unit 2- governing the UK analysis

unit 2- governing the UK analysis

1. types of government

   • presidential government
     • members of executive are not members of legislator
     • executive is not accountable and to legislature on their power cannot be removed through vote of no confident (impeachment)
     • head of state & government is the same person
     • president is most powerful
     • P can appoint those outside legislator to be minister
     • democratic as president is not accountable for legislature
     • fixed term of 4 years & P can only do 8 years
     • public have larger influence
     • more successful in stability
   • parliamentary government
     • members of executive are members of legislature
     • executive is accountable for legislature
       • vote of no confidence
     • one is head of state (Queen) which other is head on government (PM)
     • pm is most powerful and can only appoint members of parliament (incl. lords
     • less effective in emergency/war
     • tenure of executive is not fixed
     • more democratic as executive is accountable to legislator
     • council of ministers accountable to parliament
     • bicameral system: 2 houses, lords&commons
   • executive: PM & cabinet Legislature: hoc&hol

2. Monarch

   • give royal assent
   • none declined since Queen Anne who died in 1714

3. House of Lords

   • delay legislation so it is debated
   • 678 life peers, 92 hereditary peers 26 lords spiritual
   • power to *offer ammendments *delay bills for a year *same veto powers
   • options for reform
     • no change
       • ✓effective ✓more representative ✓less party influence ✓appointment is effective
       • ✗unrepresentitive & unaccountale
     • all elected chamber
       • ✗would mirror HOC ✗participation
       • ✓democratic &accountable ✓Lords would have to turn up
     • all appointed chamber
       • ✓high quality members ✓avoid powerful government
       • ✗preserve undemocratic nature ✗gives powers to leaders
     • partly appointed & elected
       • adv. of both systems
       • ✗parties still have power
   • ✓independent and represent minorities e.g lord sugar

4. house of commons

   • has greatest influence
   • 650 mps, single member constituencies, subject to party discipline
   • supreme legislative powers but can be removed through vote of no confidence
   • role: scrutiny, legislation, debates, devolved powers
   • BLAIR: PMQT, 15to30 mins, liasion committee 2002, 2 yr heads select committees
   • BROWN: foreign affair reform 2007-10,
   • 13 openly not straight, 4mps disabled(need 65), M age 51,

5. functions of parliament

   • debating major issues
     • held debates on Irac war
     • mps can call for a legislation to be readressed or during recess
     • limited time
     • scottish referendum 2014
     • types of debate: legislative, emergency, adjorment
     • party loyalty can apply
   • legislation
     • debates before making it a long process
     • can be ammened at any time
     • bedroom tax april 2013
   • scrutinise executive
     • prevents elected dictatorship
     • pmqt, debates, select committees, opposition days
     • labour criticism of bedroom tax april 2013
     • little time
   • sustaining government
     • have an accountable parliamentary government
     • governing party need majority seats
     • compromises e.g coalition 2014
   • representation
     • ✗only representative to those who vote for them
     • ✓pressure groups can increase representation by showing government opinons
     • uk bielection won by mark reckless october 2014
   • financial scrutiny
     • scrutiny of public spending
       • debates on BBC also included the £3,161.8 million in funding
     • parliamentary committees check these
   • adressing greviencies
     • mps can be lobbied
     • private members bills
     • change.org to stop eviction in council estates

6. role of mps

   • represent & raise issues for constituency
     • mark lancaster(milton keys) writes to cheif executive about closure of GP surgery
   • serving constituents regular visits and oppertunities for ppl 2 ask 4 advice
     • Lynne Featherstone had advice surgery as local mosque 2 discuss issues with congregation
   • voting on legislation
     • list of mps votes on same sex marrige
   • debates
     • ed balls reacts 2 name calling in spending review, zippy, bungle & muppets
     • media coverage = support
   • be involved with committees
     • public account C in 1862 to see spending in whitehall

7. Committees

   • general committees of either hosue
     • 20-40 members
     • each amendment is dicdussed
   • committees of the whole house
     • when a bill is signiffcant the whole house is called
   • departmental committees
     • smalls research staff,
     • 19 specific committees e.g culture media & sport and work & pensions
     • 11-14 nonpartisan members
     • scottish affairs committee votes at 16
   • select committees
     • public accounts committee , highly independant
       • opposition in chair
     • 11 members
     • 60 days to reply
   • legislative committees
     • HOC 15-40 backbench mps, concider ammendments
       • work independant from government e.g communications
     • HOL 15 or more, normally experts on a paticular issue, not effective as government have final say
   • regional assembly committee
     • every mp in region attends
     • welsh assembly 40mps
   • joint committees
     • grants scheme from 2006 to 2015 still being discussed