the UK parliament

• Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949


  Established the supremacy of the Commons
• What is a parliamentary government?


  Parliament has sovereignty as the highest authority in the land, and is the nations supreme law making body
• What is fusion of powers?


  constitutional principle that merges authority of branches of government and the executive sits in the Commons
• As MPs are elected by the people...


  Executive power derives from support from the Commons, and so if support is withdrawn the government must resign. Johnson survived the June 2022 vote of no confidence where 41% of Tories voted to remove PM
• What is collective ministerial responsibility?


  Ministers are collectively responsible for policies, and must publicly support them or must resign from their position, and meetings are secret
• Benefits of collective ministerial responsibility


  Creates a govt that is united, strong and decisive

  Clear idea of policy for the public

  Confidentiality

  Can silence opponents
• Drawbacs of CMR


  Too much power in the hands of the PM

  Resignations under CR are dramatic events which can seriously undermine govt

  Restrictions on honesty may stifle debate within government
• What is a 'Party Whip'?


  The party whip keeps track of vote count and rallies support on the floor
• What is a 'Three Line Whip'?


  When important bills are underlined three times. Defying this can result in a whip being withdrawn.
• Functions of the Commons


  Legislate

  Provide ministers

  Scrutiny and debate

  Representation

  Legitimacy
• Life Peerages Act 1958


  The Act of Parliament that provided for individuals to be appointed to the House of Lords for the duration of their life. Prior to this, all peerages had been hereditary.
• House of Lords Act 1999


  Reduced the number of hereditary lords in the House of Lords to 92.
• Main functions of the House of Lords


  Legislation

  Scrutiny

  Legitimation, representation and govt debate
• What is the Salisbury Convention?


  The Lords agree not to veto anything in a winning party's manifesto
• HoL and legislation


  The HoL cannot stop bills, but suggest amendments. This negotiation can be known as parliamentary ping pong

  The Parliament Acts of 1911&49 allow the government to pass legislation over HoL objections
• House of Lords being ineffective at negotiation


  Rejected lowering the age of consent for gay sex to 16 from 18, and Parliament bypassed this
• House of Lords being effective at negotiation


  In 2008 Brown was defeated in the HoL over his 2008 Counter-Terrorism Bill
• However a fully committed government with a sizeable majority and commitment to the policy is less likely to accept ammendments


  In 2020 the HOC rejected all five of the HOL amendments on the EU Withdrawal Agreement
• Public Bill Committee


  A Legislative committee

  formed for each new bill, 18 members, who ensure the bills progress to become acts of parliament

  They can call witnesses and obtain written evidence when considering the details of a bill after the amendments and second reading

  PARLIAMENT IS REFLECTED IN MEMBERSHIP
• Select committees


  Check and report on specific government departments and investigate a specific issue

  Permanent
• Liason committee


  All chairs of all the committees. Questions PM twice a year in great depth on several issues

  Johnson was rebuked by the committee for cancelling his appearance at a meeting
• Opportunities for ministerial questions


  Ministers sit regularly in the commons

  Mon-Thurs hour set aside for oral questions

  Must respond to written questions within a week

  Ministerial code asserts need to answer questions
• Importance of an opposition


  Govt does not have to justify policies if no opposition which can encourage a complacent government

  20 opposition days per year where they opposition parties can choose the subjects for debate

  Scrutinise govt legislation in Bill Committees