Parliament

Politics edexcel a level

What makes up Parliament? 

Two chambers HOL (Lords spiritual and peers, no more hereditary peers The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026) and committees and HOC.  

Select committees: Group of MPS scrutinising specific gov department 

Public Bill Committee: MPs debating and forming legislation representative of numbers of each party based on seats. 

Backbencher: MPs who don’t hold a minerstial office 

Cabinet: People MP chooses to be in parliament (Recent council elections have led to Labour divisions, Streeting resigned, blah)

What are strengths HOL? 

-Expertise

-Scrutiny of acts Case Study: The Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee: The Lords formed a dedicated committee to evaluate how EU laws and the Windsor Framework dynamically apply to Northern Ireland

-Not elected: No need to please public and have long experience and influence Case Study: The European Affairs Committee Reports: Even post-exit, the House of Lords European Affairs Committee continues to wield strength in charting the UK-EU relationship

What are weaknesses HOL?

-Salisbury convention, also can’t interfere with “Money bills” People’s budget 1909, interfered with it due to aristocratic outrage. 2 years later parliament act which meant Lords don’t delay money bills. Can only delay 1 year, filled with appointed peers from last pm (BJ Lebedev, Cruddas and John Johnson)

What are strengths HOC? 

-Strong mandate due to election and represent 

-Influential in legislation and media such as Streeting  and Labour manifesto 

-Scrutiny like PMQS and select committee, joint inquiry led by the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee

What are weaknesses HOC? 

-Rely on public opinion/media 

(But 2024 election Starmer’s “Change” had low memorability according to You-gov At the top of the table are Labour’s tax plans, but only 7% of Britons cited this as the party news story they remember most. This is followed by 6% for Starmer’s leadership and performances in the debates, and an additional 6% most remember Labour’s campaign message of change.)   

-Executive dominance/electoral dictatorship The Action: The Coronavirus Act 2020 was passed through the House of Commons in just one day, granting sweeping powers to ministers and Prorogation.  

-Party divisions/minority parties, no acts past. DC, Labour. 

-PM corruption (Greenshill and DC)