Showing posts with label role of MP's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label role of MP's. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 December 2015
Sunday, 29 November 2015
Monday, 10 February 2014
Unit 2: The role of an MP
To be elected to the Commons, prospective MPs must first select a particular slice of the UK and woo its voters in an elaborate political courtship, involving hustings, pamphleteering, and the systematic rubbishing of rival suitors.
Unlike other electoral systems, where voters choose candidates from a list and second choices matter, this particular race for votes is described as "first-past-the-post", meaning that the also-rans get nothing.
Or even less: any candidate who fails to win more than 5% of the votes cast loses their £500 deposit.
This process enables the populace to select the person they feel will best represent their views in Parliament - in theory, at least, propelling the candidate with the quickest wit or most persuasive rhetoric into a role where they may deploy these skills to good effect.
Once elected, the job security is excellent - at least until the next election, when the MP will once more face the prospect of thwarting the advances of rivals and defending his or her record in office to voters.
Fierce competition is understandable given the prize at stake: a chance to influence the law of the land and the administration of the country.
Rising to the top
The Commons is a hierarchical club, however, and the prospects to make the most of this opportunity are not evenly distributed.
The fate of talented MPs determined to make a splash depends on several key factors: the status of their party within Parliament, their own status within the party, and their ability to convince colleagues of the virtue of their ideas.
Opposition party MPs may either interrogate the government from the backbenches or seek to attain promotion within their political parties in order to "shadow" particular ministers.
Rising through the ranks in this way gives an opposition MP the opportunity to specialise in a particular policy brief and probe government policy on it in more depth.
MPs from the main opposition parties who take on shadow ministerial positions are allowed to speak in the Commons from the front row of seats, hence the distinction drawn between "frontbenchers" and "backbenchers".
The shadow system - in theory - enables an orderly transition of power in the event that fortunes shift at a general election.
MPs from the political party that has won the most seats at the latest election make up the talent pool from which the government is extracted. The party leader becomes prime minister and distributes all other ministerial positions among party colleagues.
If no one party has enough seats to win an overall majority - in other words more than the combined total of seats won by opposing parties - then the party will either form a "minority" government, or enter into acoalition , as happened following the 2010 general election.
The most senior government ministers form a group called the cabinet; these men and women, led by the prime minister, collectively instigate the majority of legislation passed by the Commons.
Ministers are also described as frontbenchers, since they occupy the front row of seats on their side of the House when they attend debates.
But the government doesn't have complete control over either the principles or the precise wording of legislation produced by the Commons. When MPs disagree with proposed government bills, they can bid to change them by tabling amendments. They can also propose new legislation themselves by drafting private members' bills.
More questions
In addition to their role in the scrutiny of legislation, backbench MPs can raise their constituents' concerns with ministers at Parliamentary question sessions or by tabling written questions.
They will also present petitions to Parliament on their constituents' behalf - whether or not they agree with the subject of the petition.
MPs can propose subjects for debate in the Commons chamber at adjournment debates, so called because they take place at the end of the parliamentary day; or in the alternative debating chamber of Westminster Hall; or to the Backbench Business Committee, which is responsible for scheduling business on 35 days in the Commons and Westminster Hall.
Backbenchers from any political party can also be chosen to serve on select committees - cross-party groups that undertake detailed scrutiny of particular aspects of the work of government.
Select committees have the power to call expert witnesses to testify at their inquiries, and their reports carry a lot of clout.
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Unit 2: Lesson Plan for role of MP's & the opposition
Read through the following article and answer the questions underneath:
BBC Article - The Role of an MP
What factors effect the success of an MP?
What can backbenchers who are in opposition do to influence policy?
Who instigates most of the legislation that goes through the commons?
Monday, 17 June 2013
Unit 2: "Sharks, sycophants, lobby fodder" - an MP in Westminster!
