EXTRA-Individual MP's

Question 1

What are 3 ways MP’s can make a difference mainly

Answer 1

• criticise policy during question time
• initiate legislation
• convey their views via appearances

Question 2

What is the motion of the adjournment?

Answer 2

this takes place prior to the recess, `at the end of each day’s sitting and in timed slots in the Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. MP’s seek to adjourn the House in order to raise topics of constituency interest or public concern.

Question 3

How can an MP initiate legislation? (2)

Answer 3

• by winning a good position in the annual ballot of proven members
• introducing a bill under 10 minute rule

Question 4

What may an MP’s desire to advance their career mean?

Answer 4

they are more unwilling to speak out in opposition to their parties policy

Question 5

What has the ability for MP’s to act effectively and independently as free agents been restricted by?

Answer 5

the demands of party loyalty

Question 6

Why is the number of mavericks small?

Answer 6

this is because those who have been dissidents have often fallen foul of the party

Question 7

What 4 factors limit an MP’s ability to do their job well

Answer 7

• Poor facilities
• Immense amount and complexity of government business
• Growing burden of constituency work
• Service on public bill and select committees

Question 8

How do poor facilities cause a MP’s job to be done well?

Answer 8

lack of office space, computerised equipment and assistance with handling constituency problems is a real impediment

Question 9

Why is the immense amount and complexity of government a problem for MP”s when trying to do their job?

Answer 9

in the 20th century the role of government dramatically expanded and we now live in the age of the managed economy and welfare state. The voters have high expectations of their government. MP’s thus find it best to specialise in selected areas as it is unlikely that they can be informed about the whole range of policy issues. They have a lack of time therefore to absorb that information

Question 10

What is a managed economy?

Answer 10

This is a situation in which there is a high degree of government intervention in the economy. The public expects that amongst many other things, ministers will act to combat unemployment, keep inflation down and protect consumes

Question 11

Why does the growing burden of constituency work mean that MP’s can’t do their job effectively

Answer 11

Constituents assume that there member will be active in taking up their personal and social problems. All MP’s now have a very large post bag. Most MP’s are dealign with 2-3 hours of correspondence every day

Question 12

Why do service on public bill committees or select committees prevent MP’s from ebbing able to do their job?

Answer 12

This removes the MP from the floor of the House which is the only place where ministers can really be challenged and governments placed under threat

Question 13

What do some critics call MPs and why?

Answer 13

‘lobby fodder’ as they lack in independence and too willing to conform

Question 14

How many rebellions were there under the Blair administration in 2005/2006?

Answer 14

95, involving 114 Labour MP’s

Question 15

What were 54% of all rebellions in 2005/2006 regarding?

Answer 15

Home Office matters

Question 16

out of 95 rebellions in 2005/2006, how many Labour MP’s were involved?

Answer 16

114 Labour MP’s

Question 17

Who are party whips?

Answer 17

these are the officials who manage the supporters of their party in the HOC

Question 18

Where does the term party whip come from?

Answer 18

from the hunting field where one person traditionally had the task of whipping in to the pack of hands as they pursued their quarry

Question 19

How many whips assists the chief whip?

Answer 19

8-10

Question 20

What is required of MP’s under a ‘three line whip’?

Answer 20

MP’s are expected to attend, absence only approved if a member is out of the country on parliamentary business, seriously ill or has other exceptional reasons

Question 21

on occasion when can MP’s miss votes?

Answer 21

if they can make an approved pairing arrangement

Question 22

What is an example of when a party split meant the potential loss of a governing party’s majority?

Answer 22

the Callaghan and Major governments was often jeopardised

Question 23

Why is the backing of MP’s needed when a party is in government?

Answer 23

as the government usually wish to legislate on what they have mentioned in their manifesto in order to carry out their mandate.

Question 24

Why are divisions harmful to parties?

Answer 24

They provide opportunities for other parties and journalists to expose and exploit their indifferences

Question 25

What can parties which face three ways in a division cause?

Answer 25

this can cause confusion for the public and commentators who are unsure what party policy actually is

Question 26

What is pairing?

Answer 26

this is an arrangement where an MP of one party agrees with an MP of another party not to vote in a particular division. This gives both MP's the putridity to absent themselves from Commons proceedings. Such arrangements have to be registered with the whips

Question 27

Why would MPs normally toe the party line in public?

Answer 27

as in the privacy of the Parliamentary labour Party or the 1922 Committee they can argue for a concession of the minster; if doubts are largely held they will usually get one.

Question 28

What is an example of when a minister was flexible in concessions in order to get a measure onto the statute book?

Answer 28

several concessions were made during the passage of a bill providing for tuition fees for students in higher education 2003-2004 in order to ensure the statute was passed

Question 29

What is the 'carrot and stick' method?

Answer 29

for many young MPs who hope to climb the ministerial ladder, the prospect of early promotion keeps them in line

Question 30

What were the largest 2 rebellions over Iraq in 2003?

Answer 30

121 and 137

Question 31

What other issues were there rebellions over in 2003? (2)

Answer 31

- Fox hunting | - foundation hospitals

Question 32

What were Labour MP's keen to inflict on the Blair government whose leadership style and policies they disliked?

Answer 32

a 'bloody nose'

Question 33

When are free votes usually given?

Answer 33

on socio moral issues

Question 34

When was a free vote given in 2003?

Answer 34

on fox hunting

Question 35

How many Labour MP's rejected fox hunting?

Answer 35

329

Question 36

How many years ago were the demands MP's faced a lot less demanding?

Answer 36

150 years ago

Question 37

According to Richards 1964 who can MPs be (4)?

Answer 37

- Useful Party members - good constituency members - Individualists - part timers

Question 38

According to whom in what year can MP's be - useful party members - good constituency members - individuals - part timers?

Answer 38

Richards 1964

Question 39

What did Richard 1964 mean when he said MP's can be useful party members?

Answer 39

such members tend to specialise in particular areas of policy and serve on relevant committees and appear on the media to duchess issues on which they contribute their expertise

Question 40

What did Richards 1964 mean when he said MP's can be good constituency members?

Answer 40

Such MP's devote much of their time to constituency work, taking up personal cases and earning themselves a well deserved reputation fro diligence

Question 41

What did Richards 1964 mean when he said MP's can be independents within a system?

Answer 41

These MP's are colourful characters who are not easily contained within the party system, such as Denis Skinner. Richard Shepherd (Con) is active in areas of freedom of information and known as being a courageous member. MP George Galloway, now of Respect has been a fearless critic of government policy over many areas

Question 42

Who are the two examples of individuals within a party?

Answer 42

- Richard Shepherd, Conservative, active in the areas of freedom of information and a courageous member - George Galloway, now of Respect has been a fearless critic of government policy over many areas

Question 43

What did Richards 1964 means when he said MP's can be part timers?

Answer 43

Some MP's still seek to combine their parliamentary activity with an outside occupation, perhaps serving in journalism, the law or business