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how well does parliament perform its various functions? - Coggle Diagram
how well does parliament perform its various functions?
types of legislature
policy making legislatures
can not only amend or reject policies proposed by government, but also formulate their own policies
policy-influcing legislatures
can only amend or reject government polices, cannot form their own
example- US congress
legislatures with little or no effect on policie
simply assent to the proposals put before them
private members bills
Private Members' bills are public bills introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers (backbench mp's)
very little time is set apart to debate the private members bills
mp's can block a private member bill they dont like with a filibuster
where MP's make lengthy speeches to use up available debate time and prevent a vote
MP's can overcome a filibuster with a closure motion, and triggers a vote, however must be supported by 100 MP's, which on a Friday attendance is low
if they overcome this, then it reaches the committee stage, however only PMB can be considered at any one time, meaning that they can pass their second reading and get stuck in a long queue
even PBM's that fail can have a considerable influence
can get an issue on the record, and gain further attention
the conservative government successfully blocked a series of PBM's that concerned the rights of disabled people in the 90's
however backlash lead to them introducing the disability discrimination act in 1995
pre legislative scrutiny
in 1997 a select committee was created to investigate ways to improve the legislative process
one of its first recommendations was for government to send drafts of its bills to select committees to get feedback before the bill is formaly introduced
select committees are permaned, members have the time to develop good working relationships and policy expertise, and relationships with members from other parties
programme motions
before 1997, most timetabling issues were sorted through the usual channels (negotiations between government and opposition whips
however the 1997 modernisation committee said mp's should instead debate and vote on 'programme motions, which are voted on after a bills second reading to set deadlines for the remaining stages
the modernisation committee hoped that programme motions would give backbench mp's more influnce, and also giving the governed assurance that its bill would complete their remaining stages on time
changing behaviour of MP's and peers
the fusion of our executive and legislative branches can make it difficult for the commons to defeat or even amend government bills
ministers can vote in favour of government bills
convention of collective responsibility requires all ministers to support to government and resign if they want to rebel
the prime minister can reward loyalty by directly promoting MP's into the ranks of government
