Select committees
What percentage of select committee suggestions are taken up by government?
30-40%
Between 1997 and 2010, how many government backed bills failed to pass through parliament
7
Out of the 77 Private Members Bills tabled between 2009-10, how many recieved royal assent?
7
What is parliamentary 'ping pong' and how long can the Lords delay a bill?
The process of ammendment by which a bill is passed between the two chambers. This can happen for up to a year
Name 2 debates that have been tabled by the Backbench Business Committee and in what year
Women's mental health (2019)
Ministry of justice spending (2019)
What significantly affects a government's ability to pass legislation?
Their majority in the Commons
What do the following bills have in common:
2013 Syrian War motion
Theresay May's 2017 Brexit Bill
Philip Hammond's 2017 Spring Budget (increase of National Insurance for self-employed)
They were all defeated by a backbench rebellion
An example of parliamentary ping pong
The Terrorism fear Act 2005
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
Trade Act 2021
Nationality and Borders Bill 2022
What year were select commitees created? What year was the Backbench Business Committee created and what does it do?
1979
2010. Allows backbenchers to suggest topics for debate
What are prerogative powers? Provide some examples
Powers that are held by the Crown and Government Ministers that may be used without the consent of the commons or Lords.
The declaration of war
Appointment of peers and ministers
Power of veto for supreme court judges
An example of a private members bill
Murder (Abolition of death penalty) Act (1965)
Abortion Act (1967)
Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003)
Sustainable Communities Act (2007)
What is the Salisbury convention? Give example of when the convention was potentially violated.
The convention whereby the House of Lords does not delay or block legislation that was included in the government’s manifesto.
During the 2017–19 parliament, Brexit supporters claimed that Lords amendments to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and the Data Protection Bill were ‘wrecking amendments’ that violated the Salisbury Convention.
What was significant about Cameron's 2012 Misuse of Drugs Regulations ammendment and the 2020 Grenfell enquiry
The select committee reports were rejected and did not lead to any policy change
Why was Johnson's 2019 prorogation of parliament (a prerogative power) deemed controversion and unlawful by the Supreme Court?
The prorogation came just 5 weeks before Britains exit from the EU, therefore prohibiting any further debates on the nature of the exit.
An example of a failed private members bill
2012 Dougless Carswell proposed a bill to repeal the 1972 European communities Act. It failed to pass the first reading
Why was the 2015 Tax Credit reduction significant and why was it controversial?
The Lords voted to delay the proposed cuts to tax credits. Osbourne said it raised 'constitutional issues' since the Lords are not supposed to delay money bills.
Why has Ken Livingstone never chaired a select committee
Because he is not a loyal MP and select committee members are appointed by party whips (apart from the chair of the BBC)
What is the the 2011 parliamentary convention for military action and when has it been significant?
The convention implies that government should seek the support of parliament before going to war. The 2013 government defeat on military action in Syria in t 2013 was widely viewed as an assertion of Parliamentary sovereignty on such matters.
What is the 10 minute rule?
An opportunity for backbenchers to voice an opinion on a subject or aspect of existing legislation, intended to raise the profile of a particular issue
An example of the government rejecting the Lords ammendments
Nationality and Borders Bill 2022. Nearly all of the Lords ammendments to soften the bill were rejected by government, including an amendment requiring the Bill to comply with the UK’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention.