Study the images below to work out what topic we are studying today

Warning: inappropriate resource• Cassetteboy’s Cameron Conference Rap (YouTube) is

inappropriate for viewers under the age of 18. Students should avoid this resource.

• In particular, they should avoid viewing it on handheld devices unconnected to the school wifi network, which blocks content of this nature.

Time for some tough love

• Read the question – ‘Discuss’ implies engagement with both sides of a debate

• Key terms should be defined in a way that is not simply descriptive

• Points should be rather more specific than they are general and more developed than superficial

• Use evidence rather than speculation to support your key points

What is Parliament?

DO NOWBe ready to answer a series of questions on the nature of the UK parliament. Note that we’re playing this game on Level 3, the highest level, so the questions are not meant to be easy.

Learning objectives

• To describe the make-up and powers of the UK parliament

• To explain the concept of parliamentary sovereignty

• To explore the issues of parliamentary sovereignty in relation to a current affairs topic

Executive(Prime minister

& Cabinet)

House of Commons

Personnel Accountability

The UK model of parliamentary government

ElectorateLegitimacy & Accountability

House of Lords

Judiciary(Supreme Court)

Accountability

Legislative

Executive(Prime minister

& Cabinet)

House of Commons

Personnel Accountability

The UK model of parliamentary government

ElectorateLegitimacy & Accountability

House of Lords

Judiciary(Supreme Court)

Accountability

Legislative

A history of Parliament in <60 seconds

• Watch the following short video on how Parliament evolved through the ages..

What is Parliament and why is it important?

• Parliament is sovereign, meaning it is the ultimate source of legal authority in the British state.

• Parliament can make/amend/repeal any law in Britain—no other body but Parliament can make the law.

• Ministers, government departments, local authorities and other agencies apply the law.

• The courts interpret the law.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) argued that sovereignty was:• Supreme authority

within the state• Absolute in nature• Derived from a social

contract between ruler and ruled

• Essential in order to avoid anarchy or “the war of all against all”

“The principle of Parliamentary sovereignty mean neither more nor less than this . . . [that Parliament] has the right to make or unmake any law whatever: and, further, that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament.”

A.V. Dicey

Executive = applies law

(Prime minister & Cabinet)

House of Commons

Personnel Accountability

The UK model of parliamentary government

ElectorateLegitimacy & Accountability

House of Lords

Judiciary = interprets law(Supreme Court)

Accountability

Legislative = makes law

What limits Parliamentary Sovereignty?

There are four main constraints on Parliamentary sovereignty:

• The rule of law• Limits to legal sovereignty• Limits imposed by popular sovereignty• Limits imposed by political sovereignty

The rule of law

• Parliamentary sovereignty is limited by the rule of law, i.e. “the essential elements of any plausible conception of democratic government” which constitute contemporary political morality

• The rule of law seeks to protect the individual’s rights from the exercise of arbitrary power.

• If Parliament ceased to be an effective representative assembly, the courts would resist its laws.

Limits to legal sovereignty

• Parliament authority is constrained by the UK’s membership of the EU (as EU law precedes UK statute law)

• Parliament is also constrained by the idea that devolution has resulted in ‘quasi-federalism’, reflected in the reluctance of Parliament to challenge decisions made be devolved bodies (e.g. the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh and North Irish assemblies).

Popular sovereignty

• Parliamentary sovereignty is also limited by public opinion

• People will not vote for MPs who consistently back laws that they believe to be unjust or not in their own interests

• This may also include referendums• This is referred to as popular sovereignty

Political sovereignty

• Political sovereignty refers to where political power lies in reality, or who the general populace will typically obey

• Parliament has, arguably, surrendered much of its political power to the government of the day

• However, Parliament retains two important reserve powers: ⁻ The ability to block legislation⁻ The ability to dismiss a government (through a

vote of no-confidence)

Sovereignty restored?

Study the article from today’s Guardian newspaper and complete these tasks:

• Explain the term parliamentary sovereignty mentioned in the extract. (5)

• Using your own knowledge as well as the extract, outline how Conservative plans to limit the powers of the ECHR could be said to restore parliamentary sovereignty. (10)

The Roles of Parliament

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/• Using the website, investigate the roles and

powers of parliament.• Compile a “Getting to Grips with Parliament”

revision aid/cheat sheet that will help you to remember the different roles and powers of Parliament.

• Remember to upload your finished product to the VLE so everyone can use it!

The Roles of Parliament

1. The two-House system2. Checking the work of government3. Legislation4. Debate5. Rules and customs6. Traditions of Parliament7. Parliament and government8. Parliament and Crown9. Devolved Parliaments and Assemblies10. Europe11. The evolution of Parliament

Learning Objectives

To identify how effectively parliament fulfils each of its’ 7 key functionsTo give contemporary examples to support judgements on how effectively parliament fulfils its functionsTo evaluate and come to an overall judgement on how effectively Parliament fulfils its functions

How effectively does Parliament fulfil its functions?

Debating major issuesMaking law (Legislation)Scrutinising the executiveSustaining governmentRepresentationFinancial scrutinyRedress of grievances

How effectively does Parliament fulfil its functions?

Your answer to this question MUST be somewhere on the effectiveness scale…

Not effectiveRarely effective

Often effectiveMostly Effective

Somewhat effective

The Effectiveness Scale

Not effectiveRarely effectiveSomewhat effectiveOften effectiveMostly effective

12345

For each function of parliament we are going to rank how effectively parliament fulfils it using the

effectiveness scale.

How effectively does Parliament fulfil its functions?

Functions Effectiveness Scale (1-5)

Debating major issues

Making law (Legislation)

Scrutinising the executive

Sustaining government

Representation

Financial scrutiny

Redress of grievances

Draw the table below:Function Effectiveness

ScaleJustification Example

Debating major issues

Making law (Legislation)

Scrutinising the executive

Sustaining government

Representation

Financial scrutiny

Redress of grievances

Task:

• We are going to use this table to help us construct a model answer to the exam question, “How effectively does parliament fulfil its functions?”.

• In pairs, you will be assigned a part of the model answer; you will complete the table for your part and feedback to the rest of the class.

• When other pairs are giving feedback – make sure you complete your table – you will need it to write your exam answer!

Task;

IntroductionDebating major issuesMaking law (Legislation)Scrutinising the executiveSustaining governmentRepresentationFinancial scrutinyRedress of grievancesConclusion

Introduction

Debating major issuesEffectiveness Scale Justification

Example:

Making law (Legislation)Effectiveness Scale Justification

Example:

Scrutinising the executiveEffectiveness Scale Justification

Example:

Sustaining governmentEffectiveness Scale Justification

Example:

RepresentationEffectiveness Scale Justification

Example:

Financial scrutinyEffectiveness Scale Justification

Example:

Redress of grievancesEffectiveness Scale Justification

Example:

Conclusion

Homework

You now have the content for your exam answer, however some marks are awarded for communication and coherence.Write a model exam answer using the table we have completed this lesson, but focusing on the following;• Political vocabulary• Spelling• Punctuation• Grammar• Linking arguments• Referring back to the question