Parliament Flashcards
(46 cards)
What sort of structure does parliament have ?
Bicameral
How many MPs are there?
650
What is a back bencher?
An MP who does not hold a ministerial or shadow ministerial position
Who was re-elected as an independent after being in a party?
Sylvia Hermon was an ulster unionist MP but was re-elected as a independent in North down in 2010 and 2015
When was the expenses scandal?
2009
What is parliamentary privilege?
The legal immunity enjoyed by members of parliament.
What are the two Most important elements of parliamentary privilege?
- Freedom of speech
- Exclusive cognisance (right of each house to regulate its own internal affairs)
What are the conditions under the recall of MPs act 2015?
If MPs who have been imprisoned or suspended for at least 21 sitting days. after 8 weeks 10% of eligible electors have signed a recall petition
What are the three main roles of party whips?
- ensuring MPs attend parliamentary votes
- issuing instructions
- enforcing Discipline within the parliamentary party
Which speaker and when was forced to step down?
Micheal Martin in 2009
What sort of speaker was bercow?and why?
A reformist, he wanted to enhance parliamentary scrutiny of the executive and champion back bench MPs
What act reduced the number hereditary peers?
The House of Lords act 1999
Which party dominated the house of lords before 1999?
The conservatives
What proportion of women in 2017 are members of the House of Lords compared to prior 1999?
2017 - 26%
Before 1999 - 9%
What is the Salisbury doctrine?
Bills implementing manifesto commitments are not opposed by the lords
What did the parliamentary act of 1949 do?
Reduced the time the House of Lords could block bills passed by the commons to 1 parliamentary session
What act did the House of Lords suspend for 1 year?
Hunting act 2004
What act gave the prime minister the right to appoint members to the upper house for life?
The life peerages act 1958
In 2017 how many conservatives were in the House of Lords?
253
How many women are in the House of Lords as of 2017?
207 - 26%
What are the exclusive powers of the House of Commons?
- right to insist on legislation
- financial privilege
- power to dismiss the executive
What are the main conventions underpinning the relationship between the two chambers of parliament?
- Salisbury doctrine
- reasonable time
- secondary legislation
What is confidence and supply?
Requirements that the government must be able to command a majority in the House of Commons on votes of confidence and of supply (e.g. budget). Also used to refer to an agreement between the governing party and a smaller party in which the latter agrees to support the government on key votes in return for policy concessions .
What is confidence motion?
A motion of confidence in the government. It may be initiated by the government as a threat of dissolution, or used to approve the formation of a new government under the fixed term parliaments act 2011.
