The structure and role of parliament Flashcards
(3 cards)
Explain and analyse three factors that can influence voting behaviour [9 marks]
Point- Age affects voting behaviour.
Evidence- In the 2017 election 18-19 year old’s were 47% more likely to vote labour than conservative, whereas 70+’s were 50% more likely to vote conservative than labour.
Explain- This is because younger voters lean left while older voters lean right. Perhaps this is because right and left leaning parties tailor their policies to either attract young or old voters. Conservatives promise increased pensions for the elderly and labour promise low university fees for example.
Point- Gender affects voting behaviour.
Evidence- In the 2017 election the female vote split evenly between conservative and labour, but men were 6% more likely to vote conservative than labour.
Explain- This is because men tend to shift right, perhaps because they are more interested in foreign intervention and nuclear weapons.
Point- Ethnicity affects voting behaviour.
Evidence- In the 2017 election white voters were 11% more likely to vote conservative than labour. BAME voters were 42% more likely to vote labour than conservative.
Explain- This is because BAME voters lean left, possibly because of the history of anti-minority campaigning of right wing parties and the fact they benefit more from labour’s policies and social equality. White voters lean right, as the conservative’s policies are more suited to them, as are more likely to come from a wealthy background.
Explain and analyse three stages in the parliamentary legislative process. [9]
Point- Second reading is the main debate on the principle of a bill. Government defeats at this stage are very rare.
Evidence- The last time the government lost was in 1986 when the Sunday Trading Bill was defeated.
Explain- This stage is significant as it allows the objectives of a bill to be justified, and allows shadow minister to respond as well as backbenchers to contribute to debate.
Point- Committee stage is when bills are sent to a public bill committee to be scrutinised.
Evidence- The EU referendum had a public bill committee was later dissolved after the referendum.
Explain- Significant as it allows the government to make amendments suggested by public bill committees to improve the bill. Once the bill has completed this stage, the committee dissolves.
Point- Report stage is when amendments made by public bill committees are considered by the full House of Commons.
Evidence- John Major’s government lost a report stage vote on the Maastricht Treaty in 1993.
Explain- Significant as it allows all MPs not on public bill committees to table amendments .
Explain and analyse three limitations on the powers of the House of Lords. [9]
Point- Lords are not allowed to block legislation that was promised in the manifesto of a party.
-Evidence- The Salisbury Convention is not official law but it is a deep-rooted tradition, it states the Lords should not vote against a manifesto promise. In 2006 peers voted against labour’s identity cards bill arguing the convention was outdated.
Explain- Therefore its significance in limiting the Lords is limited as they do not strictly have to follow it since it is not statute law.
Point- Lords must consider all legislation in reasonable time.
Evidence- The reasonable time convention states that the Lords should not deliberately delay consideration of government bills, it should take no more than 60 days.
Explain- This is significant as it gives the Commons control over the Lord’s timetable thus limiting their power.
Point- The 1949 Parliament Act further restricted the veto power of the Lords.
- Evidence- Lord’s can only delay bills for up to 1 year. In contrast, before the 1911 Parliament Act the Lords could veto a bill indefinitely.
- This is significant as it transformed the Lords from a vetoing chamber into a revising chamber. Commons can accept, alter of reject amendments however.
