Key term
AQA A-Level Politics 7152
The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution
The Structure and Role of Parliament
The Prime Minister and Cabinet
The UK Judiciary
Devolution
Democracy and Participation
Topic overviewDemocracy, Legitimacy and Direct DemocracyDirect and Representative Democracy ComparedThe Reform Acts of 1832 to 1884 and the ChartistsSuffragists and SuffragettesWho Can Vote Today, and Votes at 16Forms of Political ParticipationTurnout, Apathy and Proposals for ReformPartisan and Class Dealignment
Elections and Referendums
Topic overviewMajoritarian and Proportional SystemsThe Additional Member System, STV and Other SystemsThe 1945 and 1979 General ElectionsThe 1997 and 2010 General ElectionsModels of Voting BehaviourLeadership, Manifestos, Campaigns and the MediaThe Nature and Use of ReferendumsRegulating Referendums, and the Case For and Against
Political Parties in the UK
Pressure Groups in the UK
The UK and the European Union
The Constitutional Framework of US Government
Congress
The US Presidency
The US Supreme Court
US Elections and Direct Democracy
Topic overviewCongressional Elections and Electoral College VotesThe Electoral CollegeThe Invisible Primary, Primaries and CaucusesSuper Tuesday, Momentum and DelegatesWhat Decides a US ElectionCampaign Finance RegulationParty Coalitions and Voting BehaviourRealignment, Dealignment, Split-Ticket Voting and TurnoutDirect Democracy at State Level
Political Parties in the USA
Pressure Groups in the USA
Civil Rights in the USA
Comparative Politics: Theoretical Approaches
Constitutions and Legislatures Compared
The Executives Compared
The Judiciaries Compared
Electoral and Party Systems Compared
Pressure Groups Compared
Civil Rights Compared
Liberalism
Conservatism
Socialism
NationalismIdeology
FeminismIdeology
MulticulturalismIdeology
AnarchismIdeology
The Structure and Role of Parliament
Select Committees, the Opposition and Parliament's Influence
- 3 things to know
- Paper 1
Overview
Recall questions on the Public Accounts Committee and the limits of select committees, the official opposition, opposition days and Short money, votes of no confidence, and when Parliament's influence over government rises or falls.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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Key term
How does party discipline weaken Parliament's influence on decisions?
Key term
What is the shadow cabinet?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Which committee examines the value for money of public spending, and who chairs it?
Model answer
The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by a senior opposition MP.
- 2
Which independent body audits government spending and supports that committee?
Model answer
The National Audit Office.
- 3
Must the government accept select committee recommendations?
Model answer
No — it is expected to publish a response, usually within two months, but it is not obliged to act.
- 4
How does the government limit what select committees can learn from officials?
Model answer
It controls which civil servants appear and what they may discuss, under guidance to departments known as the Osmotherly Rules.
- 5
What do the Osmotherly Rules say civil servants may decline to discuss?
Model answer
They appear on behalf of their minister and may refuse to discuss the advice they gave ministers or to answer for their own personal conduct.
- 6
How do the whips' offices affect committee membership?
Model answer
They largely control which of their MPs are nominated, so independent-minded or troublesome members can be kept off.
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