UK Government and Non-Core Political Ideas JXQ

Cross bencher

A person in the Lords which doesn’t affiliate with any party

what do whips do?

they maintain party discipline

party line

official set of policies and goals in a party

what do whips report

potential large scale rebellions

what does a three line whip use?

it requires MPs to attend a vote

what is the role of a speaker in the HoC

ensure that parliament functions as effectively as possible

how is the speaker chosen in the HoC

by a secret ballot

what does the leader of the official opposition do

ensure that the government is thoroughly scrutinised, while convincing the public that they are a good alternative government

what does the official oppositions shadow government do

they hold the government accountable

why can the official opposition ask 6 questions during their question time

so they can put pressure on them and highlight their failures

who is on the front bench in the HoC

MPs who have been invited by the prime minister

who are back bench MPs in the HoC

they are MPs but they don’t hold any government office

How did life peers begin

they began in 1958 with the life peerage act

how are life peers chosen

the prime minister nominates life peers to the house of lords

what is the good thing about how life peers are chosen in the HoL

membership is based on how people have distinguished themselves to the country

what does the lord spiritual consist of

26 archbishops of the church of england

why is the lord spiritual in the house of lords

to bring religious and ethical perspectives

why is the lord spiritual controversial

it only brings christianity’s perspective, no other faith

what were hereditary peers

they would sit and vote, as the title was passed down but in june 2026, it was removed as a title

what is a constitutional monarchy

when a monarchs powers are limited by law

what does the houses of parliament consist of

two chambers inside the palace of westminister

what must MPs do before taking their seat

they must make an oath of allegiance to the crown

Why does Sinn Féin not take their seats in the HoC

they refuse to swear allegiance to the crown

legitimisation

gives laws and taxes democratic legitimacy

legislation

debates, amends and passes laws

representation in parliament

represents constituents and the wider public interest

recruitment in parliament

trains and selects future ministers and political leaders

debate

provides a national forum for debating major issues

scrutiny

questions, challenges and holds the government to account

speaker elections

the house elects a speaker at the start of each new parliament or if the post becomes vacant

candidates

to stand, MPs require the support of 12 MPs (at least three should come from a different party that isn’t there own)

sitting speakers

by convention, a sitting speaker who seeks re-election is reappointed after a general election

exhaustive ballot

losing candidates are gradually eliminated and MPs keep voting until one candidate has majority

impartiality

when an MP becomes the speaker, they must sever ties to their party and act completely impartially

house of commons standing orders

formal rules made by the house to govern how debates and decisions are conducted

erskine may’s ‘treatise on the law, privileges, proceedings and usage of parliament’

a guide to parliamentary procedures and conventions which have been regularly updated since 1844

despatch boxes

used by ministers and shadow ministers to deliver their addresses to chambers

mace

symbol of local authority in the HoC

what happens if there is no mace in the HoC

the house cannot meet or pass laws

who is in the oppositions front bench

the leader of the opposition, shadow chancellor and shadow cabinet ministers

who is on the governments frontbench

the PM, chancellor of exchequer and other government ministers

what is ‘the whip’

weekly document that outlines upcoming business and expectations for attendance and votes

two way channel

the whips communicate the leadership priorities and expectations for attendance and votes

carrot rewards

promotions, better offices, travel and meetings with senior MPs

stick punishments

blocked career progression, removing the whip and withdrawing support

the ‘usual channels’

informal negotiations between government and opposition whips that arrange parliamentary business behind the scenes

what are the benefits of the ‘usual channels’

keeps business moving, mutual benefits and roles can change

how are crossbench peers appointed

their expertise or public service

what does the prime minister let other parties do with their members in the HoL

they let them nominate peers in proportion to their commons strength

what is the house of lords appointment commision (HOLAC)

checks that potential new life peers have no serious past conduct issues and recommends new crossbench peers

what can the HOLAC not do

cannot access whether nominees are suitably qualified

what is the difference between the lords speaker and the commons speaker

he debates but cannot choose who speaks or disciplines members

what type of chamber is the house of lords

self regulating

what does the house of lords being a self-regulating chamber mean

any peer can draw attention to breaches of rules or customs

what are the HoL standing orders

formal rules governing lords business with order maintained collectively by members

how many members are in HoL approximately

less than 100

which party holds a majority in the house of lords

none

green paper

a document designed to stimulate public decisions or gather feedback on potential policies

white paper

a document that sets out film proposals for future legislation with the intentions of getting a response

bill

checked by lords and commons

committee stage

when a bill goes through a detailed check and is modified through amendments

reading

a proposed law or bill that must be approved

act

a bill that has been approved by both parties

what happens in the first reading in the HoC

the bill’s title is read out and printed without debate

what happens in the second reading in the HoC

first opportunity for MPs to debate the main principles of the bill then there is a vote for whether it should go to the next stage

what happens in the committee stage in the HoC

a detailed examination of the bill happens. Amendments are selected by the chairman of the committee

what happens in the report stage in the HoC

the whole house discusses and amends the bill

what happens in the third reading in the HoC

opportunity for final debate on the bull but amendments can no longer be made

what happens in the first reading in the HoL

the long title is read out by the members of the lords in charge of the bill

what happens in the second reading in the HoL

members debate the key principles and main purposes of a bill and to flag up any concerns where they think amendments are needed

what happens in the committee stage in the HoL

detailed examination of the seperate parts of a bill

what happens in the report stage in the HoL

gives all members a chance to examine and make amendments

what happens in the third reading in the HoL

gives members a chance to make sure the law if effective with no loopholes

what is the consideration of amendments

the bill is returned to where it came from for any proposals for change to be considered buy both houses must agree to the exact wording on the bill

‘what is ‘ping pong’ in both houses

a bill may go back and forth between each house, until both houses reach agreement

royal assent

the monarchs agreement to make the bill into an act as a formality

commencement order

designed to bring into force the whole/part of an act at a a later date of royal assent

private members’ bills

public bills introduced by MPs and members of the lords who aren’t government ministers

what is the issues with private members bills?

there is limited time available for the consideration of these bills

do private member bills still have to go through the same stages as a normal bill?

yes but fewer days are allocated to the considerations of them

who can vote at the committee stage in the HoC

only members of the committee can vote

what happens at the end of the third reading in the HoC

the house votes on whether to approve the bill

what happens if the HoC approves a bill

it goes to the HoL

what is the difference between the committee stage at the HoL vs HoC

in the HoL, any members can take part

what is the difference between the third reading at the HoL vs HoC

In HoL, amendments can still be made

when does the consideration of amendments happen

after the third reading in both houses

what happens when royal assent is given

the act will come into force at midnight at the start of the day

what is ‘ping pong’

a bill may go back and forth between each house until both houses reach agreement

what is a commecement order

designed to bring into force a part of an act at a later date of the royal assent

what are private members bills

public bills introduced by MPs and members of the lords who aren’t government minsters

what is different between normal bills and private members bills

there is a limited time available for the consideration of these bills

what is similar between normal bills and private member bills

they need to go through the same stages

what is the sailsbury doctrine

the lords don’t try to vote down at second or third reading, a government bill mentioned in an election manifesto

what is descriptive representation

MPs that share characteristics and experiences of the people and that they serve

in 2024 how many new MPs entered the HoC

335

in 2024, how many females made up the HoC

40%

in 2024, how many people in HoC were from an ethnic minority

14%

in 2024, how much of the british population came from diverse backgrounds

17%

in 2024, how many lgbtq+ mps were there

64

in 2024, how many mps went to private school

23%