Government Examples 2

Question 1

An example of a prerogative power being removed from the PM?

Answer 1

The Fixed Term Parliaments Act in 2011 removed the right for the PM to call an election whenever he choosed

Question 2

An example of a prerogative power being used?

Answer 2

Theresa May denied Shamina Begum from having a British passport

Question 3

An example of the executive proposing primary legislation?

Answer 3

In 1967 the Abortion Act was passed via a Private Members Bill

Question 4

How much of the Parliamentary timetable does the opposition have access to?

Answer 4

20

Question 5

How many days does the Backbench Business Committee have to propose legislation?

Answer 5

7

Question 6

Why did Priti Patel resign from cabinet in 2018?

Answer 6

Met up with the Israeli government whilst on holiday

Question 7

Who resigned in 2001 for intervening in the issuing of a passport to an Indian businessman?

Answer 7

Peter Mandelson

Question 8

An example of a minster not resigning due to his department not being at fault?

Answer 8

In the 1990s, the responsibility of prisons was taken away from the Home Secretary .
5 high level inmates then escaped but it wasn’t the governments fault so no-one reigned

Question 9

Who was the leader of Ofqual when the exams fiasco happened in 2020?

Answer 9

Roger Taylor

Question 10

Why did Charles Clarke resign in 2006?

Answer 10

He was Home Secretary and lost the whereabouts of 1000 foreign inmates that had been released from prison. He was forced to resign 10 days later

Question 11

Why did David Laws resign in 2010?

Answer 11

Mislead the government with his personal finances when he claimed £40,000 during the expenses scandal

Question 12

Why did Liam Fox resign in 2010?

Answer 12

The Defence Secretary failed to disclose a working relationship with an informal advisor Adam Werritty

Question 13

Why did Andrew Mitchell resign in 2012?

Answer 13

The Chief Whip got into an argument outside Downing Street with police, he called them a ‘pleb’

Question 14

Explain the Kemi Badenoch story on ministerial responsibility?

Answer 14

A journalist asked why she hadn’t taken part in a pro-vaccine video. Kemi then posted the letter on social media. Labour then claimed Budenoch had exposed the HuffPost journalist to online abused and that the minister has breached the ministerial code and should resign.

Question 15

What prerogative power did Margaret Thatcher demonstrate in 1982?

Answer 15

She sent a task force to ‘liberate’ the Falklands

Question 16

What prerogative powers did Tony Blair demonstrate in 2003?

Answer 16

Iraq war to kill Suddam Hussein

Question 17

What prerogative power did Theresa May demonstrate in 2017?`

Answer 17

Called an early general election and successful secured the decision in Parliament following a 2/3 vote

Question 18

When was Collective Ministerial Responsibility stopped?

Answer 18

In 2016 during the Brexit campaign. Cameron was forced to suspend their procedure in order to let cabinet members campaign on their own behalf

Question 19

An example of when Theresa May had to appoint a ‘Big Beast’ to her cabinet?

Answer 19

She appointed Boris Johnson who was very popular with the electorate. She also did this to silence him and ensure he was not slagging off the government (CMR)

Question 20

An example of when Theresa May had to appoint a rival to her cabinet?

Answer 20

She had to balance the pro EU and anti EU sides. Phillip Hammond was pro EU and Michael Gove was anti EU

Question 21

An example of when a PM sought to have a socially balanced cabinet?

Answer 21

David Cameron appointed two women cabinet members. Theresa May and Amber Rudd

Question 22

An example of Boris Johnson using a preogative power in terms of Parliament?

Answer 22

He prorogued Parliament which led to some saying he interrupted the scrutiny of Parliament

Question 23

An example of a mayor improving the lives of those he rules over?

Answer 23

Boris Johnson built 94000 affordable homes in 1 year

Question 24

An example of a Lord pursuing the public interest?

Answer 24

Lord Fowler stepped down as speaker of the HoL to follow and help the persecution of the LGBT community as well as raising awareness about HIV and AIDS

Question 25

How many times was May defeated in her 2016 - 2019 term in the Commons?

Answer 25

33

Question 26

How many times was Jim Callaghan defeated in his minority government?

Answer 26

34

Question 27

How many times were Thatcher and Blair defeated in their 11 and 10 year terms respectively?

Answer 27

Thatcher was defeated 4 times

Blair was defeated 4 times (after 2005, not before)

Question 28

Evidence to suggest that the Backbench Business Committee can hold the government to account?§

Answer 28

On Thursday 13th January, the BBC debated global vaccine access scrutinising over the govts global britain slogan and the number of exported vaccines
–constitutional reform to the Commons following the Wright Committee in 2009

Question 29

In January 2022, how did letters of no confidence hold the government to account?

Answer 29

William Wragg, chair of the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee called for Johnson to resign as PM. Further prompted more letters of no confidence

Question 30

Which Conservative MP defected from the Tories to Labour after Partygate?`

Answer 30

Christian Wakeford

Question 31

What was the quote of the Tory MP who called for Johnson to resign and what was his name

Answer 31

David Davis

“In the name of God, go”

Question 32

How many times was Tony Blair defeated in the House of Commons between 1997 and 2005?

Answer 32

0

Question 33

How many times was Camerons coalition government defeated in the Commons?

Answer 33

7

Question 34

What was the turnout of the 2021 Manchester Mayoral Elections?

Answer 34

35%

Question 35

What was the turnout of the 2021 London Mayoral Elections?

Answer 35

42%

Question 36

What % of the population in Bristol voted for removing the local mayor?

Answer 36

59%