Functions of parliament

• Representative:

  • Democratically elected in Commons
  • FPTP= disproportionate
  • Lords = unelected
  • Demographically (Commons)= 68% are white, middle class men.
• Debating:

  • Holds executive to account
  • Adjournment debates (end of everyday) MPs can raise a matter that effects their constituency
  • Emergency debates (phone hacking scandal)
  • Furthermore: Wrights Committee recomendations - MPs have more control of the parliamentary agenda (Backbench Business committee e.g Government to release all information to aid the Hillsborough disaster inquiry.)
  • PMs have begun to be more scared - military action without debate in commons - Cameron Syria - debated + defeated
  • However, there is limited time for debates + power of the whips
• Legislating:

  • Both houses can amend
  • Commons can ultimately veto (defeat) - E.G Margaret Thatcher's Shops Bill 1986
  • Lords can suggest amendments, does not have the power to veto - only delay for a year
  • Evaluation:
  • Lords: May defeated 14 times over EU Withdrawal Bill
  • Gov does not always get its way: Cameron + Brexit
  • 2005: Blair's first every commons defeat - detention of terrorist suspects - 90 days
  • Bad: coalition -defeated twice + backbenchers want a promotion
• Scrutiny:

  40% of Select committee recommendations are accepted by government