Questions

1. What is a backbench MP?
2. Summarise the main functions of Parliament.
3. Why is the House of Commons the pre-eminent chamber?
4. What is the importance of representative democracy?
5. How do individuals become members of the House of Lords?
6. What was the effect of the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949?
7. What was the effect of the House of Lords Act 1999?
8. What are the arguments in favour of an elected second chamber? What are the arguments against?
9. What is parliamentary privilege and why is it important?
10. What is exclusive cognisance?

Answers

1. A backbencher is any MP in the House of Commons who is neither a government minister nor a member of the Shadow Cabinet.
2. Its two main functions are scrutinising government action and making law. It also controls national expenditure and taxation, is the source from which the government is drawn, and debates current issues.
3. Because it is democratically elected.
4. It produces a representative Parliament. Ensuring the voices of citizens are heard is a key part of the Commons’ work as the democratic chamber of Parliament. Their connection to the people through democratic representation gives legitimacy to their law-making authority and control of taxation. Voters can choose fresh representatives at each general election.
5. They can be nominated by political parties (including the Prime Minister), by the public, or by themselves.
6. The 1911 Parliament Act reduced the Lords’ legislative powers over public bills introduced in the Commons by replacing the right of veto with a delaying power of two years (apart from Bills trying to extend the life of a Parliament). This was reduced to one year by the Parliament Act 1949. The Acts allow specified bills to be passed without the consent of the House of Lords.
7. It ended the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords.
8. Arguments in favour of an elected second chamber include: the majority of bicameral chambers around the world are elected; it ensures that law-makers are accountable to the electorate and provides democratic legitimacy. The arguments against: a wholly elected House of Lords would challenge the democratic authority of the Commons, could increase the possibility of competitive power struggles, would lose the constitutional safeguard provided by its current diversity, and would divide accountability for voters.
9. Parliamentary privilege refers to the collective rights enjoyed by each House of Parliament and by members of each House individually. It protects Parliament’s internal affairs from external interference and enables Parliament to conduct its core business effectively, preserving its independence.
10. The right of each House of Parliament to regulate its own proceedings and have sole jurisdiction over its own internal affairs.