Parliament vocab list

Question 1

Majority

Answer 1

A gov by 1 or more gov party that hold an absolute majority of seats in legislature

Question 2

Public Bill Committee

Answer 2

A temporary committee set up by the HOC to examine the details of a particular bill - except for money bills

Question 3

Select Committees

Answer 3

A permanent committee with members elected from MPs generally responsible for overseeing the work of gov departments and agencies

Question 4

Private Members Bill

Answer 4

Proposed law introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not acting on behalf of the executive branch

Question 5

Parliamentary sovereignity

Answer 5

Parliament is theoretically supreme over all gov institutions, including executive and judicial bodies

Question 6

Life peer

Answer 6

A member of the HOL that remains there forever - whilst they can retire, they cannot be fired/removed

Question 7

Hereditary peer

Answer 7

A member of the HOL that has inherited their peerage/title

Question 8

Lords Spiritual

Answer 8

The bishops in the HOL

Question 9

Whipping

Answer 9

People who ensure their fellow political party legislators attend voting sessions according to their party’s official policy

Question 10

Confidence and Supply agreement

Answer 10

When a party (usually a struggling majority or a minority) or independent members of Parliament support the gov in motions of confidence by either voting in favour or abstaining

Question 11

Opposition

Answer 11

A party (the largest) does not have the majority of the House of Representatives

Question 12

Salisbury Convention

Answer 12

The HOL are unelected, so they cannot obstruct the gov’s democratic mandate

Question 13

Parliamentary privilege

Answer 13

Members of Parliament are able to speak freely in debates and protect Parliament’s internal affairs from court interference

Question 14

Backbenchers

Answer 14

A member of Parliament who does not hold office in gov or opposition and sits behind the front benches in the HOC