Parliament Flashcards
(17 cards)
What does it meant by parliament being bicameral
Made up of two parts/chambers :
The House of Commons
The House of Lords
What is the House of Commons
- 650 elected members
- government formed based on elections held to this chamber (most MPs)
- vote the policy of the government into legislation
- holds the government to account
- debates and amends bills
What is the House of Lords
- 1000+ appointed life peers
- some hereditary peers and bishops of the Church of England
- debates and revises legislation
- can also propose legislation
- scrutiny functions similar to House of Commons
What are MPs?
- members of parliament who are elected to represent a constituency and all those who live there
- some hold ministerial posts (or shadow) with specific time consuming responsibilities
- divide time between working in parliament, their constituency and their political party
What does it mean that MPs can also hold ministerial or shadow posts?
Can also be ministers, help run government departments such as health or education
Or, if they are part of the opposition party, they can be a shadow minister. This means they hold the real ministers to account such as shadow Home Secretary. They scrutinise policy, propose alternatives etc
What do MPs do in parliament?
- raise issues affecting their constituents
- attend debates
- vote on laws
- speak in House of Commons
- attend political functions
- member of select/standing committees which look at gov policy issues or laws
What are select and standing committees?
Select Committees: MPs investigate and scrutinize government policies, actions, and decisions on specific issues, providing recommendations for change.
Standing Committees: MPs review and scrutinize details of proposed laws (bills) to ensure they’re fair and effective.
What do MPs do in their constituency?
- hold ‘surgeries’ where they meet constituents and discuss problems
- attend local functions
- write to the gov department or meet a minister on constituents behalf to resolve an issue
- raise issues in the House of Commons
- ask questions to ministers or PM
- adjournment debates
- backbench debates
- private members bill, put name forward in a ballot, chance of introducing bill
What are adjournment and backbench debates?
Adjournment Debate: A brief debate at the end of a parliamentary sitting where an MP raises a specific issue with a government minister, seeking a response. It usually focuses on a local or constituency matter.
Backbench Debate: A debate initiated by backbench MPs (those not in the government or shadow cabinet) on a topic they want to discuss, usually aiming to raise awareness or influence policy.
What is the scrutiny role of MPs? (Where)
Scrutinise proposed legislation
On floor of House of Commons and in committee
What is a committee
A committee is a group of MPs or Lords who focus on specific tasks, like reviewing laws or investigating issues, and make recommendations for Parliament.
What is the speaker?
(Of the House of Commons)
- elected by MPs
- chairs debates, is the chief officer and has the highest authority in the HofC
- can bar members
- decides who speaks
- calls ministers to make statements
- once elected, withdraw from any political role
What is the lord speaker
Elected by members of the House of Lords
Politically impartial
Chair debates in the HofL
Offer advice on procedure
What are whips?
MPs of members of the HofL appointed by each parliamentary party to help organise parliamentary business and ensure that their party’s MPs turn out and vote according to the party’s wishes
Every week they send out notice and give voting instructions
What are front bench MPs
sit nearest to speaker in HofC
(On the gov side, ministers)
(On opposition side, shadow ministers)
What are backbench MPs
Ordinary MPs who hold no government or opposition post
They sit behind the front bench
What is the black rod ?
The senior officer in the House of Lords
Responsible for security
Major ceremonial events at the Palace of Westminster
