Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSE > 6.2 - The House of Commons and the House of Lords > Flashcards

6.2 - The House of Commons and the House of Lords Flashcards

1
Q

What is the House of Commons?

A
  • Parliament’s democratically elected chamber.
  • Each MP represents a constituency of around 70,000 people.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How many MPs are from England?

A

533.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How many MPs are from Scotland?

A

59.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How many MPs are from Wales?

A

40.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How many MPs are from Northern Ireland?

A

18.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How can MPs be divided?

A
  • Frontbench
  • Backbench
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why are front benchers required to follow party leadership?

A

Collective Ministerial Responsibility.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do parties maintain discipline for voting?

A

Appointment of party whips.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What can the punishment for not following the party be?

A

The party whip can be withdrawn, removing them from the party.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who is required to be impartial in the Commons?

A

The Speaker.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What powers are reserved with the speaker?

A

They can discipline misbehaving MPs via suspension.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the role of the leader of the opposition?

A
  • Scrutinise the policies of the government are thoroughly scrutinised.
  • Convince the public that the opposition is an alternative government in waiting.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How has the opposition been able to scrutinise the government from a funding perspective?

A

Claiming Short money from public funds to finance the leader of the opposition’s office.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When does the leader of the opposition go head to head with the PM, weekly?

A
  • PM Question Time.
  • He is allowed six questions to ask.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the House of Lords?

A

The unelected chamber of Westminster Parliament.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why do the HoL have less authority than the HoC?

A

They are not democratically elected, and cannot claim the democratic legitimacy that the HoC can.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What did the HoL used to be made up of?

A

Was composed of hereditary peers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Why did the Life Peerages Act improve the professional legitimacy of the HoL?

A

Their appointment to the Lords is based on the service they have provided the nation rather than just their family title.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why do many peers not take up a party whip in the Lords?

A

The House of Lords is less influenced by party politics than the House of Commons as they are appointed because of their service to the nation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the convention on Lords appointments relative to the Commons?

A

Appointments should be made roughly based on the configuration of the Commons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Why are the debates in the Lords more courteous than the Commons?

A

The Lords focuses on scrutiny and revising legislation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the main functions of the Commons?

A
  • Legitimation
  • Legislation
  • Scrutiny
  • Representation
  • Debate
  • Providing Government
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are the main functions of the Lords?

A
  • Legislation
  • Scrutiny
24
Q

What was Parliament initially established for?

A

Provide consent that would legitimise the decisions of the monarch.

25
Q

Why do parliamentary bills require the consent of the Commons?

A

Legitimation is the Commons main function as a democratically elected government.

26
Q

What is the convention on military action?

A

It is practice to now consult the Commons over committing British forces to action.

27
Q

Why is the legitimising role of the Commons controversial?

A

The UK does not have a codified constitution determining the powers the Commons has in relation to the government.

28
Q

What are Henry VIII clauses?

A

The delegation of the details of Acts of Parliament to government ministers.

29
Q

Why are Henry VIII clauses criticised?

A

There is far less Commons scrutiny and significant changes to the law can be made without any input from the Commons.

30
Q

What is the legislative function of the Commons?

A

The process via which parliamentary bills become law.

31
Q

Why are there criticisms of the Commons legislative process?

A

The government has too much power over the overall process via whips, large majorities, composition of Public Bill Committees.

32
Q

Why has the composition of Public Bill Committees been criticised?

A

The membership is proportionate to party strength in the Commons.

33
Q

What parliamentary act was criticised for it’s legislative process?

A

ASBOs.
Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The criteria was so poorly worded that excessive singing or rudeness to neighbours would count as an ASBO, as there was such a massive Labour majority in the Commons at the time.

34
Q

How can majority parties have bills defeated in the Commons?

A

If their MPs rebel.

35
Q

What is a public bill committee?

A

Once a bill has passed it’s second reading in the Commons, its details are then considered by a Public Bill Committee, when possible amendments will be discussed.

36
Q

What is a select committee?

A

A small number of MPs investigate works of the departments of state, but can also focus on specific subjects.

37
Q

What is parliamentary privilege?

A

MPs and peers are protected from being sued for libel or slander to ensure that MPs and peers have freedom of speech.

38
Q

How can the Commons scrutinise the government?

A

Public Bill Committees.

39
Q

Why are public bill committees often criticised?

A

They are too politically partisan.

40
Q

Why are MPs in the committee forced to support the party line?

A

MPs who sit on the committee are selected by the whips.

41
Q

Why were select committees introduced?

A

They were introduced to monitor the performance of the major departments of state.

42
Q

In what instances have select committees also been set up?

A

To look at specific policy committments, such as HS2.

43
Q

What is the membership of a select committee normally?

A

11.

44
Q

Why do select committees differ from public committees?

A

Select committees are non-partisan.
Public committees are partisan.

45
Q

Why are select committees non-partisan?

A
  • Each political party votes on the membership, rather than being chosen by the whips.
  • The chair is voted on by MPs as a whole.
46
Q

Why are chairs of select committees elected?

A

They have cross-party support, and likely also have some prior experience to scrutinise the department of state.

47
Q

Who is Sarah Wollaston?

A
  • Former MP who was chair of the Health and Social Care Committee.
  • She was previously a GP giving her ample expertise and confidence to scrutinise the Department of Health and Social Care.
48
Q

What is the liaison committee?

A

Represents the chairs of all the select committees and questions the PM (usually) three times a year.

49
Q

Why is the liaison committee often better than PMQT?

A

It’s form of questioning is far less confrontational and its form of questioning allows greater opportunities for extended discussion.

50
Q

How should MPs balance their voting in the Commons?

A

They should find a balance between demands of the party whips, constituents and their conscience.

51
Q

What is the Salisbury Convention?

A

Since the Lords cannot claim democratic legitimacy, the Lords will not seek to stop legislation that was in the governing parties manifesto.

52
Q

Why is the Lords unable to stop bills that have passed in the Commons?

A

As a non-elected chamber, and in accordance with the Salisbury Convention, the Lords is unable to stop bills passed in the Commons.

53
Q

Why do the Lords play an important part in the legislative process?

A

The life peers possess important roles in the legislative process.

54
Q

Why does the large number of crossbench Lords serve as a benefit for legislation?

A

They are not influenced by the dictates of the whips, and can vote with their conscience and expertise.

55
Q

How does the Lords scrutinise the work of government?

A

Via committees and oral questions to ministers.

56
Q

What do committees in the Lords focus on?

A

Major political issues such as:
- The EU Committee
- Science and Technology Committee
- International Relations Committee etc.

GCSE (46 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions