Functions of Parliament

Learning Objectives

• To understand the 7 key functions of parliament• To identify how parliament fulfils its functions• To understand the role of an MP

Functions of Parliament

Debating major issuesMaking law (Legislation)Scrutinising the executiveSustaining governmentRepresentationFinancial scrutinyRedress of grievances

What does parliament actually do?

Look at the prompts and come up with a list of the 7

functions you think parliament fulfils.

Prompt #1

Debating major issues• Parliament is the place where people expect issues of

major importance to be discussed.• For example, the House of Commons held debates

before the war in Iraq.• Parliament becomes the focus of the nation’s attention

on these occasions.• If a crisis emerges during a parliamentary recess, it is not

unusual for members to demand that Parliament be recalled in order for the issue to be discussed.

Prompt #2

Making law (Legislation)• All government legislation must pass through what can be a

lengthy process in both the House of Commons and House of Lords before it reaches the statute book.

• This gives members an opportunity to debate the principles of the bill before them as well as the detail of the legislation.

• There is also the opportunity for MPs to table amendments to the legislation in order to get concessions from the government.

• Delegated legislation does not have to pass through a rigorous procedure, but orders still have to be laid before MPs.

Prompt #3

Scrutinising the executive• This is perhaps the most important function of

Parliament, especially at a time when the government has a great deal of power.

• Parliament scrutinises government in a number of ways.• Questions to Ministers• PMQT• Debates• Select Committees• Opposition Days

Prompt #4

Sustaining government

• The UK has a system of parliamentary government, so, as well as holding the government to account, Parliament should also ensure that the government can actually govern.

• This is achieved by the governing party having a majority of seats in the House of Commons.

Prompt #5

Representation

• One of the key functions of Parliament is to represent the people.

• Political parties attempt to reflect the views of the people who elect them.

• Individual MPs attempt to represent the people in their constituency, whether they voted for them or not.

• In this way MPs are accountable.• There is a discussion about how representative

Parliament is overleaf.

Prompt #6

Financial scrutiny

• A key function of the House of Commons is the scrutiny of public spending.

• There is an annual Finance Bill, otherwise known as the Budget, which has to be passed in order for taxation and spending to continue.

• In addition, there are a number of parliamentary committees that oversee matters such as government spending.

• In this way, Parliament can be said to have on-going control of public finances.

Prompt #7

Redress of grievances

• Historically, one of the earliest purposes of the Commons was for people to obtain redress for problems and grievances.

• Centuries later, citizens can still go to Parliament and lobby their MP about a particular issue that concerns them.

• Some MPs take up such causes and can either try to persuade government to change the law or attempt to change the law themselves using the procedure of private members’ legislation.

"The functions ascribed to Parliament...are not static. The form of Parliaments may remain, but what is expected of them will change as

political conditions change.“- Philip Norton

Different commentators/textbooks divide the functions of parliament in different ways.

EG:1. Representation2. Legislation3. Scrutiny and oversight4. Recruitment and training of ministers5. Legitimacy

EG:1. Legitimation2. Scrutiny3. Representation4. Recruitment5. Law-making6. Deliberation

Functions of ParliamentThe business of Parliament takes place in two Houses: the House of Commons

and the House of Lords. Their work is similar: making laws (legislation), checking the work of the government (scrutiny), and debating current issues.

Generally, the decisions made in one House have to be approved by the other. In this way the two-chamber system acts as a check and balance for both Houses.

House of Commons• publicly elected (party with largest

number of members forms govt)• MPs debate the big political issues of

the day and proposals for new laws• government ministers, like the Prime

Minister and the Chancellor have PMQT & MQT (scrutiny of executive)

• responsible for making decisions on financial Bills, such as proposed new taxes..

House of Lords• membership is mostly appointed and

includes experts in many fields• makes laws, holds government to

account and investigates policy issues• can consider financial bills but cannot

block or amend them

The Hunt for Examples…• For each function of parliament, use the internet to find a

CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE.• The example needs to be from 2012-2013

i.e. from under the Coalition government in the last year.• Complete the table below.Function ExampleDebating major issuesMaking law (legislation)Scrutinising the executiveSustaining governmentRepresentation Financial ScrutinyRedress of grievances

The Role of MPs

“It is the highest and most legitimate pride of an Englishman to have the letters of MP written

after his name.”- Anthony Trollope, 1865

Representing their constituentsServing constituentsVoting on legislationDebatesCommittee workPrivate members’ billsExecutive scrutiny

The Role of MPs• The UK public elects Members of

Parliament (MPs) to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons.

• MPs are involved in considering and proposing new laws, and can use their position to ask government ministers questions about current issues.

• MPs split their time between working in Parliament itself, working in the constituency that elected them and working for their political party.

• Some MPs from the governing party (or parties) become government ministers with specific responsibilities in certain areas, such as Health or Defence.

