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Parliament and executive relations - Coggle Diagram
Parliament and executive relations
Ministers' questions
Ministers are questioned by MPs and HoL peers.
One hour per day.
Backbenchers ask questions on the senior ministers' department's work.
Prime Minister's Questions lasts thirty minutes.
The leader of the opposition asks the PM six questions before MPs ask questions on any government affairs.
Direct communication with the PM and holds him accountable for all of the government's work.
Ministers' do not know the questions that will be put to them.
Described as 'punch and judy' as it is 'a shouting match every Wednesday lunchtime.'
The PM's party will often ask planted questions to make the PM appear strong.
Committees
Departmental Select Committees scrutinise government department work.
More detailed and longer style of questioning about Minister's questions.
Publish reports on issues that the government must reply to within 60 days.
Ministers can be unhelpful in providing evidence when questioned. 2016: Boris Johnson was accused of waffling by the committee chair of the foreign affairs select committee.
Voting in the Commons
Backbenchers in the HoC and HoL can control the executive by rebelling against government-backed bills.
MPs voted against the government by 309-305 votes, with 12 Conservative MPs voting against their party's government in favour of giving Parliament a vote on a final Brexit deal.
The HoL defeated the government 38 times in 2016.
Voting is ineffective if the government has a large majority.
MPs are unlikely to rebel if a three-line whip is in place which could cause the MP to be expelled from the party.
The HoL can only delay legislation and suggest amendments to it.
The leader of the opposition or the PM can call a vote of no confidence in the government. If the PM loses this, then the government resigns by convention.
VoNC: James Callaghan lost in 1979. John Major won in 1993.
VoNC are unlikely to work with a governing majority as MPs don't want to risk their jobs.
Executive dominance
An elective dictatorship - Lord Hailsham 1976
The government uses party whips to pass its legislation.
The government decides Parliament's timetable.
If the government has a small majority and minority in Parliament then it is easier for executive bills to be blocked.
2009 Wright Committee
Suggested reforms for select committees,
Reduced the number of committees.
Allowed MPs to vote on the chair of the select committee.
The Backbench Business committee was formed which schedules debates in the HoC suggested by MPs, not the government.
Military action
The government has increasingly consulted Parliament on military action despite it being within their prerogative powers.
2013: Action against the Syrian Regime was denied.
2014: Iraq was allowed.
2015: Syria was allowed.
2018: May sent airstrikes to Syria without consulting Parliament.