2.4.2 The relationship between the Executive and Parliament

• The Executive is responsible for implementing and administering the law
• Order the following ways the Executive and Parliament check and balance each other:

  1️⃣ The Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament

  2️⃣ Parliament can vote down government legislation

  3️⃣ The Executive introduces legislation that Parliament must approve

  4️⃣ Parliament can scrutinize the Executive through Prime Minister's Questions

  5️⃣ The Executive can use the Royal Prerogative

  6️⃣ Parliament can withhold supply to constrain the Executive
• Parliament scrutinizes the Executive through mechanisms like Prime Minister's Questions
• What is the primary purpose of mutual checks and balances between the Executive and Parliament?

  Maintain balance of power
• Order the constitutional powers of the Executive:

  1️⃣ Legislative Initiative

  2️⃣ Policy Formation

  3️⃣ International Relations

  4️⃣ Defence and Security
• What is an example of a recent piece of legislation that Parliament had to approve?

  Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
• What do the powers of Parliament enable it to do?

  Shape legal framework
• Match the branch of government with its primary responsibility:

  Executive ↔️ Implements and administers the law

  Parliament ↔️ Makes laws
• The Executive can dissolve Parliament and call general elections
• The House of Lords can review and amend bills but cannot prevent their passage
• Which House has the final say on legislation?

  House of Commons
• Match the form of parliamentary scrutiny with its benefit:

  Select committees ↔️ In-depth analysis of government departments

  Parliamentary debates ↔️ Shapes public opinion on major policies
• Parliamentary scrutiny ensures the Executive adheres to the law and remains transparent.

  True
• Stages of a parliamentary debate

  1️⃣ Open discussion

  2️⃣ Diverse views aired

  3️⃣ Shapes public opinion
• Transparency in government actions is a key benefit of parliamentary scrutiny
• The UK's system of parliamentary oversight is considered relatively robust.


  True
• What is the primary purpose of the system of checks and balances?

  Prevents abuse of power
• Match the action with the branch of government that performs it:

  Executive ↔️ Introduces legislation

  Parliament ↔️ Votes down government bills
• The Executive controls the armed forces and manages national security.


  True
• The House of Commons initiates most bills and votes on legislation
• The House of Lords can suggest amendments to bills, but the Commons has the final say
• Match the role with the branch of government:

  Executive ↔️ Head of government

  Parliament ↔️ Law-making body

  Prime Minister ↔️ Head of the Executive

  House of Commons ↔️ Part of Parliament
• What can the Prime Minister do to Parliament as a check and balance?

  Dissolve Parliament
• The system of checks and balances prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful.


  True
• The Executive has the power of legislative initiative
• Which two bodies exercise the legislative powers of Parliament?

  House of Commons and Lords
• The two main branches of the UK government are the Executive and Parliament
• The Executive governs the country, while Parliament creates new laws.

  True
• What is the role of the Executive in policy formation?

  Formulates and implements policies
• The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 increased the legislative power of the House of Commons.


  True
• Parliamentary scrutiny ensures the Executive remains transparent, responsive, and adheres to the law
• Parliamentary scrutiny enhances good governance by improving policy quality and effectiveness.


  True
• What is the purpose of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs)?

  Highlights government policies
• What do select committees provide in their examinations of government departments?

  In-depth analysis
• Match the branch of government with its role:

  Executive ↔️ Implements the law

  Parliament ↔️ Makes laws
• The Executive can dissolve Parliament and call general elections.

  True
• What is the Legislative Initiative power of the Executive?

  Proposes most legislation
• Which two bodies make up Parliament in the UK?

  House of Commons and Lords
• What are the two main branches of the UK government?

  Executive and Parliament
• The Executive creates new laws in the UK.

  False