Parliament

Parliament

House of Commons and House of Lords and possess supreme legislative authority and scrutinizes the work of government and represents the diverse interest of the UK also provides membership of the government

House of Commons

Parliaments democratically elected chamber. Mps represent constituencies across the UK, scrutinize government, vote on legislation as the democratic body representing the nation, The House of Commons can also dismiss a government if it loses a parliamentary vote of confidence

Public Bill Committee

Once a Bill has passed its second reading in the HOC its details are then consdiered by a Public Bill Committe when possible amendments are discussed before the bill returns to the HOC for the report stage and then its third reading

House of Lords

The unelected chamber of the Westminster Parliament is composed of life peers, hereditary peers and Anglican bishops it does not possess democratic legitimacy so the main focus is on scrutinising the work of the HOC

Salisbury Convention

Since the lords cannot claim democratic legitimacy established they cannot stop legislation contained in the governing party manifesto to do so would oppress the expressed will of the public .Can propose an amendment but should not be designed to wreck the bill

Backbenchers

Members of the HOC and HOL who arent members of the government and arent bound by collective ministerial responsibility so are more independent but expected to obey the party whip

Legislative Bill

Proposed piece of legislation that can be introduced in either HOC or HOL if it passed both houses it receives royal assent and becomes an Act of Parliament due to 1911 and 1949 a legislative bill can still become law even if it is opposed by the HOL

Select Committee

Small number of MPs, HOC select commitees investigate work of departments of state but can also focus on specific subjects as HOL select committes do some can be adress by join committees

Parliamentary privilege

A principle that protects Mps and peers from being sued for libel or slander ensuring freedom of speech includes right of cognisance (parliament to control its own internal affairs)

Opposition

Second largest party in HOC opposition front bench scutinises its decisions and uses its role to persuade the electorate that its a potential government in waiting

How many members are there?

650

How big is the isle of wight constituency?

110,000

How big is the smallest constituency?

21,837 in Scotland

What are Mp in cabinet/shadow cabinet called?

Front benchers

What is the limit on HOL size?

There is none

Types of Lords

Spiritual

Hereditary
Life Peers

How many hereditary peers are there?

92

How are hereditary peers replaced?

One dies and replaced using AV voting among the group they belong to

How do most bills begin?

In HOC

Do most bills pass?

Yes as the government has a majority and can use party whips

What is the 3 line whip?

If you dont vote with party you will face disciplinary action

eg. Johnson did this to his MPs regardingBrexit

How do MPs vote and whats the issue with this?

Walk through Aye or No lobby

Not discrete

What is the job of the opposition?

Holding the government to account

When are PMQs?

Every Wednesday 30 mins

What is issue with PMQ?

Political point scoring

What are select committe?

Mps that look closely at department work

Interview minsiters

Produce reports

What are debates?

Shape events especially if a government is defeated or if topic is chosen by Backbench Business Committee

Control topic 1 day a week since 2010

Played a major role during brexit

Do the commons also provide minsiters?

Yes

Do the commons represent the will of the people?

They should do

MPs have voted against Heathrow and HS2 due to impact on constituents

Is the commons representative of society?

23% privately educated wheras only 7% of the UK is

263 females Mps

90 are from minority ethnic backgrounds

Can the Lords block a finance bill?

NO

How do Lords vote?

Walk in to ‘Content’ or ‘Not content’ Lobby

How do Lords scrutiny the executive?

Question to ministers (usually Junior)

Committees (topic based)

Debates (often high quality as have experts in many fields) but unlikely to have much impact

Do Lords provide minsters?

Occasionally

2008 Brown recalled Peter Mandelson from European Commission and appointed him to the Lords and Made him Business Secretary

Significant issues within Commons?

Tribal Politics ‘political point scoring’

Party system limits strength of Scrutiny

Ministers often have no relevant experience they control eg Brext, Covid 19 (Pennycook)

Significant issues within Lords?

Unelected- undermine legitimacy

Reform is needed

Example of bad rushed legislation

Dangerous Dog Act of 1991

focused on breed of dog not ownership

How can the commons bring down a government?

Hold a vote of no confidence and qin - in 2019 Johnson was encouraging this as he wanted election but couldnt due to fixed term parliament act

Brought down Labour in 1979

What is a confidence and supply deal and when was it used?

2017-2019 minority conservative government so gave DUP £1 billion to NI if they backed Conservative government

What are exclusive powers of Commons?

Vote of no confidence

Confidence and supply deal

Insist on Legislation

What are main powers of Lords?

Power of delay by 1 year

Delay non finance bills

Force a general election if government tried to stay beyond 5 years without a general election

Scrutinise and Revise legislation

Examples of the Lords having power?

2005 Challenged Labour bringing in identity cards as only have 35.2% of the vote

2010-Coalition Government -whos manifesto to follow

2017- minority

Is the Lords becoming more important?

Since 1999 more Legitimacy and many hereditary peers were removed

Lords have been encouraged to challenge the parliament eg. Equalising the age of consent for gay people in 2000

Banning fox hunting with dogs in 2004

1999 Conservative majority was removed

.1997-2000 13 defeats a year

2015-2019 55 a year

Showing increased scrutinisation

Public Bills/ Government

brough forward by government

most of our legislation

Private bill

company or local authority eg. 2013 Local Authorities and Transport for London Act

Hybrid Bill

Mixture of the two as impact general public but specific group

HS2

Private members bill

Introduced by backbenches but usually defeated

Some positive ones:

Abortion act (1967)

Bill requires NHS and councils to look after people with Autism (2009)

Abolition of the death penatly (1965)

A ballot to propose a bill

20 MPs drawn out to propose a bill- often filibustered so dont work

10 min rule bill

10 mins to introduce a bill and usually just to raise awareness but some work

Divorce Act 2002

Stages a bill must go through to become law

1 First reading (a formal presentation) No vote or debate

2 Second reading: A debate on the principle of the bill and is explained and justified

3 Committee Stage: Public Bill Committee (based on rep in house) and examines the bill proposing amendments highly significant bills have the whole house

4 Report Stage : Amendments suggested and considered by whole house

5 Third reading: Vote and Debate

6 Goes to House of Lords - 1st reading 2nd reading , whole house stage , report, 3rd

7 Lords can propose amendments

8 Royal assent

What is secondary legislation?

Law made by ministers

3,500 a year

Scrutinised by Statuary Instruments Committee

Makes sure legislation works

Tax, Education, Health , Immigration