Parliament

what is the west Lothian question

whether mps from NI, Scotland and wales in the HoC should be able to vote on matters which only affect england (english mps cannot vote on devolved matters)

recall mps act

an mp may have to give up their seat if

-face imprisonment

-found guilty of fraud relating to their expenses

-suspended from HoC for 14 days

FTPA

election must take place every five years but an early election can be held if gov loses vote of no confidence or 2/3 of HoC votes for early election

how many ethnic minority mps in HoC following 2024 election

90

(increase of 24)

how many ethnic minority mps from each party 2024

labour- 66

con- 15

lib dem- 5

women in HoC 2024

40.5% of the commons

263 total women

education and sexuality in 2024 HoC

64 mps openly lgbtq

in labour cabinet only 2/25 were privately educated

what is parliamentary ping pong

when a bill goes back and forth between HoC and HoL

what is a division

a vote

strengths of HoC

-elected means more representative of the public

-can vote against a law as well as proposing one

-made up of many parties

weaknesses of HoC

-laws can be voted against due to party rivalries

-two party domination

-large majority=domination

strengths of HoL

-experts in certain areas

-able to examine small details of bills

-crossbenchers to reduce bias

weaknesses of HoL

-cannot say no to a bill

-unelected

-hereditary peers

strengths of e-petitions

-raise awareness and show discontent

-over 1400 have been chosen for parliament

-can prompt major parliamentary debates e.g. legalisation of cannabis

-raise an important issue

weaknesses of e-petitions

-debate in parliament will not always result in a law change

-no change in policy has come directly from an e petition

-do not always reach large audiences

strengths of FTPA

-GE must take place every five years

-removed PMs prerogative power to call a snap election when it is beneficial to them

-power of calling a GE remains with PM

weaknesses of FTPA

-Parliament are able to ignore FTPA by passing legislation

-not significant enough legislation to bar a PM from holding an election

strengths of recall of MPs act

-interjected more direct democracy into the political system

-had the chance to reform representative democracy

weaknesses of recall of mps act

-limited and criticised

-power remained with parliament not constituents

-not true direct democracy as the constituents themselves cannot issue a recall petition

what is a public bill committee

small group of mps focused on amending and improving pieces of legislation