Parliament Facts Flashcards Preview

UK Politics > Parliament Facts > Flashcards

Flashcards in Parliament Facts Deck (30)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

How many MPs are there in the House of Commons and in what way do they represent the people?

A

650 and geographically.

2
Q
  • What percentage of the MPs are male?
  • What percentage of the MPs had private education?
  • What is the average age of MPs compared to the national average?
A
  • 68% are male
  • 29% were privately educated
  • They are 10 years older than the national average which is 40 (MPs are 50)
3
Q

How many peers are there in the House of Lords?

A

760 (Lords and Barons)

4
Q

What is the trustee model?

A

It is the idea that politicians are experts and should act in a way that they think is best rather than to do what the people want.

5
Q

What is parliamentary representation?

A

The idea that MPs should find a balance between the wants of their constituents, their party and themselves

6
Q

What is the process that a bill goes through in order to become law?

A
  • 1st reading (both houses, amendments considered)
  • 2nd reading (both houses, amendments considered)
  • Committee stage (each clause deliberated)
  • 3rd reading (both houses, amendments considered)
  • Royal Assent
7
Q

What are 4 main roles of the House of Commons only?

A
  • Granting popular consent to proposed legislation
  • Refusing to approve legislation (veto)
  • Provide geographical representation
  • Redressing individual constituents grievances
8
Q

What are 3 main roles of the House of Lords only?

A
  • Deliberating at length on important issues
  • Provide expert advice on proposed legislation
  • Delaying legislation for up to one year to force the government to reconsider it
9
Q

What are 5 functions of both houses?

A
  • Deliberation
  • Representation of the people’s interest
  • Legislative scrutiny
  • Legislation
  • Making government accountable
10
Q

In what 3 ways can Private Member’s Bills be introduced?

A
  • By a random ballot drawn every sitting Thursday
  • ‘The 10 Minute Rules’ MPs are given 10 minutes to speak about their bill
  • ‘Presentation’ MPs only formally give the title of their bill to the house
11
Q

Private Members Bills rarely succeed without ‘back hand help’ from the government, what are 2 examples of famous PMBs?

A
  • Minimum wage

- Benefits claimants sanctions

12
Q

In what 4 main ways does Parliament scrutinise the government?

A
  • Debates
  • PMQs
  • Voting
  • Select Committee investigations
13
Q

What is a key function of the House of Commons that relates to taxation?

A

The House has to pass the ‘budget’ in order for taxation to continue.

14
Q

What does a Public Bill Committee do?

A

They scrutinise and debate every clause of a bill, take evidence for it, suggest amendments to it, they have great power.

15
Q
  • How many members does a Select Committee have
  • Who do they scrutinise?
  • In what time do they have to reply to the committee?
  • What percentage of the committees suggestions are acted on?
A
  • 11 Members
  • Scrutinising the PM and cabinet
  • They must reply in 60 days
  • Only 40% of suggestions are acted on
16
Q

In what way are members of select committees chosen and why do they have such limited power?

A

They are chosen by secret ballot, they have limited power as whitenesses have a right to silence.

17
Q

What was the purpose of the Lord Strathclyde review?

and what was its outcome?

A

It had the aim of reducing the power of the House of Lords by removing their veto power, it only actually increased the power of the executive.

18
Q

What is the job of the opposition?

A

To scrutinise the work of government and offer alternative solutions.

19
Q
  • When was the Backbench Business Committee created?

- How often can it put forward a topic for debate?

A
  • 2010

- One day per parliamentary week

20
Q
  • What is an example of a Backbench Business Committee motion?
  • Why does the BBBC have limited power
  • What is an example of a failed BBBC motion?
A
  • Release of documents in relation to the Hillsborough Disaster
  • Because the government can simply ignore it
  • Reducing the voting age to 16
21
Q

What event and when saw John Major call for a vote of no confidence?

A

A 1993 Conservative rebellion over the Maastricht Treaty, the vote of no confidence forced it through the House of Commons.

22
Q

What did the 1958 Life Peerages Act do?

A

Introduce women into the House of Lords.

23
Q

What did the 1911 and 1949 House of Lords Acts do?

A

Remove the veto powers of the House of Lords, in 1911 giving them only a 2 year delay, then in 1949 giving them a 1 year delay.

24
Q

What did the 1999 House of Lords Act do?

A

It reduced the number of peers from 1,330 to 760.

25
Q

What did the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act do to the House of Lords?

A

It removed the Law Lords, and created a new Supreme Court.

26
Q

What did the 2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act do?

A

It meant that general elections could be called no sooner than once every 5 years, unless they have the support of 2/3 of the House of Commons.

27
Q

What major convention did Cameron possibly create in 2015?

A

The convention of giving the prerogative powers to the House of Commons, where before it was by convention the power of the executive, by asking and then carrying out the negative result of a House vote on joining US-led airstrikes in Syria.

28
Q

What does the electorate do to the government, and what are the government to the electorate.

A

The electorate legitimise the government and the government is accountable to the electorate.

29
Q
  • How much are MPs paid?

- How many people does each MP represent?

A
  • £77,000 + expenses

- They represent between 60,000 and 80,000 people per year

30
Q

What is the wage of peers in the House of Lords?

A

They are not paid and work voluntarily.