Short Answer True/ False

What are the 3 main parts of Parliament?

What does MP stand for?

What is the key difference in how MPs and Peers get their jobs in Parliament?

The Prime Minister is not an MP.

All Peers get their jobs from inheritance.

It is the job of MPs and Peers to make and update laws.

It is the job of all MPs and Peers to check that the government is doing its job properly

In Parliament, all MPs and Peers are on the same side as the government.

Bellringer

The plan…Today – Houses of ParliamentFriday – finish UK / EU

Tuesday – test mc portion (~25 questions) & writer’s workshop (References)

Thursday – test frq portion & ?◦ Annotated outline due on 2/26

Tues/Wed after school – frq & writer’s workshop for people going to science fair or those needing extra help

UK Legislature

Today we will …

Objectives Agenda

Compare the structure and procedures of the British House of Commons & House of Lords

1. Intro to Parliament video

2. Parliament Reading

3. Question Time video and notes

4. Closure – bicameralism FRQ

HW: IV D-F

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAMbIz3Y2JA

British Parliament - History Parliament is derived from the French

word “parler”—to speak or talk 1265—Simon de Montfort established

the first Parliament After Henry VIII no monarch would

actually live at Westminster◦ Great fire in 1834 came as a result of

members over-stoking the fire in the House of Lords furnace

◦ From 1840-52 it was reconstructed

Parliamentary PowersDebate and refine potential

legislationScrutinize the administration of

lawsKeep communication lines open

between voters and ministers (the government)

They are the only ones who may become party leaders & ultimately may head the government

What is in a Parliament? A cycle between the calling of

one general election to the calling of the next.

650 MPs◦1 for every 89,000 (in US 1

representative for every 600,000 or so people)

Elections are held every 5 years or so…

Reading: Parliament

Read the article and annotate/highlight.Functions of both housesDifferences between the housesIn what ways does the Commons

limit power of the executive?

In GB all MPs can’t fit in the chamber– Seats only 427

Traditionally, the queen or king can’t enter the “peoples” chamber

House of Commons:Set-up House of Commons set-up with long benches facing

each other Prime Minister sits on front bench of majority side,

directly in the middle Directly across from the PM sits the leader of the

“opposition” party Between members of the majority and opposition

parties is a long table Cabinet members sit on the front rows of the

majority party side “Shadow Cabinet” – influential members of the

opposition party sit facing Cabinet members of majority party on the opposing side

Backbenchers – less influential members of both parties sit in the rear benches on both sides of the meeting hall as well

House of CommonsParty that receives the majority of the

plurality of the votes becomes the Majority Party in Parliament

The party with the second most votes becomes the “loyal opposition”

HM Government     Conservative Party (302)     Liberal Democrats (56)HM Most Loyal Opposition     Labour Party (256)Other Opposition     Democratic Unionist Party (8)     Scottish National Party (6)     Sinn Féin (5)     Plaid Cymru (3)     SDLP (3)     UK Independence Party (2)     Alliance Party (1)     Green Party (1)     Respect Party (1)     Independent (5)Speaker     Speaker (1)

Getting to the House of Commons Party Rules—aspiring MPs go

through series of interviews, written application before being placed on list

Deposit 500 pounds—lose deposit if you receive less than 5% of vote

MPs—educated, professional, business backgrounds primarily

House of Commons: Debate“Government” – consists of MPs on the first

rows of the majority party side, they are majority party members, including the PM, that are most influential in making policy

Speaker of the House – presides over the debates in Parliament, the speaker is suppose to be objective and often is not a member of the majority party. Their job is to let all speak without letting the debate get out of hand.

Because of a lack of checks & balances between branches in British politics, the opposition party is seen as the “check” on the majority party within Parliament, this “check” power is best utilized during times of debate over policy.

UK Parliament: Question TimeQuestion Time in the House of Commons is an opportunity for MPs to question government ministers about matters for which they are responsible. Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday that the House of Commons is sitting and gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister. In most cases, the session starts with a routine 'open question' from an MP about the Prime Minister's engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance. Opposition MPs follow up on this or another topic, usually led by the Leader of the Opposition, Edward Milliband. Usually, he is the only MP allowed to come back with further questions. http://www.parliament.uk/PMQs-21-January-2015

Check for understandingHow does the Commons limit the

power of the executive (PM & Ministers)? Think of 2 ways.

Party DisciplineParty discipline very important in British

politics If party members do not support their party

leadership, the “government” may fall into crisis

Vote of Confidence◦ Vote on a key issue within the party◦ If the issue is not supported, the cabinet by

tradition must resign immediately, and new elections for MPs must be held as soon as possible

◦ This is usually avoided by settling policy differences within majority party membership

◦ If the party loses a vote of confidence, all MPs lose their jobs, so there is plenty of motivation to vote the party line

Blair’s Vote of ConfidenceHigher Education Bill

◦ Vote of confidence took place in 2005◦ Bill squeaked by with an approval vote of 316 to

311◦ The bill proposed raising university fees, a

measure criticized not only by the opposition, but by outspoken MPs from the Labour Party as well

◦ The vote narrowly allowed Blair’s government to remain in control of the Commons

Blair’s Gov. was defeated over plans that would have allowed police to detain terror suspects for up to 90 days w/out charge

Check for understandingHow does the Commons limit the

power of the executive (PM & Ministers)?

What happens if the majority party loses a vote of confidence?

House of Lords Unlike MPs, Lords are unelected and

unpaid (except for certain allowances to cover attendance—which is voluntary)

No upper limit in the number of members

Currently 730 peers The House of Lords is the final court of

appeal on points of law for the whole of the United Kingdom in civil cases; and for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in criminal cases. This work is carried out by the Law Lords.

House of Lords Life Peers

◦Appointed by Crown, by advice of PM ◦Majority of total membership (600)◦Title ceases on death of peer

Law Lords ◦Up to 12, hear appeals from lower

courts (until age 70)◦Answer questions on major points of law◦In 2009, an independent UK Supreme

Court will open, ending the judicial function of Parliament

House of LordsLords have gradually declined in authority

over last 4 centuries

Since the beginning of the 20th century the House of Lords’ only powers are:◦ To delay legislation◦ To debate technicalities of proposed bills◦ Lords may add amendments to

legislation, but House of Commons may delete their changes by a simple majority vote

◦ The House of Lords includes five law lords who serve as Britain’s highest court of appeals, but they cannot rule acts of Parliament unconstitutional

House of Lords End of hereditary peers (some

700)

92 remaining hereditary peers ◦Will remain until next stage of reform ◦Oldest of hereditary peers dated

back to 1264

Lords Spiritual ◦Archbishops and Bishops

Short Answer True/ False

What are the 3 main parts of Parliament?

What does MP stand for?

What is the key difference in how MPs and Peers get their jobs in Parliament?

The Prime Minister is not an MP.

All Peers get their jobs from inheritance.

It is the job of MPs and Peers to make and update laws.

It is the job of all MPs and Peers to check that the government is doing its job properly.

In Parliament, all MPs and Peers are on the same side as the government.

Parliament Post-Quiz

ClosureBicameralism in the UK FRQ

practice