 starter activity Which is the House of Lords and which is the House of Commons? Write down as many differences as you can between the two institutions.

Why do we have Parliaments? To understand the functions of legislatures To evaluate the pros and cons of bicameral systems  Aims

 Your task Read Watts, p. 183 and explain the origin and meaning of the word ‘legislature’ Read Watts, p. 183 and explain the origin and meaning of the word ‘legislature’

What is a legislature? Parliament – from French word, ‘parler’ (talk) Parliament – from French word, ‘parler’ (talk) Legislature – from Latin for ‘legis’ (law) and ‘latio’ (proposing) Legislature – from Latin for ‘legis’ (law) and ‘latio’ (proposing) Representative assembly empowered to make laws Representative assembly empowered to make laws A medieval parliament

 Your task What do parliaments do? Read Roberts, p.263 and create a spider diagram identifying the key functions of parliament. What do parliaments do? Read Roberts, p.263 and create a spider diagram identifying the key functions of parliament.

Law-making Parliament is the UK legislature Supreme law-making body Convention that legislation should be fully discussed before it is put to a vote The judiciary is separate from the executive in the UK. Why do some analysts think this is a key strength of Britain’s constitutional setup?

Representation As an elected body, the HoC is expected to reflect public opinion and respond to widely held grievances As an elected body, the HoC is expected to reflect public opinion and respond to widely held grievances Minority viewpoints should at least be allowed a hearing Minority viewpoints should at least be allowed a hearing To what extent do you think the HoC truly represents minority groups?

Debate Apart from discussing legislation parliament is regarded as the proper place to debate issues of national concern even if they cannot be affected by a change in the law, e.g. September 2002 Parliament recalled to discuss possibility of war in Iraq Apart from discussing legislation parliament is regarded as the proper place to debate issues of national concern even if they cannot be affected by a change in the law, e.g. September 2002 Parliament recalled to discuss possibility of war in Iraq PMQs. Do you think important issues of the day are properly debated in the Commons?

Scrutiny of the executive Under the principle of accountability, ministers are accountable to parliament for their decisions Governments can be dismissed if they lose the confidence of a majority of MPs Peter Haine, who recently resigned from his Cabinet post following an investigation by the Electoral Commission

Recruitment of ministers By convention all ministers must be members either of the Commons or of the Lords ( e.g. Baroness Amos & Lord Falconer both served in Blair’s govt.) By convention all ministers must be members either of the Commons or of the Lords ( e.g. Baroness Amos & Lord Falconer both served in Blair’s govt.) In other words, members of the executive must also be part of the legislature ( unlike the USA ) In other words, members of the executive must also be part of the legislature ( unlike the USA ) Baroness Amos, Sec. of State for International Affairs

Legitimation Elected part of Parliament, from which executive is largely drawn Elected part of Parliament, from which executive is largely drawn Support from MPs provides the executive with legitimacy Support from MPs provides the executive with legitimacy Loss of a vote in HoC may lead to a vote of confidence in the executive Loss of a vote in HoC may lead to a vote of confidence in the executive

 Homework Read Watts, p.183 and create a scales chart summarising the advantages and disadvantages of bicameral systems. Use the BBC news website or other sources to find examples to illustrate each of the points. Read Watts, p.183 and create a scales chart summarising the advantages and disadvantages of bicameral systems. Use the BBC news website or other sources to find examples to illustrate each of the points.

 Your task Watch the clip from ‘Parliament Uncovered’ and complete a spider diagram similar to the one below: Parliament HoCHoLMPsCommitteesSpeakerMonarch

 Your task Look at the cartoon on p.264 (Item A). What point is the cartoonist making? To which function of Parliament does this refer? Look at the cartoon on p.264 (Item A). What point is the cartoonist making? To which function of Parliament does this refer? Using items A,B & D list the different roles of the Houses of Commons and Lords. Using items A,B & D list the different roles of the Houses of Commons and Lords. How is the US Congress different from the UK Parliamentary system? Is this any better? How is the US Congress different from the UK Parliamentary system? Is this any better?

Plenary Plenary Give arguments for and against recruiting ministers from the House of Lords or having ‘cabinets of all the talents’. Give arguments for and against recruiting ministers from the House of Lords or having ‘cabinets of all the talents’.