Parliament
What is the definition for Parliament?
known as the legislature, it has sovereignty in the UK - ultimate power
What is bicameralism?
where parliament has two chambers with distinctive memberships and functions
What examples are there for Parliament controlling government? (5)
1. 1979 Vote of Confidence 2. 1994 VAT rise defeated 3. 2005 detention of terrorist 4. 2008 detention of terrorist of suspects 5. 2011 fixed term parliament defeated
What features does the House of Commons have? (9)
1. 650 MPs elected in constituencies 2. MPs represent interests of constituencies 3. Majority in Commons forms government 4. Front bench - Members of government + Senior members of opposition 5. Backbenchers - MPs not on front bench 6. Select and Standing committees 7. Whips - party discipline, communication between backbench and party leadership 8. Government mostly controls parliamentary agenda 9. Neutral speaker
What two reforms happened in 2010 to the House of Commons?
1. Backbench Business Committee - controls the debate in the main chamber on 27 days/year and may select any topic (these included; war in Afghanistan, 'big society'), schedules 8 days of debate in Westminster Hall 2. Chairs of select committees are elected by backbench MPs - takes power away from party whips and leaders
What have been the options for reform in the HOL? (4)
1. Complete abolition of the second chamber - a view held by left-wing socialists MPs 2. A completely appointed second chamber - largely held in Conservative party, attractive as worthy people would be brought into politics, independent chamber 3. A completely elected second chamber - supported by Lib Dems, most Labour, some Conservatives - most democratic solution 4. A partly elected, partly appointed second chamber - Conservative, proposals range from 50%-50% t0 80% elected 20% appointed
What impact has membership of the EU had on Parliament?
1. EU law is superior over UK law 2. Statute law cannot conflict with EU law 3. Consideration of EU legislation happens in HOL rather than HOC 3. ECHR immersed into UK HRA 4. Parliamentary sovereignty means that the UK could leave the EU at any time
Why does government dominates Parliament? (5)
1. Government claims a mandate from people for its policies - Parliament lacks the legitimate right to ignore the mandate 2. Government enjoys a clear majority in the Commons therefore counts on support 3. Power of patronage - MPs seek promotion to government as some time, all government posts are in the hands of the PM - exercises a great deal of power 4. Whips - remind MP's where their loyalty lies, suspension if rebellious 5. House of Lords is limited by statute and convention
What four reforms were proposed by the coalition government?
1. HOC Business Committee - it will control the business of the House completely 2. Redraw of constituency lines to an equal size - to make elections fairer + give MPs equal responsibilities 3. Power to recall - a petition can force a by-election at which the sitting MP will seek re-election, 2/3 majority 4. Size of House reduced by 10%
What is the function of Parliament? (3)
1. Joint functions of both Houses - granting formal approval for legislation, calling government to account, scrutinising legislation and proposing amendments, debating political issues 2. Commons - representation, MPs seek redress of grievances of citizens and groups, vetoing legislation, removing power from government it lost legitimacy 3. Lords - delaying legislation to force reconsideration, representing interests and causes, providing improvements for legislation
How can does Parliament control government? (5)
1. Parliament is sovereign - can veto legislation if its not in the interest of public, or no legitimate mandate 2. House of Commons can removed government by a vote of no confidence 3. Parliament amends legislation to improve it 4. House of Lords - retains independence, patronage is weaker 5. Select committees
What features does the House of Lords have? (6)
1. Upper House - but is junior partner to Commons 2. 92 hereditary peers, 26 archbishops, several hundred life peers 3. Legislative committee - NOT departmental 4. Crossbenchers - not affiliated to any party 5. No party majority 6. Neutral Lord Speaker
Why are MPs bad? (4)
1. conflict between party policy + constituency = party win 2. MP's on legislative committess are ineffective because the government dominates them 3. whips enforce strict party discipline 4. little time is reserved in Parliament for backbench business
What are the features of departmental select committees? (5)
1. consists of 11-13 backbenchers 2. oversee the work of government departments 3. question ministers, civil servants, advisers 4. produce reports that are unanimous + cross party lines 5. influential - advisory chamber e.g. Culture, Media + Sport committee
What functions do legislative committees in the House of Commons have? (4)
1. consists of 15-40 backbench MPs 2. considers amendments to proposed legislation 3. always have government majority (proportional) 4. largely ineffectual effect where an issue is not controversial between parties
What functions do legislative committees in the House of Lords have?
