Structure of the HOC

What are front benches bound by?

Collective ministerial responsibility

What ones being a front bencher mean they must do?

Support the government publicly

What does the main opposition also have?

A “shadow” cabinet

What will parties appoint in order to maintain party discipline ?

Whips

What are MPs elected on?

A party manifesto

Other than the party manifesto what else must MPs represent?

The interests of their constituents and their own judgement

What will whips encourage MP’s to do?

Support party lines

What will be issued on especially important issues?

a three line whip

what does a three line whip require MPs to do?

They must attend a vote and vote according to the demands of leadership

What happens if an MP defies a “three line whip”

They will have the whip “removed” meaning they lose their membership of the parliamentary party

When are whips particularly important?

during a small parliamentary majority

Which MP in the HOC must be impartial?

The speaker

What can the speaker not do?

Engage in political debate

What is the role of the speaker?

To ensure that parliament functions effectively and ensures proper procedures are followed in debates and has a disciplinary function.

What does the speaker arrange?

Parliamentary business with the leaders of the main political parties

How is the speaker elected?

Through a secretary ballot of all MP’s

In 2019 what did speaker John Bercow stand up for?

The rights of parliament against the executive when he stopped May from re introducing her un amended Brexit deal into the HOC

What is the role of the leader of the official opposition?

Scrutinise the policies of government

What has the opposition since 1970 been able to claim?

Short money to subsidise scrutiny work

How many questions can the leader of the opposition ask during PMQs?

6 questions

What does PMQs allow opposition to do?

Put high profile pressure on the government and highlights any failures of policy, offering their own solutions.