c6 - Parliament

Question 1

structure of parliament

Answer 1

bicameral

Question 2

structure of HoC

Answer 2

650MPs - constituencies of 60-80,000
Frontbenchers and backbenchers
most work done in committees
- all main parties have whips to ensure MPs informed, ensure party loyalty, and inform leadership about rebellions
- speaker presides over house. Organises business of parliament, maintains order, decides who speaks.

Question 3

function of HoC (7)

Answer 3

1) legitimation
2) Legislating
3) Making govt. accountable
4) scrutiny of legislation
5) constituency representation
6) representation of interests
7) national debate

Question 4

what is HoC function of legitimation

Answer 4

most important constitutional function . makes govt. bill proposals legitimate as it gives consent of the people. must approve G. spending every time there is a change (budgets)

Question 5

what is HoC function of legislating

Answer 5

passing laws. process is formal and involves approval of both houses and can amend them. MPs can propose “private member” legislation (unlikely to pass)

Question 6

what is HoC function of making govt. accountable

Answer 6

most important political function. G isn’t always accountable to the people (only at general elections) so the commons call G. to account.
- criticise govt at PMQs
- force G. to justify policy - minister facing the commons will prepare a good case
- select and public accounts committee, MPs are able to investigate G. (how well money is spent, if it’s efficient, if policies are well thought out )
- commons can refuse to pass legislation (rare) - still acts as a deterrent as the thought that this could happen makes G. withdraw bills.
- can remove a G. by passing a vote of no confidence. Extremely rare. if it passes twice in a short period the G. get ousted (1979 - Labour)

Question 7

examples of commons refusing to pass legislation

Answer 7

2016 - commons refused new law extending legal opening hours for large stores on Sunday’s

Question 8

examples of G. withdrawing a bill

Answer 8

2016 - G. withdrew a bill to reduce entitlement to disability benefits (it faced widespread opposition)

Question 9

what is HoC function of Scrutiny of legislation

Answer 9

• shared with HoL (weak aspect of HoL)
• often determined by govt. and whips
• all backbenchers serve on legislative committees, examining proposed legislation and suggesting amendments

Question 10

what is HoC function of constituency representation

Answer 10

• every MP represents a constituency and their interests. they can lobby ministers who propose bills that are unpopular in their constituency, and may raise matters in HoC.
• may go against G. policy (difficult for those in G. party). Like on issue of fracking around 2017 - many C ministers are in areas threatened by it but G. supported it.
• happens when individuals approach MPs when in dispute with a public body (e.g. HMRC over tax or Benefits Agency over welfare payments). MPs will put things right on their behalf - called redress of grievances

Question 11

what is HoC function of representation of interests

Answer 11

• MPs can represent causes - like trade union members typically support former colleagues, former business leaders support their industry
• campaign groups encourage members to write MPs - e.g. over HS2, Heathrow expansion
• MPs also form groups in support of causes, like betting, sex equality, counter-extremism

Question 12

what is HoC function of National debate

Answer 12

• sometimes a great national debate, that is above party politics, arises (e.g. Brexit) usually about foreign policy
• increasingly, if constitutional change proposed, a ref. is held
• parliament seen at best when party allegiances ignored, powerful speeches heard and representatives of the people heard above party conflict.

Question 13

examples of national debates

Answer 13

2017 - debate on triggering article 50, taking UK out of EU
1969 - debate on abolition of capital punishment. capital punishment was abolished
2003 - debate to approve UKs involvement in NATOs attack on Iraq - approved

Question 14

functions of HoL

Answer 14

1) scrutiny and revision of legislation
2) delaying
3) scrutiny of secondary legislation
4) national debates

Question 15

what is HoL function of scrutiny and revision of legislation

Answer 15

• can ask commons to think again and amend proposed bills
• many members of Lords are experts so have alot to offer
• main way of scrutiny is in committee stage of bills, where peers debate legislation and give amendments

Question 16

what is HoL function of delaying

Answer 16

• Lords can delay legislation 1 year
• They have sometimes tried to defy the govt. but been bypassed by the Parliament act.
  1991 - war powers act - allow govt. to prosecute war criminals even if offences committed outside UK
  2004 - Hunting act - banning fox hunting with pacts of hounds