UK Parliament Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are backbench rebellions?
When backbench MP’s in the government’s party do not support the government’s work and actively look to oppose it
What are party whips?
Discipline party MP’s, make them vote with the party
What are the four functions of the House of Commons?
- Legislation
- Accountability & Scrutiny
- Representation
- Debating (deliberation)
(LARD)
What are the three functions of the House of Lords?
- Legislation
- Accountability & Scrutiny
- Debating (deliberation)
(LAD)
What is the difference between a bill and an act?
Bill = proposed
Act = passed
What are the two different types of bills?
Public: most fall into this, proposed by gvt, usually always gets passed due to gvt majority
Private Member: proposed by an individual MP and it is sent to parliament, only 7 allowed per year and vast majority do not get passed
What are select committees?
Select committees are temporary committees created with a timeline to complete a specific task, like investigating government activity. Rather than researching and reporting bills to the House floor, they research specific issues or oversee government agencies.
How are PMQ’s effective or ineffective at scrutinising parliament?
Eff: PM does not get to see questions in advance, backbench MP’s can ask 6 questions during PMQ’s.
Ineff: “punch and judy” politics, conducted more for publicity than democracy, seen as comedic and a joke
What are the powers and limitations of select committees?
Powers: derive from the powers of the House and from standing orders
Limitations: They do not actually hold anything over the government. PM’s often didn’t answer them.
What is a redress of grievances?
The right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of one’s government to have their issue resolved
What is meant by having an MP-Constituency link?
MP represents the constituency,they are their ‘spokesperson’. Elected by them to represent their views in the Commons.
Do MP’s represent constituents effectively?
Y:
Many are willing to put their constituency first over their party views
N:
Most votes in commons are whipped, so party loyalty usually comes first for MP’s
Do MP’s successfully redress their grievances?
Y:
Hold monthly surgeries and often use their MP role to address serious issues in Parliament
N:
Many might not be able to do any local work or hold surgeries and could be hard to take up local issues successfully
What does the current day make-up of Parliament look like?
HoC: Most socially diverse government under Starmer, some other parties are still not very representative
HoL: Still ‘pale, male and stale’ but a wide range of professions
What are opposition day debates?
Opposition gets to choose the topic of the day, 20 per parliamentary session
17 for opposition party, 3 for other minor parties
Opposition can essentially set the agenda for the day
How are opposition day debates effective?
- Chance to raise an issue and get media coverage
- Chance to criticise the government
- Can sometimes make a difference
How are opposition day debates ineffective?
- Government has a majority so these debates usually end in defeat for opposition
- Government can amend the motion to suit them, (amendment will win the vote due to majority)
- Even if government lose, they do not have to act on the result of the debate
What is good about the debating function of parliament?
- Airs important issues
- Gives opposition chance to perform its functions
- Gives backbenches a chance to bring issues they are interested in
- Holds government to account
What is a problem about the debating function of parliament?
- Can feel meaningless, they are not legislation
- Often take place in Westminter Hall rather than Parliament, can feel like an after-thought
- Outcomes can be ignored
What are Urgent Questions (UQ) ?
If there is an urgent/important matter, an MP may apply for a UQ. They may request that the speaker considers their application each day. Must be submitted to speaker and receive an answer on the same day.
The Lords have less power than the Commons:
- Salisbury Convention reduced their power
- Parliament Acts significantly reduced power of HoL
- Lords can only make amendments, money bills ‘ought not to be altered by the Lords’
The Lords does not have less power than the Commons:
- Salisbury convention is not legally binding
- On the bills they amend, they have a mass amount of experience and time to ensure full scrutiny
- Ability to delay legislation is still quite powerful and does get used
What are exclusive powers of the HoC?
- Taxation and public expenditure, money bills
- ‘Confidence and supply’ a ‘supply’ of votes needed to get legislation passed
How is Lords’ power limited?
- Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949
- Salisbury Convention
- Amending function is limited
- Abolition threat
- Self-restraint is important, they lack democratic legitimacy
