UK Parliament Flashcards
Benefits of bicameral legislature?
the upper house provides checks and balances, greater scrutiny + revision of legislation, and may represent different interests
But there are also problems: may be institutional conflict between the 2 houses producing legislative gridlock + an indirectly elected upper house may frustrate the will of the democratically elected lower house
Democratically elected chamber of 650 MPs - each MP elected in a single-member constituency using FPTP
Whips
they have 3 main roles:
Ensuring MPs attend parliamentary divisions (votes) and approving the absence of MPs when their vote will not be required
Issuing instructions on how MPs should vote - each week MPs receive instructions on their attendance - debates with a vote will be underlined - a three-line whip is a strict instruction to attend and vote according to the party line or face disciplinary action - issued on the most important divisions
Enforcing discipline - the whips seek to persuade wavering MPs to vote with their party by providing assurances, making offers + issuing threats - rebellious MPs may be expelled from the party by having the whip withdrawn and having to remain in the House as an Independent
The Speaker
The speaker of the House presides over debates in the chamber, selecting MPs to speak + maintaining order - they may temporarily suspend MPs who break parliamentary rules - they are elected by MPs in a secret ballot - once chosen they give up their party affiliation and become non-partisan - they do not vote unless there is a tie
The speaker has occasionally been controversial:
Select Committees
Have extended + enhanced parliamentary scrutiny of the executive - their overall aim is to hold govt accountable for policy + decision making, and support parliament in scrutinising legislation + govt spending
They highlight important issues, bring expert contributions to debates, hold the govt accountable for policy problems + issue evidence-based recommendations
