PARLIAMENT – Government Is Part Of Parliament – The Parliament Asses The Government.
- To make laws.
- To vote for taxes needed to fund government.
- To examine Government policy.
- To provide a forum where issues can be debated.
House Of Commons Members Are elected
House Of Lords Before 1999 Reform
The 21s most senior bishops (lords spiritual) of the church of England.
759 hereditary peers.
27 Law Lords
477 Life peers – Given an honour and right to sit in the lords but is not passed down.
HOUSE OF LORDS AFTER 1999
21 most senior bishops of the church of England
92 Hereditary peers.
27 Law Lords (Supreme Court)
Hundreds of life peers:
Tony Blair created 374
David Cameron created 244
Teresa May created 12 already
The Lords Act of 1999 reduced the number of hereditary peers.
This was a temporary measure and the Government is still considering proposals fr further reform of the Lords.
parts of reform was the establishment of a supreme court, home to the Law Lords, which opened in 2009.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
John Bercow
Speaker of the house of commons
the First Commander in the land
The official conduit between the commons and the monarch and then the Monarchy and the lords
controls the debate.
Can order an MP to leave the chamber
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Norman Fowler
New post July 2006.
Elected by fellow peers.
Presides over proceedings.
Sits on the Woolsack.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTINUED
Leader of the house of commons
David Liddington
committee of the whole house – either House can turn itself into one to debate their second reading.
Public Bill Committee – set up by HoC to consider Public Bills clause by clause.
Select Committee – set up by HoC for specific job, usually investigation.
Joint Committee – Member from both houses.
Backbench MP’s
Chances are your MP is one.
What do they do?
Who are they.
To interview an MP find a good angle they will want publication. Find out about current issues.
Raising questions and question times.
Adjournment debates – The 30 minutes at the end of the day when MP’s can raise issues of concern to their constitutuents.
Emergency debate – When MP’s seek to raise ‘specific and important matter’ after question time – rarely succeeds.
Early Day Motions
20 opposition days when oppositions parts choose subject for debate.
Private members’ Bill – MPs enter a ballot for chance to introduce a Bill of their choice.
And for Tories
The 1922 committee consists of all conservative backbench MPs. Prime Minister can not attend this meeting.
FOUR TYPES OF BILL PARLIAMENT LOOKS AT
A proposed law before it has been passed, not a law yet may become law but for now it is just a Bill.
Public Bills – eg Grammar schools – Ruling party
Private Member Bills –
Private Bills –
Hybrid Bills – Element of Public and Private Bills. eg Channel tunnel.
PRIME MINISTER – Primus inter pares – first among equals.
selects cabinet.
hands out departmental positions.
decides agenda for cabinet meetings.
chairs cabinet meetings.
powers of appointments.
civil service.
church.
Judicary.
he can dismiss ministers.
unsuccessful cabinet ministers can be cabinet reshuffled.
so what extent is forst among equals?
great extent
some extent
a little extent?
