Parliament part one Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is the House of Commons referred to?
The lower house- made up of democratically elected MPs.
What is the House of Lords referred to as?
The “upper house”
Made up of “life peers”, who are appointed, some spiritual peers and some “hereditary peers”.
Tell me all you know about the House of Commons.
made up of 650 MPs each representing a “constituency” (or seat).
The chamber only has enough space for 427 MPs to sit down on the green benches.
MPs sit along two sets of opposing benches – sessions are presided over by the Speaker.
To the right of the Speaker’s chair are the government benches, to the left, HM Loyal Opposition – the second biggest party.
All MPs who are not allied to the Government sit along this side, not just those of the second biggest party.
This layout mirrors the “two-party politics”.
The Commons business timetable is set by the Leader of the House (a Cabinet position).
When in session, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday and Thursdays.
Friday is usually for private members business.
Hansard is the official record of proceedings in both the Commons and the House of Lords and their committees. It is published daily and has absolute privilege. Media reports have qualified privilege.
Who is HM loyal opposition?
The largest party after the governing party (in terms of seats) is known as HM Loyal Opposition.
-holds the government to account through a shadow cabinet
-contributes to the legislative process by proposing amendments to Bills.
-sets out its policies using designated “Opposition Days” – there are 20 Opposition Days in each Parliamentary Session. 17 go to the largest opposition party, and three to the third largest
What is the role of the speaker?
-most important officer in the Commons.
They preside over votes and debates, intervene to restore “order”, decide who speaks, can bar members and call ministers to the House to make statements.
The Speaker is drawn from the ranks of MPs – in an election of MPs called by the Father of the House - but discard their party allegiance when they take office.
They tend to retire to the Lords as a cross-bencher.
They only become directly involved with voting in the unlikely event of a Commons ballot ending in a tie.
This invokes the “Speaker Denison rule” which says the Speaker use their casting vote to call for further debate or to uphold the status quo.
The last time this happened was 3 April 2019 when then Speaker John Bercow used his casting vote to break a tie on a Brexit motion.
There are also three Deputy Speakers who can chair sittings of the Commons. They are also elected by their fellow MPs.
Who is the current speaker for the House of Commons?
The current Speaker is Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Who is the leader of the House of commons?
Appointed by the PM and a member of the Cabinet.
A party-political appointment. Has an important party role in controlling the timetable of the House.
Responsible for the delivery of the government’s legislative programme.
the leader decides when and how long bills are debated, when general policy debates take place and when the Opposition can choose the subject for debate.
What do you know about MPS?
The basic annual salary for an MPpresently is £91,346.
They also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office, staff costs, living and travel expenses.
An MP who does not hold a ministerial post, or opposition role (spokesperson or shadow Cabinet) is a backbencher.
A backbencher’s role falls into these areas – legislation (passing laws), debating government policy, scrutinising the executive and helping constituents.
What is the role of a backbencher?
An MP who does not hold a ministerial post, or opposition role (spokesperson or shadow Cabinet) is a backbencher.
They make decisions about legislation (passing laws), debating government policy, scrutinising the executive and helping constituents.
What constituency work may an MP do?
Many MPs consider this the most important part of their work.
Responsibilities include holding weekly “surgeries” for constituents – regardless of whether they voted for them – where people can raise issues or seek advice.
They can write to Government department ministers to raise matters or resolve grievances.
Ask written or oral questions in the Commons, submit early day motions, request adjournment debates or a debate on an e-petition.
MPs take an interest in anything and everything that happens in their constituency.
When does HM loyal opposition set our their policies?
-sets out its policies using designated “Opposition Days” – there are 20 Opposition Days in each Parliamentary Session. 17 go to the largest opposition party, and three to the third largest
When would the speaker become directly involved in the voting?
They only become directly involved with voting in the unlikely event of a Commons ballot ending in a tie.
