Parliament Flashcards
Who makes up Parliament?
House of Commons - 650 MPs
House of Lords - 800 members
Which party does the House Speaker belong to?
They are impartial
How can an early election be triggered?
Either by more than 2/3 of the MPs in the House of Commons voting in favour, or by House of Commons passing a no confidence motion (and there is no passing of a confidence motion within 14 days thereafter)
How can a by-election be triggered?
Where an MP is suspended for more than 10 days due to misconduct, where they have been convicted of a custodial offence, or where they have mislead or lied about their expenses.
The House Speaker will the notify the constituency in question, and 10% of the constituency must vote in favour of a by-election
Who can be an MP?
Anyone aged 18 years old or above, who is a citizen of the UK/ROI/a commonwealth country, and who is not in the police force/armed forces/judiciary, and who is not a HOL member, a civil servant or a member of a parliament or legislature outside of ROI or the commonwealth
Who sits in the House of Lords?
92 hereditary peers, 26 lords spiritual, and life peers and law lords. They have around 800 members in total
What is prorogation?
To end a session of Parliament early - this is also a prerogative power exercised by the Monarch
Can bills be passed (initiated and obtain Royal Assent) in different sessions of Parliament?
Generally no, unless it has the consent of both House of Commons and the House of Lords
What is the exception to parliamentary privilege?
Sub judicie - MPs cannot refer to cases that are currently heard by courts
What is the Salisbury Convention?
That the House of Lords cannot block a bill that is proposed under the Government’s manifesto
What is a suspensory veto?
The idea that the House of Lords cannot veto a bill that had previously been blocked in the past session - the bill would go straight to Royal Assent
Can non-English MPs vote on English only matters?
Yes
What ministerial duties do MPs have?
Abide by the rules of confidentiality and unamity, abide by the Code of Conduct even when in private, be accountable to criticisms and concerns, and not to mislead Parliament.
What happens to a minister if there is an operational failure?
Minister must be accountable
What happens to a minister if there is an policy failure?
Minister must resign
