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AQA A Level Politics - UK > Parliament > Flashcards

Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

How many MPs

A

650

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2
Q

What are methods that parliament can scrutinise the executive

A

PMQs
Parliamentary debates
Select committees
Vote of no confidence

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3
Q

Advantages of PMQs

A

Publicity for opposition parties

Unwelcome questions

Own party may scrutinise their own party

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4
Q

Good PMQs moment for an opposition member

A

Tony Blair - 1997

“Weak, weak, weak” to John Major

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5
Q

PMQs exposing a PMs weakness

A

Brown

“We not only saved the world”

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6
Q

Example of a MP Criticising their own PM at PMQs

A

David Davis - 2022 - during partygate

“In the name of god, go”

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7
Q

Advantages of parliamentary debates

A

Free expression of views

Televised so the public can watch

Opportunity to change how MPs and Peers vote

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8
Q

Disadvantages of parliamentary debates

A

MPs usually toe the party line

Speeches used to impress leadership

Few votes are changed

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9
Q

Advantages of select committees

A

Less partisan and confrontational than debates in the chamber

Often chaired by the opposition

Can call witnesses from government

Government must respond within 60 days

Reports are often influential

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10
Q

Example of a select committees being chaired by an opposition MP

A

Yvette Cooper chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee

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11
Q

Example of a witness being called by a select committee? What happened?

A

Amber Rudd by the Home Affairs Select Committee over the Windrush scandal in 2018

Forced to resign due to inadvertently misleading the committee

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12
Q

How many days does the government have to respond to a select committee report

A

60

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13
Q

Example of a select committee report being influential

A

2018 Health Select Committee recommend measures to reduce childhood obesity

New measures within a month - stopped the sale of sweets and fatty snacks at supermarket checkouts

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14
Q

Disadvantages of select committees

A

Governing party has a majority

Witnesses can be evasive

Governments can/do ignore reports

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15
Q

Example of government ignoring a select committee report

A

2021 rejected most of the recommendations about universal credit - making starter payments instead of waiting 5 weeks

Work and Pensions Select Committee

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16
Q

Advantages of votes of no confidence

A

Can bring down a government

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17
Q

Example of a vote of no confidence directly bringing down a government

A

Callaghan 1979

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18
Q

Example of a vote of no confidence indirectly bringing down a government

A

Theresa May - 2019
Boris Johnson - 2022

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19
Q

Disadvantages of no confidence votes

A

Unlikely to work

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20
Q

How many opposition days a year

A

20

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21
Q

What are public bills

A

Applicable to all people and organisations

Vast majority

22
Q

What are private bills

A

Usually promoted by organisations to give themselves powers beyond existing laws

Only change the law for specific individuals or organisations

23
Q

Example of a private bill

A

The New Southgate Cemetery Act 2017

24
Q

What are government bills

A

Created and promoted by the government, often to fulfil manifesto promises

25
Q

What are private members bills

A

Independently introduced by backbench MPs or peers

26
Q

How are private members bills usually introduced

A

Ten-minutes rule bill

Selected as one of the 20 ‘winners’ in the annual ballot

27
Q

How many private members bills were successful 2019-2021

A

7

28
Q

Example of a private members bill

A

Abortion act 1967

29
Q

What are the stages of the legislative process

A

First reading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report stage
Third reading
Consideration of amendments
Royal assent

30
Q

What happens at first reading

A

Bill introduced
No debate or vote

31
Q

What happens at second reading

A

Debate, questions and voting

Amendment can be made and voted on

32
Q

Example of government defeat in second reading

A

2017

Voted to give Parliament the final say on the final Brexit deal

309 to 305

33
Q

What happens at the committee stage

A

Go over bill and amendments from second reading

Major changes rare (gov majority)

34
Q

What happens at the report stage

A

Committee changes are discussed and voted on

Last chance for amendments

35
Q

What happens at third reading

A

Short debate

No changes

Final vote

36
Q

What do Public Bill Committees do

A

Go through bills clause by clause, debate and suggest amendments

Temporary

37
Q

What do Commons Select Committees do

A

Oversight on the workings of government

Less partisan

Many chaired by opposition backbenchers

Witnesses

38
Q

What do Lords Select Committees do

A

Investigate specialist subjects (Lords expertise and greater time used)

39
Q

What does the Public Accounts Committee do

A

Traditionally chaired by an experience opposition backbencher

Scrutinises the value for money in public spending and how well/efficiently the government delivers public services

40
Q

What does the Backbench Business Committee do

A

Selects topic for debate on days not given over to government business

Oversee e-petitions

41
Q

What does the Commons Liaison Committee do

A

Comprises all the chairs of the Commons select committees

Usually chaired by an independently minded backbencher of the governing party

Chooses select committee reports for debate

Questions the PM - usually 3 times a year on public policy

42
Q

Example of someone refusing to appear before a select committee

A

Mark Zuckerburg in 2018

Committee was investigating false news

43
Q

Who chairs the Public Accounts Committee

A

Meg Hillier - Labour MP

44
Q

Example of a PM not going to the Commons Liaison Committee

A

Boris Johnson 2019

Postponed his appearance twice cancelling his third

45
Q

What percentage of committee recommendations are accepted by government

A

40%

46
Q

How many recommendations for major policy changes succeed

A

1/3

47
Q

What is the role of the opposition

A

Provide scrutiny of government policy
Suggest amendments
Argue for alternatives
Provide a ‘government in waiting’
Nominate topics for debate on 20 days

48
Q

How many opposition days go to the official opposition

A

17

49
Q

How many opposition days go to the third largest party

A

3

50
Q

What is a three-line whip

A

When MPs must turn up and vote the way their leaders wish

51
Q

What is a free vote

A

MPs are free to vote how they wish

52
Q

How are select committee chairs and memberships chosen

A

Secret ballot of MPs

AQA A Level Politics - UK (11 decks)

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