This invokes the “Speaker Denison rule” which says the Speaker use their casting vote to call for further debate or to uphold the status quo.
What parliamentary work does an MP do in the commons?
-vote on Bills introduced by the Government.
-also introduce their own Private Members Bills on issues they are particularly interested in.
-can table Early Day Motions which are a record of a strong view expressed by MPs who have signed the EDM. It has official status but rarely results in an actual vote or full debate.
-can also call for an adjournment debate – a debate without a question the House must decide. Usually a half-hour debate at the end of the day’s sitting.
-Backbenchers also increasingly co-ordinate e-petitions on a particular issue which will win time for a debate if it gains enough signatures (100,000).
MPs also sit on select committees which hold individual departments and ministers to account.
What is an independant MP and give an example of one?
An indépendant MP isn’t affiliated to a party. An example of this was former BBC foreign correspondent Martin Bell.
What is the party leadership?
The party leadership can be called to explain their policies or drum up support from their MPs. Backbenchers can use the meetings to express views and concerns.
What is the role of the whip in the House of Commons?
Party officials who act as a link between the frontbench and the backbench, instruct backbenchers on how to vote and maintain party discipline are called whips.
-also play a role in communicating with opposing parties.
Labour and the Tories usually appoint 14 whips.
MPs who represent a political party have the party whip – recognition that they represent a particular party.
Occasionally MPs are given a free vote – usually on matters of conscience such as abortion, hunting etc.
On other votes they may be “whipped” to vote a certain way.
In a key debate or vote there may be a three-line whip which indicates the party leadership sees it as a top priority that all of its MPs follow the party line on the matter.
Occasionally, MPs may revolt against the whip. They are likely to be summoned before the whip for a disciplinary meeting.
The ultimate punishment is to have the whip withdrawn.
Recent examples of this are Matt Hancock (over his I’m a Celebrity appearance) and Tory MP Andrew Bridgen over Covid vaccine comments.
What is a three line whip?
-indicates the party leadership sees it as a top priority that all of its MPs follow the party line on the matter.
Tell me all you know about MP’S expenses and pay.
MPs’ salaries and expenses are overseen by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).
This was set up under Gordon Brown’s Government following the MPs expenses scandal. MPs used to set their own pay.
The scandal – exposed by the Telegraph - prompted public outrage after it emerged that some MPs appeared to have been abusing the system.
Some of the more outlandish claims included £1,645 claimed by Tory MP Peter Viggers for a “duck island” and a rejected claim by then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith (apparently unwittingly) for a £67 Virgin Media bill that included two porn pay-per-view films ordered by her husband.
Under the new rules, MPs can no longer buy second homes, those representing London seats can claim nothing for second homes as they are expected to commute, travel expenses are limited to standard class and receipts are required for all claims.
Who oversees MP’S expenses and pay?
MPs’ salaries and expenses are overseen by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).
What is in place so that MP’s declare their interests that could conflict with their duties?
A Register of Members’ Interests had already been established to encourage members to declare outside interests that could conflict with their public duties.
What is the role of the parliamentary commissioner?
A Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in the 1990s.
The Commissioner is appointed by the Commons for a five-year term and is an independent officer of the House.
Their key responsibilities include overseeing the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, providing confidential advice to members, preparing guidance and training, investigating complaints and monitoring the code of conduct.
The Standards Committee oversees their work and publishes the Commissioner’s report on complaints against MPs.
The current Commissioner is Daniel Greenberg.
Who oversees the work of the parliamentary commissioner?
The Standards Committee
Who is the current commissioner?
Daniel Greenberg
What are the houses protected by?
Parliamentary privilege- based on case law, originally designed to protect both Houses from the sovereign.
Rights include freedom of speech – proceedings and documents have absolute privilege.
Freedom from arrest for members and their staff within the precincts of the House.
Rights to suspend, disqualify or punish its own members.
Power to punish for breach of privilege or contempt.
