Parliament and Executive Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing the structure, role, and powers of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet in the UK.

What type of bills are Private Members' Bills?

Bills introduced by individual MPs who are not government ministers.

Which Labour MP introduced the Assisted Dying Bill 2024?

Kim Leadbeater.

What type of bills are the Great British Energy Bill 2024?

Government bills.

What is the term for a two-chamber legislature?

Bicameral.

Which act significantly reduced the number of hereditary peers in the House of Lords?

House of Lords Act 1999.

Name two of the Devolution Acts.

Scotland Act 1998 and Wales Act 1998.

What is the function of parliamentary committees?

To scrutinize government actions and hold ministers accountable.

What does the Public Accounts Committee inquire about?

Government spending.

What legislation was highly scrutinized in Parliament?

EU Act 2018.

What is the purpose of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs)?

Scrutiny of the executive.

What type of committee questioned Johnson over the government's response to Covid-19?

Liaison Committee.

What is the role of MPs in relation to their constituents?

Representation.

Give an example of when Parliament debated a major national issue.

Iraq war debate in 2003.

What is the UK's target for net-zero emissions?

Net-zero by 2050.

What is Parliament's role in relation to the national budget?

Passing the budget.

What impact did the Wright Committee reforms have?

Gave more voice to backbench MPs.

What is the role of the House of Lords in amending legislation?

Revising Chamber.

The House of Lords scrutinized which bill in 2020?

Internal Market Bill.

Who dominated parliament, with a lack of significant opposition, from 1997-2007?

Tony Blair

What is a significant weakness of the House of Lords?

Lack of democratic legitimacy.

What is the term for the Prime Minister's power to temporarily suspend Parliament?

Proroguing parliament.

Who resigned, for example David Davis, as a consequence of Theresa May triggering Article 50?

Senior Cabinet figures.

Which Prime Minister was known for using a 'sofa government'?

Tony Blair.

Which Prime Minister was known for using 'The Quad'?

David Cameron

Which Prime Minister had a Cabinet described as a mix of 'dries and wets'?

Margaret Thatcher.

How was the Covid-19 pandemic handled?

Through COBRA meetings involving key cabinet members.

Who were key members of May's Brexit Cabinet Committees?

David Davis and Olly Robbins.

How is the power of the Prime Minister limited?

Judicial Review.

What led to Boris Johnson's eventual resignation?

Partygate and opposition within his party.