Workings of Parliament & Government

Question 1

What are the titles held by the Prime Minister?

Answer 1

The Prime Minister is also the Minister for the Civil Service, First Lord of the Treasury, and Minister for the Union.

Question 2

What powers does the Prime Minister have by convention?

Answer 2

The Prime Minister has powers such as selecting ministers, determining the size of the Cabinet, deciding when the Cabinet should meet, and managing national security.

Question 3

What is the Cabinet Office?

Answer 3

The Cabinet Office is a government department headed by the Cabinet Secretary, supporting the PM and Cabinet, and overseeing the Civil Service.

Question 4

What is the Privy Council?

Answer 4

The Privy Council comprises over 700 individuals who advise the Monarch on prerogative powers, with rules known as Orders in Council.

Question 5

What is the Cabinet?

Answer 5

The Cabinet is the ultimate decision-making body of government, operating on collective responsibility and secrecy.

Question 6

What are the three key principles of the Civil Service?

Answer 6

The three key principles are permanence, political impartiality, and anonymity.

Question 7

What are the Nolan Principles of Public Life?

Answer 7

The Nolan Principles include Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.

Question 8

What is the Ministerial Code?

Answer 8

The Ministerial Code outlines principles such as collective responsibility and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Question 9

Who is the Speaker in Parliament?

Answer 9

The Speaker is elected by MPs and is politically neutral, presiding over debates and maintaining order.

Question 10

What is the role of the Leader of the House?

Answer 10

The Leader of the House schedules business and chairs the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee.

Question 11

What is the role of the Leader of the Opposition?

Answer 11

The Leader of the Opposition is responsible for holding the government to account on Parliamentary business.

Question 12

What does the Chief Whip do?

Answer 12

The Chief Whip ensures party members vote in line with party decisions and manages parliamentary business.

Question 13

What are Front Benchers?

Answer 13

Front Benchers are ministers and shadow ministers who sit at the front of the benches in Parliament.

Question 14

What are Back Benchers?

Answer 14

Back Benchers are MPs who do not hold a ministerial role.

Question 15

How are rules in the House of Commons established?

Answer 15

Rules arise from conventions, standing orders, and rulings by the Speaker.

Question 16

What marks the beginning of a Parliamentary session?

Answer 16

A Parliamentary session begins with the King’s Speech, where the monarch outlines the government’s legislative proposals.

Question 17

What is PM’s Question Time?

Answer 17

PM’s Question Time occurs for half an hour on Wednesdays, where the Leader of the Opposition and others ask questions of the PM.

Question 18

What is Hansard?

Answer 18

Hansard is a verbatim record of Parliamentary proceedings, used for legislative interpretation under specific conditions.

Question 19

What is Parliamentary Privilege?

Answer 19

Parliamentary Privilege allows freedom of speech in Parliament without outside interference.

Question 20

What is the House of Commons Code of Conduct?

Answer 20

The House of Commons Code of Conduct applies to MPs and outlines obligations to the House and the public.

Question 21

What is the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority?

Answer 21

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority regulates MPs’ staffing and business costs and determines pay and pensions.

Question 22

What is the role of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards?

Answer 22

The Commissioner oversees complaints and standards but cannot investigate ministers’ behavior.

Question 23

What are Statutory Instruments (SI)?

Answer 23

Statutory Instruments are forms of secondary legislation that may require approval or automatically become law.

Question 24

What are Private Members’ Bills (PMB)?

Answer 24

Private Members’ Bills are introduced by non-government MPs or Lords and have precedence over government business on certain Fridays.

Question 25

What is the power dynamic between the House of Commons and the House of Lords?

Answer 25

The House of Commons has greater power, especially over money Bills, and the Lords can delay other Bills but not indefinitely.

Question 26

What is the process of a Bill progressing through Parliament?

Answer 26

A Bill goes through readings, committee stages, and may involve amendments before receiving Royal Assent.