parl structure

Question 1

benefits of having 2 chambers

Answer 1

• represents different interests, states in federal system
• greater scrutiny and revision for legislation (rwanda bill, HoL)
• upper house has checks and balances

Question 2

who sits where in the Hoc

Answer 2

• governing party on the right and opposition on the left
• shadow mins and ministers are front benchers
• non mins mps are backbenchers

Question 3

what is it like being an MP

Answer 3

• 2023: £86,584
• parl priveledge: legal immunity, right to free speech (no fear of prosecution)
• parl expenses also paid, running office, employing staff, accommodation, travel
• each house has the right to regulate its own internal affairs without interference from outside bodies (courts)
• expected to be totally loyal in the chamber if your party is in gov
• no induction into how to be a ‘good’ mp, cannot effectively scrutinise or make effective change as they are not taught how

Question 4

what are mps not allowed to do

Answer 4

• address another MP by name only by title
• speak until called by the speaker by bobbing
• cannot clap to show approval in the HoC

Question 5

erskine may and mp behaviour rules

Answer 5

• cannot call others liars or hypocrites
• mp is called to apologise for foul language to others or will be ejected

Question 6

mp behaviour in the HoC

Answer 6

• PMQ heckling, roaring, screeching, bellowing etc
• either wrong foot a speaker on the opposition or one liners shouted in short silences
• practiced hecklers: michael dugher, labour
• tory have heckling squads –> departmental support groups
• dennis skinner: called C members crooks and apologied by reversing the statement, called david C as dodgy dave

Question 7

public opinion of PMQ

Answer 7

22 feb 17
- 2% watched it to the end
- less than 1/3 said they had watched ones before but not thsi one
- 54% said they had never watched it
- 77% said there was too much ‘party political point scoring instead of answering the question’
- 23% said it put them off politics

Question 8

arguments for and against changing the structure of the HoC

Answer 8

FOR
- adversarial chamber that damages our politics
- encourages less confrontational debates if semi circle
- reduces the tribalism which puts the public off

AGAINST
- shape cannot change culture and personality –> this is the issue
- creates clear divisions against parties
- debate and disagreement makes sharp policy

Question 9

what do whips do

Answer 9

• ensuring mps attend parliament divisions and approving absence when their role is not needed
• instructing how mps should vote, debate with votes are underlined –> ‘3 line whip’, strict instruction to vote according to party line or face disciplinary action, most important divisions
• alistair campbell: chief w of L of Hoc
• lord kennedy of southwark: chief w of L and HoL
• simon hart: C and HoC
• baroness williams of trafford C and HoL

Question 10

what does the speaker do

Answer 10

• presides over debates and maintains order
• cant temp suspend rule breakers
• elected by mps by secret ballot, no party affiliation, vote is for tie breaker and debate
• stand down at GE but usually re-elected

Question 11

john bercow as a speaker (significance)

Answer 11

• allowed multiple urgent questions a day, MPs talked of major issues, rather than to be appearing to ignore them
• significance: increased scrutiny of gov by backbenchers, allowed for different party views to be expressed and elected MPs could express the opinions of people in parl
• allowed parl expression to a major current of public opinion
• annoying, bullying allegations, attempted secret vote to get him removed
• allowed emergency motions to be more than a bland formulation
• procedural rulings: commons maj = real authority over events making mps unhappy
• partisan: bias and party alliance, allows pregnant and new mother mps to cast proxy votes

Question 12

lindsay hoyle as a speaker

Answer 12

• elected by AV
• hoyle is experienced, impartial on brexit and can handle a crisis
• equality and reputation –> tolerance
• difficult to depart from conventions, not as willing as bercow

Question 13

life peers in the HoL and significance

Answer 13

• 695 in nov 2016
• life peerages act 1958: appoint members to the upper house for life, no inheritance
• PM: recommends individuals for appointments
• life peerages act 1958 and HoL act 1999, diversity and professionalism –> former mps, business people, educations and arts sector all have lords
• having diff professionals allows for expertise to review gov policy

Question 14

hereditary peers in HoL and significance

Answer 14

• 92 –> HoL act 1999, elected
• 75 elected by ballots of hereditary peers from their party and crossbench groups
• peerages act 1963: H peers can renounce titles and memberships of the Lords
• why is this bad: unelected representatives, PMs can influence who is appointed (michelle moan and ppe)

Question 15

how is lords reform effective or not effective

Answer 15

• increased equality, removal of unelected peers
• increased diversity and professionalism
• having different professionals have different people review policies of gov
• independent HoL appointment, commission, unbiased

BUT
- pm can influence who is appointed, blair 2006-7, michelle m and johnson
- unelected house

Question 17

what are the 5 functions of parl

Answer 17

• legislation
• debate
• scrutiny and accountability
• recruiting minsters
• representation

Question 18

what is scrutiny and accountability

Answer 18

• parliament examines the policies and work of the executive to hold it to account
• ensures gov is accountable by requiring ministers to explain and justify their actions

Question 19

parliamentry questions are effective scrutiny

Answer 19

• allows opposition leader, leader of third party and backbenchers to scrutinise PM
• designated opportunity for all MPS to question the executive
• weekly: constant scrutiny over a period of time
• gov are forced to justify their actions in a public form