1. contains 15+ members 2. contains peers who are experts on the issue being legislated 3. subject to weaker party discipline 4. often pass significant amendments to improve legislation 5. defy government's wishes 6. amendments have to approved by Commons
What is a presidential government? (5)
1. executive and legislative branches are separate 2. president is elected separately from legislature 3. president doesn't sit in legislature 4. accountable to people, not legislature 5. constitutional rules establish limits of presidents power
Why are Peers good? (4)
1. independent of party control 2. experts in certain areas of policy so can improve legislation + contribute debate 3. campaigning peers do effective work on behalf of pressure group 4. no elections so they hold office for long periods so they have continuity, constituency dates so they have time
What is a parliamentary government? (5)
1. no separation of powers between the government and -parliament 2. government draws authority from parliament 3. government isn't separately elected from parliament 4. government is accountable to parliament 5. members of government must sit in the legislature UK
Why are Peers bad? (3)
1. paid little, little administrative back-up 2. powers of HOL are limited 3. not elected, lack democratic legitimacy, less authority
Why are MPs good? (3)
1. strongly represent the interests and grievances of constituents 2. select committees staffed by backbenchers have a good reputation for calling government to account 3. MP's can be effective during PMQ
Why were these reforms proposed? (4)
1. widespread disillusionment with politicians - in particular MPs 2. make HOC more accountable 3. improve the ability of backbench MPs to call government to account 4. voting power in constituencies more equal
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a mixture?
AD 1. enjoy the advantages of both main alternatives DIS 1. it would suffer the same disadvantages
What are the advantages and disadvantages of all appointed?
AD 1. many useful, knowledgeable individuals could brought into politics 2. opportunity to manipulate the membership to ensure a political and social balance 3. it would be more independent than HOC DIS 1. too much patronage power into the hands of the party leaders 2. still be seen as undemocratic and lacking legitimacy
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the HOL public bill committee?
AD 1. members have specialist knowledge 2. independent and free from party control 3. can be obstructive to government DIS 1. proposed amendments can be overturn in HOX 2. government can re-present proposed legislation in the next parliamentary sessions
What are the advantages and disadvantages of fully elected?
AD 1. most democratic 2. members would be fully accountable 3. more authority DIS 1. become too influential + obstruct the government excessively --> gridlock 2. unnecessary to have two elected chambers 3. people may be apathetic if faced with two elections
What are the advantages and disadvantages of HOC legislative committee?
AD 1. opportunity to examination of legislation in detail DIS 1. divide on party lines and so are not independent 2. lack expertise 3. government can curtail debate if taking too long
What are the advantages and disadvantages of abolition?
AD 1. save money 2. streamline legislative process 3. remove obstructions from efficient government 4. force HOC to face up to its responsibilities DIS 1. an important check on governmental power be lost 2. would deny many worthy individuals the opportunity to engage in politics 3. expertise of the second chamber would be lost
What are the advantages and disadvantages of HOC select committees?
AD 1. act largely independently 2. power to call ministers, civil servants + witnesses 3. given extensive time for questioning + investigating DIS 1. no ability to enforce their recommendations
How effectively does the House of Lords carry out its functions? (6)
Representation YES - more representative than Commons, society and associations are represented by peers, specific experience and knowledge NO - unelected, not accountable therefore doesn't represent anyone, not socially representative (high average age, shortage of women, few working class members) Calling Government to Account YES - peers are more independent, more active in their questioning NO - no select committees so valuable means of accountability are comprised Scrutiny YES - legislative committees are more effective than their counterparts in the Commons, less divide along party lines, experience + knowledge specifically when scrutinising Legislating YES - laws must be passed through Lords to have legitimacy NO - Salisbury convention, unelected so cannot provide legitimacy to legislation Debating YES - It has more time + more expertise NO - weak legislating powers Checking Government Power YES - government cannot control members NO - government has several ways of by-passing obstruction by the Lords
How effectively does the House of Commons carry out its roles? (6)
Representation YES - most MPs very active in representing interests, represents large associations + pressure groups NO - not socially representative, minority of women + ethnic minorities, party loyalty means they toe party line Calling Government to Account YES - PMQ, Liaison Committee (question PM twice/year), NO - PMQ has little relevance to real policy, MPs are reluctant to be critical for fear of disloyalty Scrutiny YES - select committees NO - MPs given little time to effectively scrutinise legislation, poorly drafted Legislating YES - make it legitimate, respected laws as they are legitimised by the government NO - procedures are ancient, ritualised and inefficient Debating YES - set up for a debate chamber, effective debates e.g. War in Iraq, tuition fees NO - relatively little time for debates Checking Government Power YES - retains power to veto legislation, discipline government NO - party loyalty means that MPs are reluctant to challenge government, governmeny rarely loses major votes in Commons
What is the public accounts committee?
always chaired by an opposition backbencher, investigates the financial aspects of government, highly influential,
