Functions of Parliament

1
Functions of Parliament

• Is it effective?

2
Functions

• Representation of the community
• Deliberation and debate of major public issues
• Legislation
• Making(and breaking) executive governments
• Scrutiny of executive actions
• Authorising public expenditure
• Recruitment and socialisation

3
Representative functions

• Represent who?
• Express majority opinions
• Express minority opinions
• Reflect a broad section of backgrounds
• Electorate ( Delegate/Trustee)
• Party (Partisan)

4
Representative Function

• Reality?
• Majority dominates in Lower Houses
• Minority has input into Upper House
• Partys dominate overall.Why? Promotion, party
  pledge

5
Forum for Debate

• Should be where nations important issues are
  discussed.
• Many opportunities to discuss issues by all
  members of Parliament.

6
Forum for debate

• Question time
• Address in Reply
• Matters of Public Importance
• Urgency Motions
• Petitions
• Adjournment debate
• Committees

7
Forum for debate

• Limitations on debate?
• Executive dominance allows for manipulation of
  proceduresi.e. Gag, guillotine, floodgating,
  Speaker and Dorthy dixers
• Point scoring over nations good.
• Sitting days are limited (170 in UK/ 60 in Aust).
• Government dominates Parliamentary time.

8
Legislation

• Should have wide ranging input
• Initiate, deliberate and finally pass
  legislation.
• However- parliament is more of a vehicle for
  legislation.
• Almost all of it is initiated in cabinet by the
  executive, and bills can pass with limited
  debate/ compromise.

9
Legislation

• HOR- never much input
• Senate-can if hostile or independent.
• Executive dominance of parliament because of
  numbers, procedures means there is limited input
  or scrutiny by those outside the executive.

10
Making and breaking the Government

• Important characteristics of Westminster system.
  We do not vote directly for executive. Party with
  majority forms government, therefore they are
  responsible to it.
• Better to say governments are formed through
  parliament than by it.
• Elections make governments

11
Scrutiny of executive actions

• There should be scrutiny of government bills,
  expenditure and administrative actions. I.e./
  ACCOUNTABILITY
• This is done through Q time, other parliamentary
  debates, censure motions against individuals and
  government as a whole and committees.

12
Scrutiny of the Executive

• Is this done? To some extent, but is often
  limited due to executive dominance(numbers and
  procedures), point scoring and limited sitting
  times.
• Senate can have greater opportunity if not rubber
  stamp.

13
Public expenditure

• All monies in or out of government must pass both
  houses of parliament.
• Revenue- Taxes
• Expenditure- Budget, new initiatives.
• Must be initiated in lower houses and convention
  states that upper house should not block supply.

14
Recruitment and socialisation

• Place where the general public is taught about
  politics
• Place where MPs can learn about leadership roles