Question 20

parliamentary questions are not effective scrutiny

Answer 20

• govt backbenchers are usually given questions by whips to flatter rather than probe
• speaker bercow: fails to effectively reduce in chamber –> leads to parl theatre not effective S, questions not answered directly, one-liners etc
• leader of opposition tries to influence shape of agenda + highlight gov failures
• gov drive agenda, not opposition, 4/5 times a year
• no follow up Q for mps
• backbenchers can be ignored if not seen to fit the gov agenda

Question 21

why is the oppositon effective scrutiny

Answer 21

• appears as an alternative gov in waiting, needs to develop its own policies and may support government measures
• can force policy retreats when gov has a small maj
• 20 opposition days a year, advance agenda or expose government failure
• opposition leader, 6 questions at PMQ for further scrutiny of the PM

Question 22

why is the opposition not effective scrutiny

Answer 22

• has limited opportunities to set agenda in parliament
• opposition is divided and in a minority as they just lost a GE, weak opposition
• 17/20 for main opposition, other parties have little question time between them

Question 23

what are select committees

Question 24

why are select committees effective scrutiny

Answer 24

• select C scrutinise policies and actions of gov, conduct detailed examinations of controversial issues
• question ministers and can request access to gov papers
• many select C recommendations are accepted by gov
• election of chairs and members by mps has enhanced the independence of SC

Question 25

why are select committees not effective scrutiny

Answer 25

- a gov with a maj in HoC will have a maj in committees - mins and civil servants: may not give enough into and can deny documents - no power to propose policy: gov can ignore recs made by SC - some do not attend reg: overly abrasive when questioning witnesses

Question 26

when were select committees introduced and what do they focus on

Answer 26

- introduced in 1980 - focus on the work of specific government departments or agencies

Question 27

what different roles can a select committee be tasked with

Answer 27

- pre legislative scrutiny --> gathering information before the drafting of new leg or while a bill is in its early draft stage (environmental, food and rural affairs committee on draft animal welfare bill (2017) - post legislative scrutiny --> evaluating the impact and function of a new act of parliament since it has come into law to determine whether it has achieved its intended purpose - scrutiny of an individual minister, agency or departments performance --> shadowing their work and examining policy issues

Question 28

how do select committees function

Answer 28

- comprise a min of 11 mps and/or peers who draw evidence from a wide range of sources - question gov ministers and civil servants and may appoint experts and invite members of the public to give evidence

Question 29

cross departmental select committees

Answer 29

- public accounts committee --> monitors how money is spent on public services - environmental audit committee --> role is to check how gov policies comply with sustainability and the protection of environment

Question 30

why do select committees have a high level of internal democracy

Answer 30

- reflects the party political balance of the house of commons - the proportion of seats in each committee given to opposition parties will be equal to the proportion of seats they hold in the commons - elected by MPs across parliament, individual parties select members to sit on each committee

Question 32

act of parliament

Answer 32

law passed by parliament

Question 33

bill

Answer 33

proposal for a new law/change to a current law that has yet to complete the parliamentary leg process

Question 34

green paper

Answer 34

gov document setting out various options for legislation and inviting comment

Question 35

public bill

Answer 35

bill concerning a general issue of public policy, introduced by a gov minister --> most important type of bill, debated in parliament

Question 36

white paper

Answer 36

gov doc setting out a detailed proposal for legislation

Question 37

private bill

Answer 37

sponsored by an organisation (company or local authority) --> group affected by a bill has the right to petition parliament against it

Question 38

hybrid bill

Answer 38

- combination of public and private - propose changes to the law which would affect the general public but also certain groups or areas in particular (HS2 railway link)

Question 39

private members bill

Answer 39

- introduced by backbench MPs or a member of the lords and are unlikely to become law - in the commons, the names of MPs applying to introduce a private members bill are drawn in a ballot - mps can make a proposal using a 10 minute rule, in a time limited speech

Question 40

process of passing a bill

Answer 40

- first reading - 2nd reading - committee stage - report stage - third reading - house of lord stages

Question 41

first reading, bills

Answer 41

- formal presentation of the title of the bill on the floor of the house by a minister from the responsible department - no debate/vote at this stage

Question 42

2nd reading, bills

Answer 42

- main debate on bill principle - gov min explains + justifies bills objectives - shadow ministers responds, backbenchers contribute to debate - if bill contested, vote taken, rarely lost by gov at reading stage

Question 43

committee stage, bills

Answer 43

- detailed scrutiny of each clause takes place and amendments can be made - new committee formed for each public bill, which is dissolved when bill has completed this stage - membership (16-50) reflects party strength in the commons and the whips instruct MPs how to vote and public bill committees may take evidence from outside experts - finance bills and bills of constitutional significance (EU ref) are scrutinised on HoC floor --> committee of the whole house

Question 44

report stage

Answer 44

- amendments made by committee are considered by the full HoC -> can accept, reject or alter - mps not on public bill committee now have an opportunity to table amendments

Question 45

thirs reading

Answer 45

- debate on amended bill on the floor of the house, no further amendments are permitted

Question 46

hose of lord stages

Answer 46

- bill sent ot HoL where stages are repeated - amendments in Lords can be agreed, rejected or amended again - parl ping pong --> bill can go back and forth between the houses - gov can accept changes, leave bill or invoke parl act - most public bills must pass all these stages in one session of parl