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Parliament and the Executive - Coggle Diagram
Parliament and the Executive
Backbenchers
Backbenchers can scrutinise the government through PMQs and MQs.
Comprise and chair select committees, which scrutinise the government.
Can write to ministers regarding issues their constituents face and the minister is obligated to reply.
Parliamentary privilege - Allows MPs free speech and legal immunity over what they say in Parliament.
Have the right to speak in Parliament on legislation in order to improve it for their constituents.
Can put forward private members bills.
Vote for or against legislation.
Backbenchers are still expected to follow party policy and follow the party whip.
Backbench rebellions are pose a significant threat to weak governments.
However: PMBs are rarely successful and a three-line whip threatens an MP being fired from their party if they rebel.
Select Committees
Select committee members are picked to maintain a balance of parties, representing an equal proportion of MPs
There is a select committee to scrutinise each government department.
Some select committees can scrutinise multiple departments such as the Public Accounts Committee.
Select Committees can call on ministers to question them and give evidence.
Select Committees can also question public figures or institutions such as Sports Direct or Rupert Murdoch.
HoL select committees investigate proposed laws and public policy.
Select Committees may highlight government weaknesses and put pressure on the government to act. Select committee members have the ability to ask lengthy, detailed questions.
However, select committees have no power to amend laws and cannot force ministers to face questioning. Furthermore, scrutiny may be limited as most members of the select committee are members of the governing party.
The Opposition
The Opposition raises issues for debate and can scrutinise the government's legislation.
The Opposition can use PMQs or MQs to hold the government to account.
The Opposition can attempt to block legislation.
The Opposition represents the alternative government to voters.
The Opposition puts forward a shadow cabinet to scrutinise their opposing minister and to present a 'government-in-waiting'.
The power of the Opposition is dependant on the size of the majority of the government, the unity of the members of both major parties and also the difference between the policy of the Opposition and the government.
Ministers' questions
Lasting an hour every day in Parliament.
Ministers answer questions put to their department by other MPs.
Allows the government to be publicly open about their work.
PMQs last for only thirty minutes.
The leader of the Opposition is allowed to pose 6 questions to the PM.
The ministers are unaware of the questions being asked.
'Punch and Jody' politics. About political point scoring.
Hung Parliaments
The 2017 election returned a hung parliament.
Small backbench rebellions lead to devastating public losses.
In 2019, Johnson's cabinet reshuffle led to many disgruntled backbenchers who voted against the government's legislation.