Uk Government-parliament

Question 1

What were the three historic functions of parliament?

Answer 1

-advise the king on his proposed legislation (statutes)
-receive and deliver petitions from people with grievances against the authorities
-grant permission for the king to levy new taxes

Question 2

When was the first parliament called?

Answer 2

1265

Question 3

When did the first parliament begin to get called on a regular basis?

Answer 3

After 1272

Question 4

How has parliaments form and functions changed ?

Answer 4

-used to meet sporadically and at pleasure of the monarch, now meets regularly for the majority of the year.
-originally H.O.C was not elected. Gradually elections evolved and were regularised in 1832, with full adult suffrage finally established in 1928
-role in law making was advisory and is now vital in law making. Can now veto laws if not widely supported.
-19 century established that gvt should only be drawn from parliament and H.O.C
-Ministers now accountable to parliament.
-commons became senior to lords.

Question 5

When/through what act were elections regularised?

Answer 5

1832- great reform act

Question 6

When was the equal franchise act ?

Answer 6

1928

Question 7

What was the equal franchise act?

Answer 7

Granted equal voting rights to men and women

Question 8

When was UK established ?

Answer 8

1801

Question 9

What are the three features of parliamentary government?

Answer 9

-UK parliament is highest source of political authority. Political power may be exercised only if authorised by parliament. All members of government must be members of one of the two houses.(Lords or Commons).
-No strict separation of powers between the legislature and executive. Powers of government and legislature are fused. Government is able to dominate parliament as majority of members are government supporters. Likely to back government.
-government must be accountable to parliament. Means government (including PM and ministers) must regularly appear in parliament to explain and justify policies and decisions and deal with criticism. Parliament can remove government through vote of no confidence,general election will then be held.

Question 10

What reserve powers does the UK parliament have ?

Answer 10

To veto legislation proposed by government
To dismiss a government in which it has lost confidence

Question 11

Evidence for erosion of parliamentary sovereignty in regards to EU membership

Answer 11

A great deal of legislative power moved to EU after 1973.
European law superior to British law - any conflict in laws then European prevails over British.
Parliament can’t pass any law that conflicts with EU law.

Question 12

Evidence that political sovereignty was unaffordable by EU membership

Answer 12

Large areas of policy remained un-passed to Brussels.e.g. Criminal law,tax,social security,health and education.

Question 13

Evidence that the increase in the power of the executive lead to the erosion of parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 13

Executive power has grown considerably. Involves a transfer of not only political but also legal sovereignty to the government.

Question 14

Give evidence about how the increase use of referenda has lead to the erosion of parliamentary sovereignty.

Answer 14

Almost inconceivable that parliament would ignore the popular will of the people
Sovereignty returns to the people

Question 15

Give evidence that the increased use of referenda has left parliamentary sovereignty unaffected

Answer 15

Results of referendums are not technically legally binding on parliament
Govern,ent can choose to ignore the public opinion

Question 16

Give evidence that the the human rights act has eroded parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 16

Parliament treats the ECHR as if it were superior .
Only in extraordinary circumstances would parliament ever assert its sovereignty over the ECHR.

Question 17

Give evidence that the human rights act had left parliamentary sovereignty unaffected

Answer 17

ECHR is not legally binding on the UK parliament, so they retain their sovereignty

Question 18

Give evidence to show that devolution has led to the erosion of parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 18

Difficult to imagine the circumstances in which powers devolved would be revoked by government.
Sovereignty has already been transferred in a day to day standpoint.

Question 19

Give evidence that devolution has left parliamentary sovereignty unaffected

Answer 19

Parliament can restore all the powers to itself that they had devolved.
Sovereignty has not been legally transferred.

Question 20

What does bicameral mean?

Answer 20

A political system with two legislative chambers

Question 21

How many MP’s sit in the HOC?

Answer 21

650

Question 22

What is the role of a party whip?

Answer 22

To maintain party discipline and loyalty, to inform MP’s about parliamentary business and to act as communication between backbenchers and the party leadership.

Question 23

What does the speaker do?

Answer 23

Organise the business of parliament with party leaders.
Maintain order and discipline in debates.
Decide who gets to speak in debates or question times.

Question 24

What are the 3 types of peer that sit in the House of Lords?

Answer 24

Hereditary peers
Lords spiritual
Life peers/lords temporal

Question 25

What are hereditary peers? What do they do?

Answer 25

Sit in House of Lords.
Have inherited their title which entities them to sit in lords.
Not political professionals but are expected to take their role seriously, attend and vote and take apart in committee work.
Nearly all men.

Question 26

Who are the Lords spiritual? What do they do?

Answer 26

Sit in the House of Lords.
26 members are archbishops and bishops.
Reflects that Anglican Christianity is the religion of the UK.

Question 27

Who are life peers/lords temporal? What do they do?

Answer 27

sit in House of Lords.
historically appointed by reigning monarch-not anymore.
Cannot pass their title onto their children.
Nominated by PM-political appointments.
Political appointments are expected to follow their party’s line.
Non-political peers appointed by non-governmental organisations.
House of Lords commission appoints and veto’s candidates.

Question 28

How many members are there currently in House of Lords?

Answer 28

808

Question 29

What is a crossbencher?

Answer 29

Member’s of the House of Lords who are not formal members of any political party and so are independent minded

Question 30

What’s the current political make up of House of Lords?

Answer 30

Conservative=248
Labour=211
Liberal Democrats=109
Bishops=26
Crossbenchers=214