Click here to access an article from the Observer in which Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, a former GP who was selected in an 'open primary' tells of her experience in Westminster. This article brings up all sorts of issues. We identify some of these here in order that you can use them in a class discussion to look at some of the theories, debates, concepts and institutions that the article mentions:
1. Open Primaries
The way that MPs have been selected in this country has often been critiscised for being too secretive and, given the first past the post system in which there are so many 'safe' seats, the local parties have been labelled the 'selectorate' Wollaston was selected under a new procedure explained in the article and, it explains, that David Cameron said he would "bust open the old closed methods of selection". These plans have now been shelved.
Look at how the major parties select candidates.
Questions for discussion: Would this system that has been abandoned have been more democratic? What would have been the benefits? Is the expense the only reason that it may have been shelved? How should parliamentary candidates be selected?
2. The role of an MP
This article suggests that in Westminster, MPs who challenge the leadership are not embraced and that their expertise is not sought out. Rather, those who are loyal to the party are rewarded. Wollaston says that she is "never on a delegated legislation on something which I could contribute to" and that often "You are encouraged.....not to worry about what you are voting for because the whips are there to guide you"
Consider the role of an MP.
What are their functions?
Questions for discussion: What is the role of an MP in a representative democracy? Should they be fiercely loyal to the party who elected them? Independent MPs are a rare beast – MPs are elected because of their party. But, what about their consituents? Surely, that is who they represent? What about their own principles, judgement and experience? Should they be applying that to the issues?
3. The role and function of Parliament
Consider some of the roles of Parliament.
Questions for discussion: Considering the functions of Parliament: to pass laws, to scrutinse legislation, to represent the people, to act as a 'watchdog' to government etc - what does this article tell us about the effectiveness of Parliament. How well does it carry out each of those functions? For example, how effectively can Parliament act as a watchdog if the MPs are all fiercely loyal to their parties? How effective are committees if, instead of being made up of those with relevant expertise, they are made up of the most loyal MPs?
4. Democracy and Representation
Questions for discussion: what are the implications for representation if Westminster is made up of a 'political class' who are professional politicians? Is it desirable to have "real people" in Westminster. What does Wollaston's experience tell us about representation in Westminster?
1. Open Primaries
The way that MPs have been selected in this country has often been critiscised for being too secretive and, given the first past the post system in which there are so many 'safe' seats, the local parties have been labelled the 'selectorate' Wollaston was selected under a new procedure explained in the article and, it explains, that David Cameron said he would "bust open the old closed methods of selection". These plans have now been shelved.
Look at how the major parties select candidates.
Questions for discussion: Would this system that has been abandoned have been more democratic? What would have been the benefits? Is the expense the only reason that it may have been shelved? How should parliamentary candidates be selected?
2. The role of an MP
This article suggests that in Westminster, MPs who challenge the leadership are not embraced and that their expertise is not sought out. Rather, those who are loyal to the party are rewarded. Wollaston says that she is "never on a delegated legislation on something which I could contribute to" and that often "You are encouraged.....not to worry about what you are voting for because the whips are there to guide you"
Consider the role of an MP.
What are their functions?
Questions for discussion: What is the role of an MP in a representative democracy? Should they be fiercely loyal to the party who elected them? Independent MPs are a rare beast – MPs are elected because of their party. But, what about their consituents? Surely, that is who they represent? What about their own principles, judgement and experience? Should they be applying that to the issues?
3. The role and function of Parliament
Consider some of the roles of Parliament.
Questions for discussion: Considering the functions of Parliament: to pass laws, to scrutinse legislation, to represent the people, to act as a 'watchdog' to government etc - what does this article tell us about the effectiveness of Parliament. How well does it carry out each of those functions? For example, how effectively can Parliament act as a watchdog if the MPs are all fiercely loyal to their parties? How effective are committees if, instead of being made up of those with relevant expertise, they are made up of the most loyal MPs?
4. Democracy and Representation
Questions for discussion: what are the implications for representation if Westminster is made up of a 'political class' who are professional politicians? Is it desirable to have "real people" in Westminster. What does Wollaston's experience tell us about representation in Westminster?
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