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48 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Main functions of parliament |
Pass legislation Scrutiny of executive Representation Recruitment Legitimisation of Gov |
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Legislation |
Parliament sovereignty - can make, amend or repeal laws - most legislation initiated by Gov - they have to mandate to fulfil the promises in their manifesto |
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Key people |
Julian smith MP - chief executive conservative whip Gavin Williamson - promoted defence secretary in November 2017, loyalty shown during whip, tryantula method |
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Bicameral parliamentary system |
Two chambers in parliament (legislation+laws) |
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Key features of legislation |
The executive and legislative branches are fused The legislative can dismiss executive |
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Who develops laws? |
Government |
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How does parliament strengthen government legitimacy? |
Passing legislation |
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Types of legislation |
Private bills - if local authorities wish to take action and the law forbids it they can apply for this to then be passed by parliament Private members bill - if individuals or groups or MPs or peers wish to present a bill they enter their names in a ballot / guaranteed one reading Public bills - presented by government and expected to be passed without obstruction |
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Similarities of HOL and HOC |
Everyone has a political affliction Both have speakers Both have front benchers |
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Differences of HOC and HOL |
The House of Lords is appointed They’re non political members |
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House of Lords |
Front benchers - most loyal, can’t be kicked out, higher in gov ranking Cross-benchers - non political members of public who have been appointed Hereditary peers - passed down through family, 92 Peers Life peers - 692 peers within HOL, nominated by PM or gov bodies Lord speaker - lord Fowler |
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House of commons |
Speaker - John bercow Whips - to keep order, Cheif whip, 3 or 4 others, tell people how to vote Front bench - government role Backbench mps - not much role in government, more rebellious adversarial politics - conflict, purposely designed for aggression |
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Two things proposed by government to have been approved by HOC |
Taxation and expenditure |
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Who announces annual budget ? |
Chancellor or exchequer |
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How common is it for the HOC to obstruct proposals in the annual budget? |
Extremely rare |
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Why isn’t the government continually accountable to the people ? |
Only occurs at general elections |
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What does the government have to do during PMQT? |
To justify policies and decisions |
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Give two ways in which HOC can investigate quality of government |
Opinion polls, scrutiny and legislation |
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How can the HOC remove the government ? |
A vote of no confidence |
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When did this last occur ? |
1979 |
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What functions do the HOC and HOL share |
Scrutiny of legislation |
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What are all backbenchers required to serve on ? |
Legislative committees |
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Why are backbenchers weak? |
Don’t have much involvement in government |
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Ways in which an MP can represent their constituency in HOC |
Talk about local issues and vote on their behalf |
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Why do pressure groups try recruit MP’s |
To get them to also represent their cause n views and to try get them to influence government |
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Why is party unity important? |
Can create divisions and lead to a vote of no confidence Majority isn’t important and could lead to government power being divided Reduces legitimacy |
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Role of whips |
Gov mandate - won election on policies in manifesto, need backing of MP’s to get through. Divisions - open up opportunities for journalists and opposition to expose and exploit differences Lose publics confidence |
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Scrutiny |
Theorist - Steven hawkin |
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Forms of scrutiny |
PMQT Select committees Debates
Parliament has oversight over Government actions Calls on them to justify actions The stronger and more united the opposition, the better the HOC is at scrutinising Gov |
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Select committees |
Departmental committees Formed in 1979 Conduct investigations Can call on witnesses Between 11-14 |
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Public accounts committee |
Date back to 1861 |
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Examples of EFFECTIVE select committees |
Home Affairs Select Committee, Shaun Wright - 1PCC for South Yorkshire and previously head of children’s services at the the time of the Rotherham child exploitation scandal - resigned Business Innovation and Skills Committee, investigated sir Phillip green over BHS pensions, Chair frank field hailed by public for his taught against green |
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Examples of INEFFECTIVE select committees |
Commons Select Committees of standards, investigated former Secretary of State for culture media and sport Maria milliner after she claimed £90,000 in expenses for a house her parents to live in, she apologised Work and pensions committee, Nigel mills playing candy crush for 2hours |
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Reasons why the HOL lacks democratic legitimacy |
They aren’t elected so can’t be held accountable |
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What is the unwritten rule of the The Salisbury Convention? |
Says that the HOL must not obstruct any legislative proposal that was included in the governments last election manifesto. |
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What is legislative ping pong ? |
Where a bill rapidly bounces back and forth between the two chambers like a ping pong ball |
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Outline two principles outlined in parliament in the parliament Acts in 1911 and 1949 |
Lords can only refuse to pass legislation once and they can’t debate about financial legislation |
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Give ones reason why HOL can be argued at better scrutinising government legislation than HOC |
They can give opinion, can amend proposals but they have experts in their house and who represent interests and causes in society so have a great deal to offer |
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What is primary legislation? |
Consists of Acts of parliament or statute. |
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What is secondary legislation |
Is the granting of additional law making powers to another branch of government by an act or statute |
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Representation: |
Theories - micro/cosmic/representative theory = if mps want to effectively represent their constituents they need to have similar backgrounds/beliefs/principles etc Burke’s theory - an mp... owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion’ |
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Who should an MP represent? |
Constituents, party and own conference |
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Key person |
Una king - voted with her party but not what her constituency wanted so she lost her seat at the next election |
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What powers are exclusive to the House of Commons ? |
Give consent to taxation and public expenditure; Commons represent tax payers, lords can debate many bills but can’t interfere with them Veto legislation outright; 2006, HOC exempted itself from the freedom of the information Act Dismissal of Government by a vote of no confidence |
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Confidence and supply |
June 2017 Election: conservatives 8 seats short of a majority, informal agreement with DUP Lib/Lab pact (1977-78 during Callaghans labour minority gov) |
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Reforms to composition of HOL |
Life Peerage Act 1958 - Gave pm the right to appoint New Labours 1997 manifesto - proposed to remove all hereditary peers House of Lords Act 1999 - Government accepted an amendment to the bill by remaining all but 92 H peers |
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Life peers appointed for their expertise |
Baron O’Donnell - pro bono economics, frontier economics. Baroness Lane Fox - Business woman, experience with charity. Lord Robert Winston - experience with science + technology, scientist. |
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Criticisms of HOL expertise |
Cronyism: PM’s filling HOL with their own supporters, rewarding loyalty, trying to ensure a gov majority in the house of loaded to help pass legislation. “Tony’s cronies” 2013 life peers “Cameron’s cronies” August 2016 rewarding eu politicians |
