EXTRA-Parliamentary control of Executve

Question 1

Where is the scrutiny of the Executive mainly held?

Answer 1

in Public Bill Committees

Question 2

Where is the more general scrutiny of the executive carried out? (5)

Answer 2

• via questions
• letters
• debates
• Early Day Motions
• parliamentary committees

Question 3

What are Early Day Motions?

Answer 3

MP’s may table motions for debate on an early day which in most cases never comes, the purpose being to draw attention to an issue. Other MPs add their names to the motion so making known to the government the extent of parliamentary feeling on the matter

Question 4

How many days are granted to the opposition?

Answer 4

20 days

Question 5

In what century did the practise of MP’s asking questions of ministers in the House develop?

Answer 5

20th century

Question 6

What are the 2 reasons for asking an oral question to the relevant departmental minister?

Answer 6

1) To find out information

2) to make a party point, perhaps by raising a constituency issue

Question 7

c how many written questions are asked per session?

Answer 7

35,000

Question 8

How many times did PMQ used to be a week and for how long?

Answer 8

twice a week for 15 minutes

Question 9

How did Tony Blair reform PMQ?

Answer 9

he changed the twice weekly 15 minute sessions to once weekly and a 30 minute session

Question 10

Who’s leadership did PMQ seriously undermine?

Answer 10

Iain Duncan Smith’s as Conservative leader

Question 11

Why is Question Time lively and confrontational?

Answer 11

because it takes place -on the floor of the House’

Question 12

IN what year did a system of departmental select committees ben to function?

Answer 12

1980

Question 13

How many committees are there currently?

Answer 13

19

Question 14

What is an advantage of select committees and its members?

Answer 14

They serve the lifetime of the parliament, and are usually re-elected if the party remains in government for another term. This allows the MP’s to gain a real expertise on their subject

Question 15

in the US congress how many policy specialists are there?

Answer 15

3,500

Question 16

Why do Public Bill Committees not have the same status as the US congress committees?

Answer 16

this is because in the HOC there is a party dominated legislature, and they do not challenge the executive.

Question 17

What have many British politicians, especially ministers, express fear in if there was to be an introduction of a US style committee?

Answer 17

this would lead to controlling rather then critiquing the policy and actions of the department concerned

Question 18

What are the 6 reasons in favour of select committees

Answer 18

• less partisan
• members are well informed
• members can inform others via debates in HOC
• Have made government ore open
• deters misbehaviour of ministers who would be unable to justify such actions
• may persuade government to change course

Question 19

What are the 5 reasons against select committees

Answer 19

• party whips have tried to keep more independent and effective MPs off committees
• Committees need more resources
• they generate much paperwork, reports are often forgotten
• Ministers attend but sometimes refuse to answer and civil servants can withhold info
• They have a majority of government party members

Question 20

What is the difference in the duration of public bill committees and select committees?

Answer 20

Public bill committees are appointed every session, select committees are for the duration of parliament

Question 21

What is the difference in specialism of public bill committees and select committees?

Answer 21

Public bill committees are non-specialist

select committees are specialist,members tend to serve a long term and acquire expert knowledge

Question 22

What is the difference in the work of public bill committees and select committees?

Answer 22

PC are concert ed with a stage in the legislative process, examining details of bills whereas SC’s monitor and scrutinise the spending, policies and administration of a particular department

Question 23

What is the difference in size of the public bill committees and select committees?

Answer 23

PC have large bodies of between 16-50 members

SC have around 11 members but up to 16

Question 24

What is the difference in the power of PC’s and SC’s?

Answer 24

PC’s are traditionally less investigatory but they have the power to take evidence from outside officials and experts since 2006
SC’s are more powerful, equipped with powers to hold hearings and collect evidence

Question 25

What is the role of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition?

Answer 25

they provide a regular challenge to the measures and actions of government

Question 26

What are the 3 main functions of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition?

Answer 26

1) Opposition opposes government
2) the Opposition supports the government where appropriate
3) The opposition is an alternative government

Question 27

As an opposition to government what must they do?

Answer 27

they must provide sustained scrutiny, questioning ministerial proposals and test them through debate

Question 28

What will the opposition try to do when a minister of government arrest to do things in the broad national interest?

Answer 28

they will support them, try to be bi-partisan and cooperative

Question 29

How dose the opposition act as an alternative government

Answer 29

Needs to provide a convincing range of alternative courses for action

Question 30

What is the existence of an official opposition party referred to as?

Answer 30

one of the litmus tests of a democracy

Question 31

How is the importance of the official opposition recognised?

Answer 31

through the payment of short money

Question 32

In terms of access to information how are the official opposition at a disadvantage?

Answer 32

Ministers have civil servants and political advisers to brief them and know the state of accounts, the opposition do not have such access

Question 33

In terms of the political agenda how are the official opposition at a disadvantage?

Answer 33

Governments set the political agenda, the opposition only respond to it. Ministers can and sometimes do take over best opposition policies. Moreover it is the PM who determines the date of the next election

Question 34

Why may there be a problem with activists within the opposition party?

Answer 34

There may be pressure from dispirited activities who may want to push the party back to a more fundamental position in order to see clear water between themselves and ministerial polices. However abandoning the centre ground may alienate moderate, centrist voters

Question 35

Why can morale be low as the official opposition?

Answer 35

the 4 consecutive winning terms of Conservatives and then the 3 consecutive winning terms of Labour can prove disheartening an lower party morale, this may cause party division

Question 36

What might be a problem if the opposition reverse party policy too quickly?

Answer 36

the voters may ask why they did not get things right when they were in government