political parties enemy. Eg - in July 2020, Tory MP Julian Lewis had been elected as chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee by securing support of the opposition party, so much that he was accused of ‘working with labour and other opposition MPs for his own advantage’.

Question 34

Who are frontbenchers and what is their role?

Answer 34

Members of the governing party who are also ministers in the government, as well as opposition MPs who are shadow ministers.

Question 35

Who are backbenchers and what is their role?

Answer 35

Ordinary MPs who are neither ministers nor shadow ministers. This can be independent members or may just be loyal members.

Question 36

What are the 4 main functions of parliament?

Answer 36

1. Legislative - laws are introduced, debated and passed.
2. Representative - represents people, whether geographical or constituents.
3. Scrutiny - questioning its actions
4. Deliberative - forum for debate

Question 37

What is a public bill?

Answer 37

A bill that applies to everyone once it becomes a law.

Question 38

What is a private bill?

Answer 38

A bill that only applies to specific groups of people or public bodies(usually local authority).