(9) What are differences between Government and Parliament?

(9) What are differences between Government and Parliament?

1. Government

   • What or who is Government?
     • Government is a group of elected individuals who control the operation of the state at any particular time. They are known as the ‘Executive’.
   • How are the Government held to account?
     • Select committees
       • They hold the government to account
       • There arer 15 departmnent so 15 selected committees for the house of commons
       • There are 4 major selected committees for the house of lords they are:
         • EU
         • Constitution
         • Science and technolgy
         • Economic affairs
       • They can force a minister to answer question in a commitee
       • They choice to talk about all the topic of the goverment year
       • The government must respond with in 2 months to all committee reports
       • Selected committees represent what the general public want to know

2. Parliament

   • What is Parliament?
     • Parliament is the name to describe the House of Commons and House of Lords (strictly in the UK). Also known as the ‘Legislature’ – it decides whether proposals should be implemented or not.
   • What is the role of the HoC?
     • The UK public elects 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons.
     • MPs consider and propose new laws, and can scrutinise government policies by asking ministers questions about current issues either in the Commons Chamber or in Committees
   • What is the role of the HoL?
     • The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. It works with the House of Commons to
       • check and challenge the actions of the government
       • make laws
       • provide a forum of independent expertise
     • The House of Lords Chamber spends about 60% of its time on legislation; the other 40% is spent on scrutiny – questioning Government and debating issues and policy. Committee work takes place outside the Chamber.
   • How do the procedures of the two houses compare?
     • More votes taken in the Commons
     • More activity in the House of Lords – make more use of committees
     • Debate of a bill continues as long as the Lords feel necessary – in the Commons only a limited number of amendments can be discussed before they are guillotined – run out of time
     • There is a 15 minute limit on backbench speeches – forces Lords to be focused.