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Parliament - Coggle Diagram
Parliament
Functions of Parliament
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Debates are a way for Parliament to hold the executive to account, each bill is debated in it's second reading, backbenchers and the opposition debate current issues, as well as emergency debates, e.g over phone hacking
The Commons can amend legislation and veto it, the Lords can suggest amendments and delay legislation for a year
Adjournment debates are held at the end of every day where MP's can raise issues over their constituency
Both houses review laws the government wish to pass and after debate / scrutiny are expected to pass them
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Under the coalition, 2010-15 MP's rebelled in 35% of votes
A strong majority ensures legislative success, backbenchers are loyal due to career prospects and the PM maintains strict control
Due to the Wright reforms MP's have more control over Parliamentary agenda and now debate greater issues
PM's are wary of unsupported military action, in 2013, Cameron wanted to order military action in Syria, a Parliament debate defeated this notion 285-272
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The UK Parliament is made up of three parts, the HOC, HOL and the monarchy (mostly symbolic)
Parliament is sovereign, there is no higher authority and no authority has the same legal capacity
Parliamentary system is based on a fusion of the legislature and executive, the government governs Parliament
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The PM appoints a cabinet, the vast majority of whom are elected (the exception being Lord Mandelson in 2004)
All members of government are from the HOC or HOL and are accountable, and can be removed by a vote of no confidence or losing an election
Roles In Parliament
Speaker - chair of the HOC or HOL who is elected by their members and is supposed to remain impartial
Government Ministers - junior ministers who work under a Cabinet minister in a specific department, known as government spokespeople
Whips - Both main parties have these, they are responsible for ensuring backbenchers vote for their party
Backbenchers - not part of government, but MP's and Lords in the governing party, torn between holding the government to account and supporting it
Leader of the Opposition / Shadow Cabinet - consist of 20 or so senior members of the official opposition who shadow government ministers
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Representative function
Each MP represents a constituency, but due to FPTP it is not proportionally representative, the Lords are not
442 / 650 MP's are men, only 52 ethnic minorities but this is improving
However the electorate vote for the party, not the MP, and under coalition may support policy their constituents oppose
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Wright Reforms (2009)
The Wright committee was established in 2009 to improve / update Parliament, it's recomendations included
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The UK is unusual in the sense that the legislature and executive are joined together, with an independent judiciary
The Legislature - the body that has the power to create, revoke and amend laws, it also scrutinises and holds the executive (Parliament)
The Executive - the body that runs the country and proposes laws to the legislature (Parliament) and consists of the PM and his ministers, as well as advisors and civil service
The Judiciary - The body that interprets and applies the law, it does this to uphold the rule of law in society