Parliament

• Functions of government

  • choose what to spend public money on
  • set taxes
  • manages day-to-day things
  • responsible for running country - sets welfare benefits like state pension
• Main functions of Parliament

  • act as check + balance, challenge work of government (scrutiny)
  • make + change laws (legislation)
  • debate on important issues of the day (debating)
  • check + approve government spending (budget/taxes)
• House of Commons - MPs elected by UK citizens in general election, each represents own constituency
• House of Lords - Peers are unelected, nominated experts in their fields (PM has large say on who peers are)
• The Monarch - King/Queen at the time, have less power now but have final sign off on laws + peerages
• bicameral system - Parliament consists of 2 chambers elected chamber (HOC) + unelected chamber (HOL)
• backbencher - MPs who don't hold office in government/opposition + sits behind front benchers
• by-election - mini general election held in single constituency to decide new MP as seat becomes "vacant"

  • usually held as MP resigned, died or was convicted of serious criminal offence

  E.g. 19th October 2023: Labour made history winning by-election in Mid Bedfordshire - parliamentary seat held by Tories since 1931

  • triggered resignation of Conservative cabinet member, due to anger in constituency campaign about "absentee MP"
  • new MP = Nadine Dorries
• Reform of membership of HOL

  • many oppose HOL as peers are appointed + unelected
  • criticism of appointment system leading to "cronyism" - PM gives peerage to friends/supporters who contribute a lot of money to party

  e.g. December 2020, Johnson accused of cronyism as overrode official advice, to reward peerage to former Conservative treasurer (who donated £3.5 million to party)
• Inequalities in the HOC

  • Conservative party makes up majority of seats in Parliament occupying 352 seats - synoptic link to FPTP system
  • more male representation in comparison to female
  • less known parties occupy less seats due to popularity
• bill - proposal presented to Parliament for legislation, once bill passes become Act
• division - name used in Parliament for a vote, MPs/peers "divide" between aye + no lobby where they're counted by MPs appointed to be "tellers"
• white paper - document outlining main intentions + terms of public bill, Parliament normally debates + votes on it
• Why may new laws be needed?

  • clarify + protect citizens rights' - synoptic link to HRA
  • changes to common (case) law in courts
  • emergency issues e.g. Covid regulations
  • as society evolves, attitudes + values of public may change - synoptic link to Equalities Act 2010
• Process of legislation

  Bill starts with either HOC/HOL

  1. First Reading
  2. Second Reading
  3. Committee Stage
  4. Report Stage
  5. Third Reading

  exchanges with other chamber with same processes

  • royal assent by Monarch
• Government expected to dominate at committee stage of legislative process in HOC, as usually have majority so a have better chance of influencing outcomes in each committee
• royal assent = convention, monarch is unable to refuse signing bill, as they won't reject the democratic process
• Parliament Act (1911) - allowed the government to pass laws without the consent of the House of Lords + removed HOL power to veto a bill

  • could delay bill for up to 2 years
  • no legislative control over financial matters
• Parliament Act (1949) - reduced Lords' delaying powers to one year
• Salisbury Convention - ensures major government bills get through HOL if mentioned in election manifesto