parliament examples and stats Flashcards

1
Q

how many seats in the HOL?

A

800 sitting members atm

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2
Q

how many hereditary peers are elected by their fellow hereditary peers?

A

75 out of 92

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3
Q

what act reduced the number of h peers in the hOL?

A

house of lords act 1999

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4
Q

how many life peers in hol?

A

661 appointed by PM (over 80% of HOL)

- they are appointed for life but they cant pass their peerage on to their successors.

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5
Q

how is religion incorporated into the HOL?

A

The UK Parliament automatically awards 26 seats in the House of Lords to bishops of the Church of England. These bishops are able to (and do) vote on legislation, make interventions.

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6
Q

how is the inclusion of the church in the hOL concerning to some?

A

has a harmless legacy of a medieval constitution but a present example of discrimination, religious privilege,

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7
Q

makeup of hoc?

A
  • 56% Cons
  • 30% lab.
  • 7% SNP
  • 1% Lib Dem
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8
Q

makeup of HOL

A
  • 31% cons
  • 22% lab
  • 11% Lib Dem
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9
Q

Give an example of how the hoc dominated the govt.?

A

commons can refuse to pass a piece fo legislation ,
e.g ; 2016
commons voted against a new law extending legal opening hours for large stores on Sunday’s -
threat of HOC voting against govt. legit keeps govt. in check
Commons also voted against Theresa May’s ‘no deal Brexit’

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10
Q

give on example of the HOL trying to defy the govt. (make the govt. reconsider ) but was bypassed by the parliament Act rules?

A

2004- The hunting Act

banning fox hunting with packs of hounds

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11
Q

what was the Parliament Act 1949 ?

A

Reduced the power of the HOL to delay legislation to 1 yr.

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12
Q

What is the Salisbury convention?

A

established in 1975 - The Salisbury Convention is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom under which the House of Lords will not oppose/delay any government legislation promised in its election manifesto.

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13
Q

what does the bill of rights say about parliamentary privilege?

A

MP’s ‘ought not to be impeached or quesioned in any court or place outside of parlia.’

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14
Q

example of parliamentary privilege in effect?

A

2008 - investigation of MP Damian Green = Police searched his office without a warrant
Police need a properly executed warrant if tehy are to enter parlia.
no charges were brought and parlia. sought to reaffirm parlia. priv. to prevent re-ocurrence.

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15
Q

define parliamentary privilege?

A

the right of MP’s or lords to make certain statements within parliament without being subject to outside influence.

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16
Q

Give an 2 examples of the effectiveness of legitimation by HOC?

A

2013 - Cameron wished to use the British armed forces against Syria’s Bashar al-Assad govt’s alleged chemical attack, but govt. was defeated by 258 to 272 votes- enforcing principle that HOC is necessary to legitimise leg.
May’s govt process to enter negotiations without consulting the HOC , failed due to the establishment of parliamentary sov. by the 2017 Gina Miller case- reinforcing importance of legitimation and ensuring HOC retains it’s role to legitimise

17
Q

give 1 a) examples of ineffectiveness of legitimation by hOC?

A
  • uncodified constitution = blurred understanding of what HOC’s exact powers are, including it’s legit role; 2018 - May decided to join American led assaults on the Syrian govt. without HOC consult , whereas Cameron did hold a vote on UK air strikes on syria = angry response from MP’s like corbyn - bringing suggestions of a ‘war powers act’ by labour to ensure the govt. holds vote before any military action .
18
Q

give 1b) example of statutory instrument use and whether or not it enhances the role of legitimation by HOC ?

A
  • increasing overuse of stat. instruments - claimed to be an attempt by govt. to ‘govern from the shadows’- avoiding a vote by HOC through use of stat. instruments to push secondary leg. through minimal scrutiny - delegation to govt. ministers and civil servants - leading to possibility of harmful SI’s
19
Q

How is the use of stat. inst. increasing over the years?

A

since 1980’s - use has increased from 2000 SI’s/yr to 4000 SI’s/yr only a handful of which have been voted down in recent years
and it continues to be used beneath Brexit and covid leg.

20
Q

Proof of effective use of role of legislation by HOC?

A
  • 2019 Johnson tried to introduce a bill that would compress the parlia time table to debate the withdrawal deal- in damaging defeat , this gave the MP’s more power to seize control of the parlia. time table paving the way for for a bill that blocks a no deal brexit by forcing the PM to request for an extension if he cant strike a deal with the EU