Scrutiny of the Executive
Cards (9)
- Parliament scrutinising government
- MPs and peers can ask questions of gov ministers. PMQs is the best example of this
- Debates in both chambers allows for a variety of views to be shared. Opposition day allows for the opposition to set the agenda
- Votes of no confidence by the commons can bring down the government
- PMQs Advantages
- Gives the opposition a voice and positive publicity
- Unwelcome questions a PM won't answer must be answered which can expose weaknesses
- PMQs keep PM and Ministers aware and Tony Blair hated them
- Members of their own party have criticised in PMQs
- PMQ disadvantages
- Can convey an image of rowdiness and theatricals
- Behaviour can get out of control at PMQs and John Bercow said they're testosterone filled
- Most questions are designed to catch out the opposition or praise ones own party
- Parliamentary debates advantages
- Allow free expression of issues of the day
- They are Televised so the public can keep up and be informed
- Opportunity to change the opinion of how MPs vote
- Parliamentary debates disadvantages
- Most debates are set piece occasions and MPs adopt the party line
- Many use their speeches to progress their careers not the country
- Opinions rarely change and MPs stick with the party line
- Select committees advantages
- Committees are less partisan and confrontational than debates
- Often chaired from the opposition parties
- They can call witnesses both from gov and outside Westminster to provide evidence against the gov
- Select Committee disadvantages
- Government always had a majority in the committee
- Consensus between parties is not always reached
- Witnesses can be evasive and elusive
- Government can ignore the findings in the select committee reports
- Vote of no confidence advantages
- Can bring down a government and is known as the nuclear option
- Vote of no confidence disadvantages
- Very unlikely succeed and only an unstable minority gov would be vulnerable