1. Study the images below to work out what topic we are studying today

2. Warning: inappropriate resource
Cassetteboy’s Cameron Conference Rap (YouTube) is inappropriate for viewers under the age of 18. Students should avoid this resource.
In particular, they should avoid viewing it on handheld devices unconnected to the school wifi network, which blocks content of this nature.

3. Time for some tough love
Read the question – ‘Discuss’ implies engagement with both sides of a debate
Key terms should be defined in a way that is not simply descriptive
Points should be rather more specific than they are general and more developed than superficial
Use evidence rather than speculation to support your key points

4. What is Parliament? DO NOW
Be ready to answer a series of questions on the nature of the UK parliament.
Note that we’re playing this game on Level 3, the highest level, so the questions are not meant to be easy.

5. Learning objectives
To describe the make-up and powers of the UK parliament
To explain the concept of parliamentary sovereignty
To explore the issues of parliamentary sovereignty in relation to a current affairs topic

6. The UK model of parliamentary government
Accountability
Executive
(Prime minister & Cabinet)
Personnel
Accountability
Legislative
Judiciary
(Supreme Court)
House of Commons
House of Lords
Electorate
Legitimacy & Accountability

7. The UK model of parliamentary government
Accountability
Executive
(Prime minister & Cabinet)
Personnel
Accountability
Legislative
Judiciary
(Supreme Court)
House of Commons
House of Lords
Electorate
Legitimacy & Accountability

8. A history of Parliament in <60 seconds
Watch the following short video on how Parliament evolved through the ages..

9. What is Parliament and why is it important?
Parliament is sovereign, meaning it is the ultimate source of legal authority in the British state.
Parliament can make/amend/repeal any law in Britain—no other body but Parliament can make the law.
Ministers, government departments, local authorities and other agencies apply the law.
The courts interpret the law.
Even Parliament can’t bind future Parliaments

10. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) argued that sovereignty was:
Supreme authority within the state
Absolute in nature
Derived from a social contract between ruler and ruled
Essential in order to avoid anarchy or “the war of all against all”

11. “The principle of Parliamentary sovereignty mean neither more nor less than this [that Parliament] has the right to make or unmake any law whatever: and, further, that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament.” A.V. Dicey
Add his point about rule of law

12. The UK model of parliamentary government
Executive = applies law
(Prime minister & Cabinet)
Accountability
Personnel
Accountability
Legislative = makes law
Judiciary = interprets law
(Supreme Court)
House of Commons
House of Lords
Electorate
Legitimacy & Accountability

13. What limits Parliamentary Sovereignty?
There are four main constraints on Parliamentary sovereignty:
The rule of law
Limits to legal sovereignty
Limits imposed by popular sovereignty
Limits imposed by political sovereignty

14. The rule of law
Parliamentary sovereignty is limited by the rule of law, i.e. “the essential elements of any plausible conception of democratic government” which constitute contemporary political morality
The rule of law seeks to protect the individual’s rights from the exercise of arbitrary power.
If Parliament ceased to be an effective representative assembly, the courts would resist its laws.

15. Limits to legal sovereignty
Parliament authority is constrained by the UK’s membership of the EU (as EU law precedes UK statute law)
Parliament is also constrained by the idea that devolution has resulted in ‘quasi-federalism’, reflected in the reluctance of Parliament to challenge decisions made be devolved bodies (e.g. the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh and North Irish assemblies).

16. Popular sovereignty
Parliamentary sovereignty is also limited by public opinion
People will not vote for MPs who consistently back laws that they believe to be unjust or not in their own interests
This may also include referendums
This is referred to as popular sovereignty

17. Political sovereignty
Political sovereignty refers to where political power lies in reality, or who the general populace will typically obey
Parliament has, arguably, surrendered much of its political power to the government of the day
However, Parliament retains two important reserve powers:
The ability to block legislation
The ability to dismiss a government (through a vote of no-confidence)

18. Sovereignty restored?
Study the article from today’s Guardian newspaper and complete these tasks:
Explain the term parliamentary sovereignty mentioned in the extract. (5)
Using your own knowledge as well as the extract, outline how Conservative plans to limit the powers of the ECHR could be said to restore parliamentary sovereignty. (10)

19. The Roles of Parliament
Using the website, investigate the roles and powers of parliament.
Compile a “Getting to Grips with Parliament” revision aid/cheat sheet that will help you to remember the different roles and powers of Parliament.
Remember to upload your finished product to the VLE so everyone can use it!

20. The Roles of Parliament
The two-House system
Checking the work of government
Legislation
Debate
Rules and customs
Traditions of Parliament
Parliament and government
Parliament and Crown
Devolved Parliaments and Assemblies
Europe
The evolution of Parliament

21. Learning Objectives
To identify how effectively parliament fulfils each of its’ 7 key functions To give contemporary examples to support judgements on how effectively parliament fulfils its functions To evaluate and come to an overall judgement on how effectively Parliament fulfils its functions

22. How effectively does Parliament fulfil its functions?
Debating major issues Making law (Legislation) Scrutinising the executive Sustaining government Representation Financial scrutiny Redress of grievances

23. How effectively does Parliament fulfil its functions?
Your answer to this question MUST be somewhere on the effectiveness scale…
Not effective
Rarely effective
Somewhat effective
Often effective
Mostly Effective

24. The Effectiveness Scale
Not effective
Rarely effective
Somewhat effective
Often effective
Mostly effective 1 2 3 4 5
For each function of parliament we are going to rank how effectively parliament fulfils it using the effectiveness scale.

25. How effectively does Parliament fulfil its functions?
Effectiveness Scale (1-5)
Debating major issues
Making law (Legislation)
Scrutinising the executive
Sustaining government
Representation
Financial scrutiny
Redress of grievances

26. Draw the table below: Function Effectiveness Scale Justification
Example
Debating major issues
Making law (Legislation)
Scrutinising the executive
Sustaining government
Representation
Financial scrutiny
Redress of grievances

27. Task:
We are going to use this table to help us construct a model answer to the exam question, “How effectively does parliament fulfil its functions?”.
In pairs, you will be assigned a part of the model answer; you will complete the table for your part and feedback to the rest of the class.
When other pairs are giving feedback – make sure you complete your table – you will need it to write your exam answer!

28. Task; Introduction Debating major issues Making law (Legislation)
Scrutinising the executive
Sustaining government
Representation
Financial scrutiny
Redress of grievances
Conclusion

29. Introduction

30. Debating major issues
Effectiveness Scale
Justification
Example:

31. Making law (Legislation)
Effectiveness Scale
Justification
Example:

32. Scrutinising the executive
Effectiveness Scale
Justification
Example:

33. Sustaining government
Effectiveness Scale
Justification
Example:

34. Representation
Effectiveness Scale
Justification
Example:

35. Financial scrutiny
Effectiveness Scale
Justification
Example:

36. Redress of grievances
Effectiveness Scale
Justification
Example:

37. Conclusion

38. Homework
You now have the content for your exam answer, however some marks are awarded for communication and coherence.
Write a model exam answer using the table we have completed this lesson, but focusing on the following;
Political vocabulary
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar
Linking arguments
Referring back to the question