The Role of MPsWorking in Parliament

• When Parliament is sitting (meeting), MPs generally spend their time working in the House of Commons.

• This can include raising issues affecting their constituents, attending debates and voting on new laws.

• Most MPs are also members of committees, which look at issues in detail, from government policy and new laws, to wider topics like human rights.

Working in their constituency• In their constituency, MPs

often hold a 'surgery' in their office, where local people can come along to discuss any matters that concern them.

• MPs also attend functions, visit schools and businesses and generally try to meet as many people as possible.

• This gives MPs further insight and context into issues they may discuss when they return to Westminster.

Representing their constituents

• MPs are expected to raise issues of particular concern for the people who live in their constituencies, whether they voted for the MP’s party or not.

• EG: If a local factory closes, the MP is expected to raise the matter with a relevant minister, even if nothing can be done about it.

EXAMPLE

Mark Lancaster MP (Milton Keynes South) writes to Chief Executive about local surgery closure (6.6.13)http://www.mkweb.co.uk/News/Health/MP-Mark-Lancaster-writes-to-NHS-England-over-Willen-Surgery-closure-20130606132813.htm

Serving constituents

• Apart from their work at Westminster, MPs make regular visits to their constituencies, where they can be approached by the residents for advice and, where possible, practical help.

EXAMPLELynne Featherstone held advice surgery at local mosque to discuss local issues with the congregation.http://www.24dash.com/blogs/lynne_featherstone_mp/2013/06/25/Lynne-Featherstone-MP-holds-advice-surgery-at-Hornsey-Mosque/

Voting on legislation

• Every MP is entitled to cast a vote on a bill.

EXAMPLEThe full list of MPs voting for or against the government's same-sex marriage legislation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21346694

Debates• Backbench MPs can speak in

the most important debate on any bill – the second reading.

• But they do not have an equal right to speak.

• The speaker who presides over debates, normally gives preference to ex-ministers, especially on important issues.

• But in most cases an MP will enjoy the right to be heard if he or she wishes to say anything.

EXAMPLE

Ed Balls resorts to name calling in Spending Review Debate – Zippy, Bungle and the Muppets (26.06.13)

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/410484/Zippy-Cameron-and-Bungle-Osborne-taken-to-task-by-Ed-New-Balls-in-Commons

Debates• MPs enjoy parliamentary privilege; that is, they cannot be

sued for anything mentioned during a speech within the confines of Westminster.

• They can also initiate adjournment debates, which give them a chance to win publicity for their views on subjects important to them.

• They can put down early day motions for the same purpose, giving their views in writing in the hope that enough MPs will offer supporting signatures to win publicity for the cause.

• Early day motions are never debated, but they can serve to make a point provided that sufficient signatures can be obtained.

Committee work• MPs with an

enthusiasm for a particular subject can be chosen to serve on a standing committee, which deals with legislation in a specific area, or a select committee, which keeps an eye on the work of a department, or several departments.

EXAMPLE

The prestigious Public Accounts Committee, which was founded as long ago as 1862, oversees spending across Whitehall.

http://www.parliament.uk/pac

Private members’ bills• Although backbench MPs

cannot hope to pass their own ideas into legislation without government support, if they are successful in a ballot they can introduce a bill.

• Again, the goal here is usually to win publicity for a favourite cause (or to impress constituents) because in most circumstances the bill fails through lack of time.

EXAMPLE

Private members’ bills• But sometimes a private

member’s bill will be given either open or tacit support by the government and eventually reach the statute book.

• Some important social legislation of the 1960s, including the Abortion Act, originate in this way.

• It is a convenient way for governments to allow the passage of controversial legislation without being blamed by its opponents for having introduced the bill in the first place.

EXAMPLE

Executive scrutiny• Conscientious backbenchers

of all parties can dredge useful (and sometimes embarrassing) information out of the government.

• Apart from the regular Question Times, MPs can submit questions in writing and the relevant ministers answer is published in the Hansard – the official record of parliamentary debates.

EXAMPLE

http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2013/june/prime-ministers-questions-19-june-2013-/

MPs Expenses ScandalSpotlight on…

• FOI request for MPs Expenses 2005 (rejected – Information Commissioner rules parliament has to comply)

• Details of 6 MPs Expenses published in Jan 2008, 14 in March 2008, mass documentation in May 2008

• 2009 – discussion of MP expenses reforms – Parliamentary Standards Bill becomes law 21.07.09

• Criminal investigations and prosecutions of some MPs

“What about my third home?”

And finally…• Go back to your MP outline you created when looking at

the composition of parliament.• Use a different colour.• Annotate your MP with each role they perform, with a

brief explanation.

Prompt #1

Prompt #2

Prompt #3

Prompt #4

Prompt #5

Prompt #6

Prompt #7