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UK Politics > UK Parliament > Flashcards

UK Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

Parliamentary sovereignty

A

Parliament has ultimate power

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2
Q

House of Common

A

The lower chamber elected

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3
Q

House of Lords

A

The upper chamber, unelected

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4
Q

Confidence and Supply

A

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

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5
Q

Salisbury convention

A

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

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6
Q

Parliamentary privilege

A

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

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7
Q

Backbenchers

A

A member of Parliament who does not hold office

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8
Q

Select committees

A

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

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9
Q

Cronyism

A

The appointment of friends and associates to positions of power

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10
Q

PAC

A

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

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11
Q

Life Peer

A

Member of Lords whose title cannot be inherited

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12
Q

White Paper document

A

Official government document before it’s a bill

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13
Q

Private members bills

A

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

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14
Q

Bicameral

A

Two chambers

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15
Q

Party whip

A

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

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16
Q

Legislative process

A
  • Lords not passing legislation
  • Defeat of bill in the legislative process
  • Amendments
  • Examples of knee jerk legislation
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17
Q

Lords not passing legislation

A

The Hunting Ban, 2004

18
Q

Defeat of bill in the legislative process

A

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.

19
Q

Amendments

A

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

20
Q

Examples of knee jerk legislation

A

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

21
Q

Functions of the Commons

A
  • Legislation
  • Representation of interests
  • Debate
  • Making government accountable
22
Q

Legislation

A

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.

23
Q

Representation of interests

A

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.

24
Q

Debate

A

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

25
Q

Making government accountable

A

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.

26
Q

Functions of the Lords

A
  • Scrutiny of secondary legislation
  • Scrutiny
  • Expertise
27
Q

Scrutiny of secondary legislation

A

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

28
Q

Scrutiny

A

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.

29
Q

Expertise

A

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

30
Q

Ping Pong Politics

A

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.

31
Q

Mhairi Black

A

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

32
Q

Maria Eagle (Labour)

A

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.

33
Q

Lord Adonis (Labour)

A

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

34
Q

Lord Dannatt (crossbencher)

A

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

35
Q

Oversight (how well Parliament checks the executive) Effective

A
  • 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.
36
Q

Oversight (how well Parliament checks the executive) Not effectives

A
  • April 2018 – Theresa May launched air strikes in Syria with no vote
  • Fusion of power means that gov legislation usually passes
37
Q

Committees

A
  • PAC – Public accounts committee
  • Departmental select committee
  • Back Benchers Committee
38
Q

PAC – Public accounts committee

A
  • 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)
39
Q

Departmental select committee

A
  • 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.
40
Q

Back Benchers Committee

A
  • 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
41
Q

Speaker of the House

A
  • 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

UK Politics (6 decks)

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