The Structure and Role of Parliament

Subdecks (2)

Cards (15)

  • Composition of Parliament
    • UK parliament has two chambers and it is a bicameral legislature
    • Hoc is the lower chamber
    • HoL is the Upper chamber
  • Bicameralism benefits
    • Upper house provides checks and balances
    • greater level of scrutiny
    • two houses may represent different interests
  • Bicameralism Problems
    • possible conflict between the two houses
    • may cause a gridlock where laws cannot be passed
    • Lower (democratic) chamber may become frustrated with upper (appointed) chamber
  • Composition of Parliament
    • House of Commons - 650 elected MPs
    • House of Lords - approx 800 unelected life peers, aristocratic, hereditary and bishop peers
  • Current government majority
    • conservative party forms a majority government
    • current working majority is 54, takes into account the speaker and their deputies and the non-sitting sinn fein Mps
    • sinn fein mps don't take up their seats on moral grounds nor do they receive the MPs salary however they are entitled to expenses
  • Functions of Parliament
    Key function : Parliament helps maintain legitimacy and uphold the British political system
  • Key Functions of Parliament
    • Making law / passing legislation
    • scrutinising the executive, including role of the opposition
    • debating major issues
    • recruitment of the executive - PMs and Ministers
    • representation
  • Making Law / Passing Legislation
    • all legislation must pass through both houses before it reaches the statute book
    • allows members to debate the bill
    • Most legislation begins in the commons, all finance bills start in the commons bc it controls tax and spending
    • in HoL peers can introduce bills bia a ballot however a tiny minority only ever become law
    • Sometimes secondary legislation is used to amend to add to an existing act of parliament ie the misuse of drugs act