UK Parliament

Question 1

Parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 1

Parliament has ultimate power

Question 2

House of Common

Answer 2

The lower chamber elected

Question 3

House of Lords

Answer 3

The upper chamber, unelected

Question 4

Confidence and Supply

Answer 4

A confidence and supply agreement is where a party or independent members will support the government in motions of confidence and budget by voting or abstaining. It is not as formal as a coalition

Question 5

Salisbury convention

Answer 5

The Lords are not allowed to oppose any second or third reading legislation that is on the government’s manifesto

Question 6

Parliamentary privilege

Answer 6

Legal immunity granted to MPs that allows Parliamentarians to carry out their duties without interference

Question 7

Backbenchers

Answer 7

A member of Parliament who does not hold office

Question 8

Select committees

Answer 8

Can be appointed from the House of Commons. Committees can be near permanent or ad hoc.

Question 9

Cronyism

Answer 9

The appointment of friends and associates to positions of power

Question 10

PAC

Answer 10

Public Accounts Committee is a select committee which oversees the government’s spending

Question 11

Life Peer

Answer 11

Member of Lords whose title cannot be inherited

Question 12

White Paper document

Answer 12

Official government document before it’s a bill

Question 13

Private members bills

Answer 13

Private Members’ Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers.

Question 14

Bicameral

Answer 14

Two chambers

Question 15

Party whip

Answer 15

They ensure party discipline (that members vote for the what the party wants)

Question 16

Legislative process

Answer 16

• Lords not passing legislation
• Defeat of bill in the legislative process
• Amendments
• Examples of knee jerk legislation

Question 17

Lords not passing legislation

Answer 17

The Hunting Ban, 2004

Question 18

Defeat of bill in the legislative process

Answer 18

The Shops Bill 1986 was a bill introduced by the government (Thatcher) that was defeated at its second reading. Rob Marris debated fiercely for the Assisted Dying Bill, but it failed to pass with 74% of MPs voting against it. Mays minority government was defeated 33 times.

Question 19

Amendments

Answer 19

A 2012 NHS reform bill had over 1000 amendments to it.

Question 20

Examples of knee jerk legislation

Answer 20

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was rushed through reacting to people being attacked. Effectiveness of the act has been questioned.

Question 21

Functions of the Commons

Answer 21

• Legislation
• Representation of interests
• Debate
• Making government accountable

Question 22

Legislation

Answer 22

Armed Forces (Flexible Working) Act, 2018 – This allowed members of the armed forced to work part time and be restricted by geographical location. The Childrens and Family Act was designed to protect vulnerable children.

Question 23

Representation of interests

Answer 23

1965 Race Relations Act made it illegal to discriminate based on skin colour. Equalities Act 2010 brought together 116 previous pieces of legislation that outlaws discrimination.

Question 24

Debate

Answer 24

2017 – A debate whether to trigger Article 50. Approved. 2015 – A debate on proposal to start airstrikes in Syria. Approved.

Question 25

Making government accountable

Answer 25

Jo Johnson, after resigning from his ministers post, said that it was a ‘travesty’ not to hold another vote on Brexit. Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesdays see the Prime Minister held to account about policies.

Question 26

Functions of the Lords

Answer 26

- Scrutiny of secondary legislation - Scrutiny - Expertise

Question 27

Scrutiny of secondary legislation

Answer 27

The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has commented on the recent School Teachers Pay and Conditions order.

Question 28

Scrutiny

Answer 28

The Children and Families Act (2014) was started in the commons. When it made it to the reports stage in the Lords, an amendment was added that would ban smoking in cars with children in the car.

Question 29

Expertise

Answer 29

Lords member are experts in a certain field, so can add value to their scrutiny.

Question 30

Ping Pong Politics

Answer 30

This refers to the passage of legislation between the Commons and the Lords as they try and agree amendments. All amendments must be agreed by both houses.

Question 31

Mhairi Black

Answer 31

Was youngest member of the Commons as SNP at age 20. On the Work and Pensions committee

Question 32

Maria Eagle (Labour)

Answer 32

A former junior minister and former opposition frontbencher. Now a backbencher again. She was partly instrumental in persuading the gov to pass Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000 and a campaigner for the LGBT community.

Question 33

Lord Adonis (Labour)

Answer 33

former academic and minister who is an expert on economics, education and transport issues.

Question 34

Lord Dannatt (crossbencher)

Answer 34

formerly chief of general staff and thus the UK's most senior soldier. Expert in military matters.

Question 35

Oversight (how well Parliament checks the executive) Effective

Answer 35

- Cameron loses a vote for military action on Syria in August 2013 – shows exec listening to legislative - Voting on foreign intervention. Tony Blair introduced the constitutional convention of voting before intervention abroad. Cameron was defeated in August 2013 when wanting to intervene in Syria - 1979 – Vote of no confidence in Callaghan government. Lost 310-311 - Vote of no confidence 15th Jan 2019, against Theresa May’s government. Won 325-306 - An increase in rebellion votes in the coalition government - Government defeats: Reform Sunday Trading Laws, 2016. Cameron defeated 268-317. 27 Conservatives rebelled.

Question 36

Oversight (how well Parliament checks the executive) Not effectives

Answer 36

- April 2018 – Theresa May launched air strikes in Syria with no vote - Fusion of power means that gov legislation usually passes

Question 37

Committees

Answer 37

- PAC – Public accounts committee - Departmental select committee - Back Benchers Committee

Question 38

PAC – Public accounts committee

Answer 38

- 2010 – Investigation into the BBCs use of public funds (critical of the poor value for money and lack of accountability of the BBC) - 2016 – Into tax affairs of Google (Googles payment of £130 million for 10 years was too low. HMRC should investigate better ways of regulating tax of multinational companies)

Question 39

Departmental select committee

Answer 39

- 2012 – Investigation in Home Affairs committee into the IPCCs role in Hillsborough disaster. IPPC is now investigating. - 2016 – Investigating the collapse of BHS pension fund. Company was reported to pensions regulator.

Question 40

Back Benchers Committee

Answer 40

- 2011: An e-petition forced a debate on Hillsborough documents, and the gov was forced to debate and then release them - 2014-15 session: debate on humane slaughter of animals for food, improving cancer care, future of the BBC, Harvey’s Law

Question 41

Speaker of the House

Answer 41

- John Bercow, Buckinghamshire. Elected in 2009 - Does not represent a party, but renounces ties on becoming speaker - Champions LGBT and women’s rights. - Increased the number of urgent Qs meaning backbenchers had more of a say - Criticised for ‘bullying’ - Invoked Authoritative in March 2019, citing 1604 Erskine May stating that there could not be a 3rd vote on Brexit because it was essentially the same bill. - Current speaker is Labour MP, Sir Lindsey Hoyle