Ministers/Civil Servants/Special Advisers and Houses of Commons and Lords Flashcards
(24 cards)
Name the 3 Categories of people that the House of Lords is made up of.
1- The Lords Spiritual (26 Archbishops & Bishops from Church of England)
2- The Lords Temporal (Life Peers Appoinged by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister & The House or Lords Appointmenr Commissioner)
3- 92 Hereditary Peers ( Lords with passed down, inherited Titles, elected by all hereditaries)
Name 3 Roles of the House Of Lords
1- Legislative
2- Deliberative
3- Constitutional
Explain the Legislative Role of The House of Lords
It can amend legislation (NOT reject it)
Legislation Is passed back to the House of Commons again & amended, then The House of Lords accepts,
The Government passes the legislation in the next session
Explain the Deliberative Role of the House of Lords
Debates happen & ……
Explain the Constitutional Role of the House of Lords
The House of Lords can appoint New Ministers who weren’t MP’s beforehand.
The House of Lords acts as a power check to the Government, making sure it doesn’t ‘unconventionally’ Whip it’s MP’s to Vote and pass legislation (this is unconstitutional & has little support from population)
Describe The First Stage for how a Government Bill becomes a Law.
- Name of Bill read out ( at either House)
-(Green paper / Consultation documents introduce discussions on legislation,
Before these become a ‘Draft Bill’ or ‘White Paper Document’, public Bodies or affected groups are consulted.
- Then the White Paper Document contains more concrete, definitive policies where Bill is read at First Reading)
Describe the second stage for how a Government Bill becomes a Law.
The Second Reading discusses the Larger issues surrounding the Bill…..&
Includes a First vote on general principles
Describe the Third stage of how a Government Bill becomes a Law.
Three Amending Stages now happen ( after 1st & 2nd Reading)
1. The committee Stage
2. The Report Stage
3. The Third Reading
Explain the Committee Stage ( the Third Stage) of how a Government Bill becomes a Law.
The Bill is read line by line. Changes & adjustments are made & voting on it with no time constraints.
Explain the Report Stage ( In the Third Stage) of how a Government Bill becomes a Law.
The Report Stage - Further details are examined, another chance for changes to take place & votes.
Explain the Third Reading ( In the Third Stage) of how a Government Bill becomes a Law.
Third Reading- aims to finish reading rhe Bill, final changes are made for the considerations & amendments stage.
Then the Bill makes the Royal Assent ….which means.& …..
And is then made a Law.
Describe the 3 Different Election Cycles.
- Local Election Cycles - Councillors elected for 4 years - All out elections every 4 years
- 1/2 councillors every 2 years
- 1/3 councillors over 3 years
In 2023, what were people required to bring to their local polling station to vote?
Photographic ID - types…..
Passport
Driving Licence
Elderly/Disabled Bus Pass
Define Devolution
When the government gives power from the UK parliament to regional legislature around the UK & to combined authorities in England.
Institutions therefore can freely create laws and policy, giving more power at a local scale.
What is a combined authority?
A super Council covering a large area containing 2 or more smaller scale authorities.
Ran by an elected Mayor who governs strategic planning, policing & sometimes NHS services.
Name 3 powers of a super council.
- The ability to raise funding, the Mayor can raise money on constituent Authorities Council Tax Bills
- Combined authorities can also raise a levy on members, funds are shifted from one department to the required local department
- Can borrow money under local government prudential borrowing scheme.
How will a Mayor make decisions?
- With the aid of his cabinet, with at least 2 other councillors.
Eg. The Greater Manchester Cabinet features rhe leaders of all 10 councils plus the Mayor and deputy Mayor - With a minimum of 1 Overview & Scrutiny Committee
What is the role of the budget?
- To manage the UK economy
- Promote Tax Changes & reasons for them
- Predict the economy conditions next year
- Explain the last year’s accounts
- Detail what the public spending plans are
- Predict the current financial Year
What is inflation?
- the rise in the price of goods & services over time from each month ( lowers people’s purchasing power)
- measured by the Consumer Price Index & Retail Price Index (which track how the value of items regularly bought by British households have changed)
What are direct taxes.
Taxes on income & gains - income is considered, fax band is decided on how much earnt over the tax bracket
What are indirect Taxes?
Taxes on spending- not considerate of what you earn, automatically applied
Eg. Petrol Duty
Outline role of a back bench MP, what is a Backbench MP?
Backbenchers are MPs or members of the House of Lords that are neither government ministers nor opposition Shadow spokespeople.
Not a member of government, not a member of the oppositions front bench team.
Does no5 hold a ministerial position in either government or shadow government.
Four key roles are legislative, representing constituency, scrutiny, debating government policy,
Explain ‘removing the whip’
What are whips/ how do they carry out their role?
Whips are MPs or Lords appointed by each party in Parliament to help organise their party’s contribution to parliamentary business. One of their responsibilities is making sure the maximum number of their party members vote, and vote the way their party wants.
Whip being removed - effectively being suspended from the party because the individual is voting against the policy of their party .
Explain the roles of a back bench MP
