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Summary UK politics & government: structure & role of Commons & Lords
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detailed study/revision notes on this area of the specification for a level politics edexcel paper 2 or AQA paper 1
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2.1 the structure & role of the House of Commons &House of Lords
Composition of the Commons –
Democratically elected parliamentary chamber. Each MP represents their
constituency’s interest – constituencies are allocated in a way that all
parts of UK can claim roughly equal representation in Commons.
Frontbench & backbench MPs
MPs divided into FB & BB MPs.
MPs invited by PM to join govt as senior ministers, junior ministers or
permanent private secretaries are bound by principle of collective
ministerial responsibility.
- They present & must publicly support govt policy from the front
benches.
Main opposition party – own shadow frontbench team – members
scrutinise their govt counterparts – also required to support their
party’s leadership.
Party whips.
All main parties appoint whips to maintain party discipline. Tory
MPs elected on a party manifesto. Also represent interests of their
constituencies & as Burke said, should act according to their
‘judgement’.
Parliamentary leadership needs to control MPs or party control could
break down – Whips’ Office is essential part of Commons.
Whips encourage & possibly cajole their MPs to support the party
line.
Report back potential large-scale rebellions that may encourage
party leadership to modify its position to avoid defeat.
Asp important issues – three-line whip issued – requires MPs to
attend a vote (division) & vote as demanded by leadership – if they
refuse, party whip can be withdrawn & lose membership of the
party.
- 2019 – 21 Tory MPs such as Kenneth Clarke & Philip Hammond
had party whip withdrawn for supporting the Commons taking
control of EU withdrawal negotiations.
Whips particularly important when govt has small parliamentary
majority or trying to survive as a minority administration.
, 1976-79 – Callaghan govt survive without parliamentary majority –
several very close votes where L & C whips struggled to ensure all
MPs went through division lobbies.
- Tory MP Michael Heseltine – furiously brandished the mace when
he felt Labour had unfairly won division by 1 vote.
Speaker of the Commons
Impartial – does not engage in political debate – role is to ensure
Parliament functions as effectively as possible.
Speaker arranges parliamentary business with leaders of main
parties, ensures proper procedure is followed & presides over
debates in Commons.
Disciplinary function – if MPs are disobedient, abusive or accuse
another of lying – can be suspended.
- 2022 – SNP leader Ian Blackford suspended by speaker for
claiming that PM BJ had been ‘wilfully misleading parliament over
lockdown parties held at Downing Street’.
John Bercow (2009-19 speaker) stood up for rights of parliament
against executive.
- Supported several reforms to increase power of BB MPs &
scrutinise govt.
- E.g., he ensured that MPs could ask more ‘urgent questions’
which ministers had to respond to the same day.
Successor Sir Lindsay Hoyle – continued this – keep executive in
check.
Leader of the official opposition
Ensure govt is thoroughly scrutinised, while convincing public that
official opposition is an alternative govt in waiting.
Right to ask 6 questions at PMQT – enables leader to put high-profile
pressure on PM by highlighting any policy failure & offering their
own political solutions.
Selects a shadow cabinet – task is to hold govt accountable &
persuade electorate that they could be trusted in govt.
Functions of the Commons –
Some shared with Lords, like scrutinising govt & enacting legislation. As
the democratically elected chamber – constituency representative
function.
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