the strucutre + role of parliment Flashcards
(35 cards)
which two historical events influenced the development of parliament
the magna carta and the first government
when was the first parliament
1707
How is parliament structured
The house of commons
the house of lords
the monarch
how is the government kept to account
pmqs
select committee
the speaker
define bicameral
two houses
How much do peers in the house of lords earn a day
£350 if they sign the register
What is the function of the house of lords
Make and change laws
scrutinise laws that come through the chamber
How many seats are reserved for the church
26 seats for bishops of the “lords spiritual’ church of england
What is a crossbencher
Do not affiliate with a party
4 types of people in the house of lords
retired politicians
members of the church
life peers
hereditary peers
How many lords
785 sitting members
3 ways the house of lords hold government to account
scrutinse government, press government for action, debate and investigate
role of the house of commons
pass legislation
change taxes
manage public services
role of the house of lords
allow or deny certain bills to be passed by analysing government work and pressing the government for action
how do you gain membership to the house of commons
voted in by your constituency
how do you gain membership to the house of lords
selected life peers, peer ship by the church, hereditary peer
role of the speaker
keeps parliament in order to allow parliamentary debates to take place
powers given to the speaker based on convention
chosen who to speak
can invoke suspension of parliment
not allowed to use the word “liar”
highest authority can defy bills in line with rules and conventions
doesn’t vote unless a tie in this case would vote against in line with convention
what is the ‘hansard’
every single word spoken in parliament narrated and stored
what is ‘the shuffle’ in parliment
questions for the pm chosen at random
what is a ‘whip’
members of the house of lords appointed by each party in parliment to help organise the party’s contribution to parliamentary business
what is a ‘whips’ main business
to make sure the maximum number of their party vote in line with their party’s agenda
who is the speaker
Sir Linsey Hoyle
example of Lindsay hoyle exercising his power to exert members from the chamber
24 may 2023 Conservative MP Paul Bristow removed for disorderly conduct when he interrupted Leader of the Opposition Kier Starmer during PMQS