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Parliament and Executive - Coggle Diagram
Parliament and Executive
Backbenchers
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'10 Minute Rule Bills' so they can voice an opinion on a subject or existing legislation - raise profile of issue.
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parliamentary privilege - grants legal immunities for MPs and peers to allow them to perform duties without interference from outside of the house.
Backbenchers
Debating - limited time available to discuss issues in detail, and debates often have little direct impact on legislation
Scrutiny - Gov whips limit role of backbenchers, limiting independence and significance.
PMB very rarely become law, so most of a backbencher's time is spent considering Gov bills.
MPs could represent the people better - often elected with less than 50% of the vote in their consutituences
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Select Committees
Scrutinise Gov policy, shadowing work of major Gov departments. Carry out inquiries, write reports, carry out question and answer sessions and ask to see Gov papers.
Gov has a majority on the committees, reflecting Commons majority, so can dominate them
Whips control individual appointments to the committees, meaning loyal MPs can be placed on them
can criticise Gov policy, but cannot change it.
Question Time
often described as an example of 'Punch and Judy' style. politics, where they try to embarrass one another rather than meaningful scrutiny.
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During PMQs, opposition leader can ask supplementary questions, allowing them more opportunity to scrutinise.
PM must answer questions on subjects which they are not aware of, and must justify and explain their actions, holding them to account.
the raucous nature of question time damages the reputation of Parliament and politicians in the eyes of the public.
Opposition
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On opposition days they can choose subjects for debate and use the day to criticise and scrutinise Gov policy/actions.
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Gov usually has overall majority, giving them dominance
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