A LevelPoliticsEdexcelExam Questions2. UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas2.2 Parliament

Parliament (Edexcel A Level Politics): Exam Questions

Exam code: 9PL0

3 hours6 questions
1
30 marks

Look at Source

Source explores the role of the unelected House of Lords in UK democracy

The House of Lords plays a key role in our constitutional system.

The Lords performs an essential role as a revising chamber, providing detailed scrutiny of legislation and government activity. Increasingly, the Lords has become a key check on government, challenging legislation that has passed easily through the Commons. The Lords can do this because of its unelected nature. The key features of an appointed House are greater independence, the absence of a government majority, its expertise and the greater amount of time members can dedicate to legislative scrutiny.

Reforms to change the membership of the House of Lords from appointed to elected may upset the existing constitutional balance. Firstly, an elected Lords may have the same issues as the Commons weakening its ability to check the government. Secondly, a clash could develop between the Commons and an elected Lords over whether the Commons or the Lords is more legitimate.

The unelected House of Lords is completely indefensible.

The House lacks the democratic mandate to do its job effectively. The House is not full of specialists, but is stuffed full of party donors, lobbyists, and wealthy, well connected individuals. Appointments have been increasingly numerous and inappropriate, with many new peers rarely contributing to the work of the House. The presence of hereditary peers and religious representatives is not suitable in a modern democracy. Also, attempts to limit the size and cost of the 800-member chamber have had little impact.

The Lords must have electoral legitimacy to do its job well. It should be much smaller and should more accurately represent the regions and nations of the UK whilst keeping the same powers. Then the Lords can play its key constitutional role of ensuring that there are effective checks on the power of government without challenging the authority of the Commons.

(Source: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ labour-house-of-lords-reform)

Using the source, evaluate the view that there should be an elected House of Lords.

In your response you must:

  • compare and contrast different opinions in the source

  • examine and debate these views in a balanced way

  • analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source.

How did you do?

2
30 marks

Evaluate the view that when it comes to fulfilling their respective functions, the House of Lords can be seen as more successful than the House of Commons.

In your answer you should draw on relevant knowledge and understanding of the study of Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas. You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way.

How did you do?

3
30 marks

Evaluate the view that select committees are the most effective way for the House of Commons to hold the Executive to account.

In your answer you should draw on relevant knowledge and understanding of the study of Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas. You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way.

How did you do?

4
30 marks

Source 1 examines the legislative process for government bills in Parliament

Source 1

If the government cannot maintain the support of their own backbenchers, their bills will be defeated in the Commons; so the government shape their proposed legislation accordingly and make concessions to win support. In public bill committees, evidence from outside experts and proposals from non-government parliamentarians can alert ministers to where changes to the legislation are needed.

In the House of Lords, there is more time for detailed scrutiny, and many experts, whose contributions often worry government. Crossbenchers are particularly feared since they can put forward proposals that sometimes gain widespread support across both Houses. However, most amendments to legislation are made by Ministers, which can be interpreted as a sign of government reflection, a response to detailed parliamentary debate and the calculation of what proposals are most likely to attract majority support.

Government bills are rarely defeated and generally only government-proposed amendments succeed in the Commons, where the government majority prevails. There is also a lack of time for scrutiny and a lack of specialism within the partywhipped public bill committees. The House of Lords has limited powers due to its unelected nature but since there is no government majority, it does sometimes make passing legislation difficult for government.

(Source: adapted from The Legislative Process: The Passage of Bills Through Parliament report by the Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, 8th July 2019. )

Using the source, evaluate the view that Parliament is largely ineffective in shaping government legislation.

In your response you must:

  • compare and contrast different opinions in the source

  • examine and debate these views in a balanced way

  • analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source.

How did you do?

5
30 marks

Source 1 considers the changing role of backbench MPs. It was written in 2019 when Theresa May was still the Prime Minister.

Source 1

In the mid-20th century, most backbenchers loyally did whatever the front benchers told them to do. Party loyalty was all important, and between 1945 and 1970 there were no government defeats due to backbench rebellions. Recently, May’s government was defeated more often in the Commons than Cameron’s, losing the vote on her ‘Brexit’ deal in January 2019 by 230 votes, after 118 Conservative MPs rebelled.

Backbenchers are asserting parliament’s sovereignty. Whips are weaker and MPs are more willing to defy their party, claiming to ‘represent’ their constituents instead. Governments avoid defeats by backing down - as May did over additional grammar schools. MPs increasingly use select committees, urgent questions and the Backbench Business Committee to exert their influence.

However, MPs continue to undertake constituency work, holding regular surgeries, representing their geographical area. They debate topical issues of the day. They act on constituents’ problems by asking questions, writing to ministers, voting for new legislation where needed and legitimising parliamentary decisions.

Some argue that Brexit is very much a ‘one-off’, with a deeply divided minority government and a divided opposition. If so, government dominance may soon be restored. Or, alternatively, perhaps things will never be the same again.

Using the source, evaluate the view that the principal role of backbench MPs is now to hold the government to account.

In your response you must:

  • compare and contrast different opinions in the source

  • examine and debate these views in a balanced way

  • analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source.

How did you do?

6
30 marks

Evaluate the view that although the House of Lords has less power than the House of Commons, in practice it exerts more influence on government decisions.

In your answer you should draw on relevant knowledge and understanding of the study of Component 1: UK politics and core political ideas. You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way.

How did you do?