1.  starter activity Why were so many MPs, on both sides of the House, angered by the arrest of Damien Green, the shadow Home Office Minister?

2. Is Parliament in need of reform? Identify reasons for the calls for reform Assess the extent of reform to date  Aims

3.  Your task Read Watts, p.216-7 and list the reasons why people have called for parliamentary reform. Read Watts, p.216-7 and list the reasons why people have called for parliamentary reform.

4. Reasons for growing demand for reform Decline of parliamentary style of govt in favour of presidential one Decline of parliamentary style of govt in favour of presidential one Decline in public confidence Decline in public confidence Growth in direct democracy Growth in direct democracy Desire for greater speed & efficiency Desire for greater speed & efficiency Need for improvements in working conditions Need for improvements in working conditions Removal of outdated practices Removal of outdated practices Desire for closer scrutiny of executive Desire for closer scrutiny of executive

5.  Your task Your teacher will give you some information about what had so far been achieved and what remains to be achieved. Highlight what has been achieved in green and highlight in red what still remains a problem to be resolved. Your teacher will give you some information about what had so far been achieved and what remains to be achieved. Highlight what has been achieved in green and highlight in red what still remains a problem to be resolved. Complete the judgement box. Overall do you think Parliament is in need of further reform? Complete the judgement box. Overall do you think Parliament is in need of further reform?

6.  Your task Imagine you have been assigned the task of reforming Parliament to increase the powers and working conditions of ordinary MPs. Come up with a 5 point plan for reform. You may wish to think about the following areas: Imagine you have been assigned the task of reforming Parliament to increase the powers and working conditions of ordinary MPs. Come up with a 5 point plan for reform. You may wish to think about the following areas: Select committees Select committees Power of whips Power of whips Working practices, e.g. timings of day, offices Working practices, e.g. timings of day, offices Parliamentary tradition Parliamentary tradition Openness in government Openness in government

7.  Homework Revise for a slip test based on all five sections of your study guide. Including Revise for a slip test based on all five sections of your study guide. Including Parliamentary sovereignty & idea of elective dictatorship Parliamentary sovereignty & idea of elective dictatorship Opportunities to scrutinise govt. – types of questions Opportunities to scrutinise govt. – types of questions Committees Committees Whips Whips Reform Reform