The Executive & Parliament (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

The Executive and Parliament

• The relationship between the executive and Parliament is central to the UK political system

• Parliament is legally sovereign and is intended to hold the executive to account

  • However, because the executive is usually drawn from the largest party in the House of Commons, it often dominates Parliament in practice

How Parliament holds the executive to account

• A key role of Parliament is to hold the executive accountable for its actions, usually through scrutiny

• This can occur in a number of ways

1. Legislative control

• Parliament must pass Acts to authorise certain executive powers

  • After the Supreme Court’s decision in Miller v Brexit Secretary (2017), Parliament passed the necessary Act to authorise EU withdrawal under Article 50

• However:

  • due to fused powers in the UK, the government usually holds a majority in the House of Commons

  • this makes it possible for the executive to pass legislation with relative ease

2. Questioning and scrutiny

• MPs can challenge ministers and force them to defend their policies

• Methods include:

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • urgent questions

  • select committees

  • parliamentary debates

3. Votes of no confidence

• Parliament can remove a government that loses the confidence of the House of Commons

4. Amendments and the House of Lords

• Parliament can propose amendments to bills or block legislation temporarily

• The House of Lords can delay bills by up to one year

5. Control of government spending

• Parliament must approve government spending and the Budget

• MPs can scrutinise the allocation of resources

Dominance of the executive over Parliament

Control of the parliamentary agenda

• The government controls the timetable and agenda

• This allows it to prioritise its own legislation and limit scrutiny

Whipping and party discipline

• The whip system is used to ensure MPs vote in line with the government

Prerogative powers

• The executive can act without parliamentary consent in some areas

Size of the government majority

• A large majority allows governments to pass controversial legislation

The balance of power between Parliament and the executive

• The balance of power between Parliament and the executive is not static. It varies with governments and national circumstances

Key changes

• Since 2009, there has been a rise in judicial review and court challenges

  • Miller v Brexit Secretary (2017) strengthened parliamentary sovereignty

• Reduction in prerogative dominance

  • Miller v PM (2019) limited the power to prorogue Parliament

• Increased assertiveness of the House of Lords

  • Strong opposition to the Rwanda Bill

• National crises can shift power

  • Covid-19 increased executive dominance

  • Partygate led to intense scrutiny and Johnson’s resignation

• MPs now make greater use of procedures such as urgent questions

Overall assessment

• Parliament remains legally sovereign

• The executive often dominates Parliament in practice

• However, scrutiny mechanisms mean executive power is not unchecked

• The relationship between Parliament and the executive is therefore best understood as executive dominance constrained by parliamentary scrutiny