P3 - Explain the electoral processes used in UK elections. In the UK there are various different methods of voting, depending on what level of government you are voting for. These are the main ones - UK Parliament, in the UK parliament the House of Commons is elected by the first past the post system (FPTP), the country is split into 650 constituencies and each one votes for an MP to represent them, some candidates represents parties and others are independent. The House of Lords are appointed not voted for, they are appointed by the queen on the prime ministers request. Local councils, these are elected in England and Wales using the same method of FPTP except you vote for 2 or 3 to win in each ward so it’s the top ones that win rather
Arguably the elected MPs are the reason that a representative democracy flourishes with the elected MPs superseding the knowledge of the public. However, it could be argued that MPs have the interest of toeing the party line, or even acting in their own interests rather than the constituent’s interests. Nevertheless, MPs are learned individuals who would make the correct decisions with the interests of their party, their constituency and themselves, effectively fulfilling the role of an MP. The government within a representative democracy is advantageous as it is held to account for its
It is a very poorly worded question, as it directs us down one particular route either a Yes, or a No. Politics isn’t as simple as that as there is more to it than No it isn’t. So the better question I’ll be discussing is to what extent is Britain a Two Party system? One argument to say that it is a Two Party system is that Westminster politics has been dominated by Conservatives and Labour since the 1920s with one party either being the major party of Government whilst the other holds the position of the “official opposition” (in peacetime) with both the parties combined gaining 75% of the vote holding over 90% of the seats at Westminster at the 1992 election typical of many recent elections. Although there has been the rise and fall the third party the now Liberal Democrats in their many forms it has always failed to win the amount of seats required to challenge either of the two parties.
The Uk judiciary has different methods that provide the protection of civil liberties within britain. However, there are also different drawbacks that make these protections difficult in the face of parliamentay pressure. The European convention on Human Rights Act 1998 has effectivley provided a stable document that reassures and states the rights of all citizens over Britain. Since this act has been passed, judges have been able to rule and make more effective decisions. This is because this act has persuaded judges to rule more confidentally rather than having to follow instructions of the common law e.g precedents.
This is because there are many stages which the bill must go through which includes the House of Lords stage by which the bill may be rejected or amended (this may only occur three times). The final stage in the Royal Ascent is the process by which the queen signs the bill. The Act of Parliament has now gone into the statute book and must now be obeyed by all citizens of the UK. Due to the large amount of time it takes to pass bills the House of Commons does not fulfil is function effectively. As well as this the leading party will always have the majority in parliament, meaning it will almost always be able to push through its legislation.
These are: representation, legislature, recruitment, scrutiny and legitimacy. Main functions are therefore identified as: scrutiny and influence. Each function is equally valid, that tend to work out as a set, not separately on their own account. 1. Scrutiny of the Executive: As governments tend to enjoy large parliamentary majorities, Parliamentary approval is rarely withheld.
On the other hand, the House of Lords is not elected but is made up of a wide variety of people with different background and specialised expertise therefore allowing decisions that are made to be less biased and more thorough. Acts of Parliament, otherwise known as primary legislation, will progress through the House of Lords and the House of Commons regardless of which house a Bill was first raised and the five stages that it has to go through in each house include intense scrutiny. This is an advantage as the public knows that there is a great amount of detail and consideration going in to these stages to make a brand new law. The scrutiny in making these laws is intense and every stage is thoroughly gone through. A key advantage of the legislative process is that it is strongly controlled by the Government, and the bigger the Government’s majority the greater that control.
The House of Commons is without a doubt the dominant chamber within Parliament , with huge influence and supreme power in UK politics. It consists of 650 elected MPs, each one representing the interests and concerns of a particular region of the country, known as a constituency. It has three very important main functions; legislation, scrutiny and representation, but it is often questioned how effectively it carries out these functions. I do agree that it is a highly effective parliamentary chamber, but also think there is evidence for this view to be contradicted. Parliament is Britain's Legislature, where legislation, the process of passing new laws, takes place.
Outline Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aids Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aids are used to help judges interpret pieces of legislation and apply it to cases. They can also help define words within legislation so parliament’s intentions can be met. Intrinsic Aids, also known as internal aids are anything within the Act itself that can help judges with the interpretation of a particular section. The Long title is one of the most useful Intrinsic, it describes in general terms the purpose of the Act which makes complex words easier to understand so the true purpose of the Act can is met. The Explanatory memorandum is also very useful in finding parliaments true intention, an Explanatory memorandum accompanies all statutes since 1998 and sets out the purpose of the Act.
Composition of Parliament Introduction In the UK government, the legislative branch, parliament, is split up into two main chambers: The House of Lords and The House of Commons. The House of Commons is the lower chamber of parliament and has been seen as the dominant one for over a century. The main roles of the House of Commons are to: Propose and pass new laws, debate major political issues, and to scrutinise the work of the government. The House of Commons has 650 members and is composed of elected representatives from single member constituencies. The House of Lords is seen of the upper chamber in parliament and is made up of around 825 members.