Chapter 3 Multiple Choice Questions

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. Which of the following statements are true?

Select Committee members are elected within parties correct incorrect

Select Committee chairs are proportional to party balance correct incorrect

Select Committee chairs are elected by the whole Commons chamber correct incorrect

Select Committee members are allocated according to party representation in the Commons correct incorrect

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. What is meant by a separation of powers?

'The two houses within parliament, both the Lords and Commons, carrying out different functions' (Vile 1967) correct incorrect

'The governing party and the opposition party carrying out different functions' (Vile 1967) correct incorrect

'The guarantee of independent political institutions carrying out different functions' (Vile 1967) correct incorrect

'The guarantee of Parliament and the Government carrying out different functions' (Vile 1967). correct incorrect

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. Some view British politics as centralised and dominated by the elite in one party when in office. What is this view called?

Elective dictatorship correct incorrect

Elite rule correct incorrect

Majority of the Commons correct incorrect

Party government correct incorrect

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. Identify the reasons why select committees have become more established over time.

Their role has enhanced following the 'Wright reforms' of 2009-10, which introduced election of the chairs by the whole chamber. correct incorrect

Their role has enhanced following the increasing attention in the media rising from 100 newspaper mentions per year in 2008 to 350 in 2013 (Dunleavy and Muir, 2013). correct incorrect

Their role has enhanced following the committee chairs becoming public figures. For example, Jeremy Hunt, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, became chair of the health and social care select committee. correct incorrect

Their role has enhanced following the 'Wrike reforms' of 2000, which introduced election of committee members in proportion to their party's representation in the House of Commons. correct incorrect

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. Legislative ping pong, where legislation passes back and for the between the Commons and Lords without agreement, is limited by what?

The Salisbury convention correct incorrect

The parliament act of 1911, the parliament act of 1999 and the Salisbury convention. correct incorrect

The parliament act of 1998 and the Salisbury convention correct incorrect

The parliament act of 1911 and the Salisbury convention correct incorrect

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. What is the West Lothian Question?

A term associated with the former MP for West Lothian, Tam Dayell. It describes the argument that there is a constitutional inconsistency between Scottish (and other devolved nations) MPs voting on English-only legislation while English MPs do not vote on devolved matters. This would not occur if the same powers are devolved to regions across the whole of the UK. correct incorrect

A term associated with the former MP for West Lothian, Tam Dayell. It describes the argument that there is a need for a constitution that clearly describes when and if devolved regions get a say in other respective devolved regional matters. correct incorrect

A term associated with the former MP for West Lothian, Tam Dayell. It describes the argument that there is an unequal distribution of devolved powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. correct incorrect

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. What is judicial activism?

Whereby judges have become more inclined to disagree with Parliament and deliver verdicts that uphold common law, as part of a more assertive approach to decision making happening since the 1960s correct incorrect

Whereby judges have become more inclined to insert themselves in politics, choosing to interpret laws that either benefit right-wing political motives or alternatively left-wing political motives, as part of a more assertive approach to decision making happening since the 1960s correct incorrect

Whereby judges have become more inclined to use common law principles and interpret statutes more broadly, as part of a more assertive approach to decision making happening since the 1960s. correct incorrect

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. It is wrong to see UK Parliament as passive, partly because it retains primacy in legitimate policymaking, so it is always the reference point for decision making. The government structures its activities around parliamentary authorisation. This view describes parliament as what?

A co-signing institution correct incorrect

A parliamentary state correct incorrect

A rubber stamp correct incorrect

A bilateral legislature correct incorrect

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. Representation is about how citizen voices, opinions, identities and perspectives are incorporated into politics and public decision making. Identify the different types of representation found within politics.

Descriptive representation correct incorrect

Substantive representation correct incorrect

Normative representation correct incorrect

Symbolic representation correct incorrect

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. 'To hold government to account, to keep it on its toes, to try to amend legislation, and to prepare for the next electoral contest' describes the role of which political player?

Whips correct incorrect

The opposition correct incorrect

Government ministers correct incorrect

Cabinet correct incorrect