Short AnswerTrue/ False What are the 3 main parts of Parliament? What does MP stand for? What is the key difference in how MPs and Peers get their jobs in Parliament? The Prime Minister is not an MP. All Peers get their jobs from inheritance. It is the job of MPs and Peers to make and update laws. It is the job of all MPs and Peers to check that the government is doing its job properly In Parliament, all MPs and Peers are on the same side as the government. Bellringer

The plan… Today – Houses of Parliament Friday – finish UK / EU Tuesday – test mc portion (~25 questions) & writer’s workshop (References) Thursday – test frq portion & ? ◦ Annotated outline due on 2/26 Tues/Wed after school – frq & writer’s workshop for people going to science fair or those needing extra help

UK Legislature

Today we will … ObjectivesAgenda Compare the structure and procedures of the British House of Commons & House of Lords 1. Intro to Parliament video 2. Parliament Reading 3. Question Time video and notes 4. Closure – bicameralism FRQ HW: IV D-F

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

British Parliament - History Parliament is derived from the French word “parler”—to speak or talk 1265—Simon de Montfort established the first Parliament After Henry VIII no monarch would actually live at Westminster ◦ Great fire in 1834 came as a result of members over- stoking the fire in the House of Lords furnace ◦ From it was reconstructed

Parliamentary Powers Debate and refine potential legislation Scrutinize the administration of laws Keep communication lines open between voters and ministers (the government) They are the only ones who may become party leaders & ultimately may head the government

What is in a Parliament? A cycle between the calling of one general election to the calling of the next. 650 MPs ◦ 1 for every 89,000 (in US 1 representative for every 600,000 or so people) Elections are held every 5 years or so…

Reading: Parliament Read the article and annotate/highlight. Functions of both houses Differences between the houses In what ways does the Commons limit power of the executive?

In GB all MPs can’t fit in the chamber – –Seats only 427 Traditionally, the queen or king can’t enter the “peoples” chamber

House of Commons: Set-up House of Commons set-up with long benches facing each other Prime Minister sits on front bench of majority side, directly in the middle Directly across from the PM sits the leader of the “opposition” party Between members of the majority and opposition parties is a long table Cabinet members sit on the front rows of the majority party side “Shadow Cabinet” – influential members of the opposition party sit facing Cabinet members of majority party on the opposing side Backbenchers – less influential members of both parties sit in the rear benches on both sides of the meeting hall as well

House of Commons Party that receives the majority of the plurality of the votes becomes the Majority Party in Parliament The party with the second most votes becomes the “loyal opposition” HM Government Conservative Party (302)Conservative Party Liberal Democrats (56)Liberal Democrats HM Most Loyal Opposition Labour Party (256)Labour Party Other Opposition Democratic Unionist Party (8)Democratic Unionist Party Scottish National Party (6)Scottish National Party Sinn Féin (5)Sinn Féin Plaid Cymru (3)Plaid Cymru SDLP (3)SDLP UK Independence Party (2)UK Independence Party Alliance Party (1)Alliance Party(1) Green Party (1)Green Party(1) Respect Party (1)Respect Party(1) Independent (5)Independent Speaker Speaker (1)Speaker

Getting to the House of Commons Party Rules—aspiring MPs go through series of interviews, written application before being placed on list Deposit 500 pounds—lose deposit if you receive less than 5% of vote MPs—educated, professional, business backgrounds primarily

House of Commons: Debate “Government” – consists of MPs on the first rows of the majority party side, they are majority party members, including the PM, that are most influential in making policy Speaker of the House – presides over the debates in Parliament, the speaker is suppose to be objective and often is not a member of the majority party. Their job is to let all speak without letting the debate get out of hand. Because of a lack of checks & balances between branches in British politics, the opposition party is seen as the “check” on the majority party within Parliament, this “check” power is best utilized during times of debate over policy.

UK Parliament: Question Time Question Time in the House of Commons is an opportunity for MPs to question government ministers about matters for which they are responsible. Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday that the House of Commons is sitting and gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister. In most cases, the session starts with a routine 'open question' from an MP about the Prime Minister's engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance. Opposition MPs follow up on this or another topic, usually led by the Leader of the Opposition, Edward Milliband. Usually, he is the only MP allowed to come back with further questions.

Check for understanding How does the Commons limit the power of the executive (PM & Ministers)? Think of 2 ways.

Party Discipline Party discipline very important in British politics If party members do not support their party leadership, the “government” may fall into crisis Vote of Confidence ◦ Vote on a key issue within the party ◦ If the issue is not supported, the cabinet by tradition must resign immediately, and new elections for MPs must be held as soon as possible ◦ This is usually avoided by settling policy differences within majority party membership ◦ If the party loses a vote of confidence, all MPs lose their jobs, so there is plenty of motivation to vote the party line

Blair’s Vote of Confidence Higher Education Bill ◦ Vote of confidence took place in 2005 ◦ Bill squeaked by with an approval vote of 316 to 311 ◦ The bill proposed raising university fees, a measure criticized not only by the opposition, but by outspoken MPs from the Labour Party as well ◦ The vote narrowly allowed Blair’s government to remain in control of the Commons Blair’s Gov. was defeated over plans that would have allowed police to detain terror suspects for up to 90 days w/out charge

Check for understanding How does the Commons limit the power of the executive (PM & Ministers)? What happens if the majority party loses a vote of confidence?

House of Lords Unlike MPs, Lords are unelected and unpaid (except for certain allowances to cover attendance—which is voluntary) No upper limit in the number of members Currently 730 peers The House of Lords is the final court of appeal on points of law for the whole of the United Kingdom in civil cases; and for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in criminal cases. This work is carried out by the Law Lords.

House of Lords Life Peers ◦ Appointed by Crown, by advice of PM ◦ Majority of total membership (600) ◦ Title ceases on death of peer Law Lords ◦ Up to 12, hear appeals from lower courts (until age 70) ◦ Answer questions on major points of law ◦ In 2009, an independent UK Supreme Court will open, ending the judicial function of Parliament

House of Lords Lords have gradually declined in authority over last 4 centuries Since the beginning of the 20 th century the House of Lords’ only powers are: ◦ To delay legislation ◦ To debate technicalities of proposed bills ◦ Lords may add amendments to legislation, but House of Commons may delete their changes by a simple majority vote ◦ The House of Lords includes five law lords who serve as Britain’s highest court of appeals, but they cannot rule acts of Parliament unconstitutional

House of Lords End of hereditary peers (some 700) 92 remaining hereditary peers ◦ Will remain until next stage of reform ◦ Oldest of hereditary peers dated back to 1264 Lords Spiritual ◦ Archbishops and Bishops

Short AnswerTrue/ False What are the 3 main parts of Parliament? What does MP stand for? What is the key difference in how MPs and Peers get their jobs in Parliament? The Prime Minister is not an MP. All Peers get their jobs from inheritance. It is the job of MPs and Peers to make and update laws. It is the job of all MPs and Peers to check that the government is doing its job properly. In Parliament, all MPs and Peers are on the same side as the government. Parliament Post-Quiz

Closure Bicameralism in the UK FRQ practice