| How can the Government's handling of Emergencies and Events increase the influence of:
1. Parliament
2. Executive | 1. If the Government is failing or Lacking little decisiveness, scrutiny will Increase. MPs backed Plans to launch an Investigation on whether the PM misled the Commons on Lockdown Parties in 2022
2. Usually Accepted that the Government needs the Flexibility to act Quick: The Coronavirus Act 2020 gave Lots of Powers to the Government. |
| Describe the ways in which Parliament can Control the Executive. (LONG ANSWERS) | -Parliament can Dismiss the Government in a Vote of No Confidence. Callaghan's Labour Government in 1979; May almost in 2019 (325-306)
-Parliament can Reserve Power to Veto Government Legislation: Sunak had his first defeat in the Commons when Tory MPs rebelled to allow Infected blood victims to get Compensation
-House of Lords can delay Legislation for a Year: Plans to reduce Tax Credits were Blocked by the Lords. Legislation was soon overall Abandoned
-Commons amending Legislation: Backbench Pressure forced the Government to Amend the Internal Market Bill in 2020 forcing Government to accept an Amendment. This removed the Governments Ability to override Parts of the EU Withdrawal Agreement
-Lords can also Amend, but it can be reversed by the Commons: The Dubs Agreement to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill aimed to protect Child Refugees, though, the Commons rejected it because the Government had a Majority
-Government facing a Backbench Rebellion: Sunak with his blood transfuse, May with her Brexit Deal
-Departmental Select Committees more Effective in Government to Account: The Privileges Committee vs Johnson, Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee vs Johnson 2020 on 'Lack of effective planning' in the role out of gigabit-capable broadband
-Governing having a Free Vote, MPs may vote Against the Party lines: Cameron allowed Conservative MPs a free Vote on Legalising Gay Marriage
-Ministers must present themselves to Parliament to account for Decisions and their Policies: Urgent Questions forces Ministers to answer in a Pressurised Manner |
| Describe the ways in which Parliament can Dominate the Executive (SHORT ANSWERS) | -Parliament dismiss Government via Vote of No Confidence
-Parliament can Veto Government Legislation
-Lords can delay legislation for up to a Year
-Commons can Amend Legislation, as well as the Lords
-Backbench Rebellions can force Government to reconsider
-Select Committees increasingly call the Government to Account
-Free Votes allow the Party line to not be followed
-Ministers must Present before Parliament to Account for their Decisions |
| How can the Executive Dominate Parliament? | -Government usually enjoys the Support of the Majority of MPs in the Commons so will win almost All Critical Votes: Johnson's huge Majority gave him the power to deploy the Post-Lockdown System of Tiers despite Backbenchers grumbling.
-Patronage of PM requires the Loyalty of their Party MPs. As well as the Influence and Sanctions of the Whip. The Removal of the Whip of 21 MPs ensured that Backbenchers knew what was Expected of them
-Government controls the Legislative Block and so the Amendments from the Commons and Lords can be blocked: The Dubs Agreement was blocked
-The Lords can not Veto Legislation due to the 1949 Parliament Act
-Salisbury Convention furthermore Prevents the Lords to block anything that the Party had promised to do - ie in their Manifesto |
| How can the Type of Government increase the influence of:
1. Parliament
2. Executive | 1. Government without his Majority in the Commons will be more likely to be Defeated. Theresa May is a stunning example of such
2. Government with a Majority can push any Legislation it wants. Johnsons, and Sunak really have enjoyed Majorities allowing them to push certain questionable Bills |
| How can the Issue increase the influence of:
1. Parliament
2. Executive | 1. Issues dividijng up the Governing Party leads to a more Effective Parliament. May lost several Crucial votes on Brexit
2. Issues may end up Uniting the Party and Dividing the Opposition. Vote on Military Action against ISIS in 2015. Labour cracking in response to calls for a Ceasefire 2023 and 2024 |
| How can the Authority of the PM increase the influence of:
1. Parliament
2. Executive | 1. A Weak PM can face Far Greater Scrutiny. John Major, Callaghan and May faced awful Votes of no Confidence. Sunak suffers by election defeats and the Worst Local Council elections too
2. A Strong PM can escape Parliamentary Scrutiny. Tony Blair visited Parliament less Frequent than usual in his First Term |
| How can the Government's handling of Emergencies and Events increase the influence of:
1. Parliament
2. Executive | 1. If the Government is failing or Lacking little decisiveness, scrutiny will Increase. MPs backed Plans to launch an Investigation on whether the PM misled the Commons on Lockdown Parties in 2022
2. Usually Accepted that the Government needs the Flexibility to act Quick: The Coronavirus Act 2020 gave Lots of Powers to the Government. |
