E.g. in 2016, the Lords amended an Immigration bill, technically did not even require the approval of forcing the Government to relocate child refugees in the UK the Commons, as it is an executive power of the who had made it to Europe from Syria, against the wishes PM. Also, PM appoints many of the members of the of the Government. Since 2010, the Government has been House of Lords, so it is limited. In 2015, for defeated over 100 times by the Lords. The Lords can also example, David Cameron appointed 26 new initiate bills themselves. The Conservatives do not have a Conservative Lords, increasing the influence of the majority of Peers so can be outvoted in the Lords. Conservatives in the House of Lords and arguably making future government defeats in the Lords less likely. It has also been accused of cronyism (being stuffed with government donors) and in need of reform. The SNP have called the Lords sorry list ‘a of rejected politicians, cronies and hangers on with big chequebooks’ and have called for the House of Lords to be abolished. Parliament can check the work of Government through However, the government is no obligation to Select Committees; cross party groups of around 11-15 MPs act upon recommendations made by committees, who meet weekly to monitor government departments by so it could be argued that Committees are limited scrutinising government bills, gathering evidence from in their ability to hold the Executive to account, expert witnesses, and writing reports with especially as committees do not generate recommendations to the relevant Cabinet Minister. significant media coverage. E.g. In 2016 the Liaison Committee called PM In saying that, the lack of media coverage allied Cameron before them and questioned him for an hour and a with a civilised and calm atmosphere may make half on the EU referendum and the issue of child refugees Ministers more relaxed and candid when giving coming to the UK from Syria. Committees are arguably evidence, meaning the Committees can be an more effective than the Commons at holding Government effective way to expose truths. to account as they are cross-party and have more time to question, meaning Ministers may struggle to get away with the evasive sound bite which they may use in the Commons. 4a) Evaluate / Analyse the effectiveness of an electoral system(s) in providing fair representation 4b) Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different electoral systems 4c) systems do not always provide for fair representation. ‘Electoral ’Discuss.
E.g. in 2016, the Lords amended an Immigration bill, forcing the Government to relocate child refugees in the UK who had made it to Europe from Syria, against the wishes of the Government. Since 2010, the Government has been defeated over 100 times by the Lords. The Lords can also initiate bills themselves. The Conservatives do not have a majority of Peers so can be outvoted in the Lords. technically did not even require the approval of the Commons, as it is an executive power of the PM. Also, PM appoints many of the members of the House of Lords, so it is limited. In 2015, for example, David Cameron appointed 26 new Conservative Lords, increasing the influence of the Conservatives in the House of Lords and arguably making future government defeats in the Lords less likely. It has also been accused of cronyism (being stuffed with government donors) and in need of reform. The SNP have called the Lords ‘a sorry list of rejected politicians, cronies and hangers on with big chequebooks’ and have called for the House of Lords to be abolished. Parliament can check the work of Government through Select Committees; cross party groups of around 11-15 MPs who meet weekly to monitor government departments by scrutinising government bills, gathering evidence from expert witnesses, and writing reports with recommendations to the relevant Cabinet Minister. E.g. In 2016 the Liaison Committee called PM Cameron before them and questioned him for an hour and a half on the EU referendum and the issue of child refugees coming to the UK from Syria. Committees are arguably more effective than the Commons at holding Government to account as they are cross-party and have more time to question, meaning Ministers may struggle to get away with the evasive sound bite which they may use in the Commons. However, the government is no obligation to act upon recommendations made by committees, so it could be argued that Committees are limited in their ability to hold the Executive to account, especially as committees do not generate significant media coverage. In saying that, the lack of media coverage allied with a civilised and calm atmosphere may make Ministers more relaxed and candid when giving evidence, meaning the Committees can be an effective way to expose truths. 4a) Evaluate / Analyse the effectiveness of an electoral system(s) in providing fair representation 4b) Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different electoral systems 4c) ‘Electoral systems do not always provide for fair representation. ’Discuss.
sasbhs_social_modern_highers_77_1319811528.docx