DIA full content

?
What are the main roles of a backbencher?
Representing constituents
Representing party interests
Scrutinising
voting on legislation
1 of 77
What regulates MPs outside interests?
Independent parliamentary standards authority
2 of 77
What are the 4 main powers of the PM?
Attracts media coverage
Appoint and dismiss MPs
Chair and manage cabinet meetings
leader of majority party - whip system and policies
3 of 77
What are the 5 main constraints of PM powers?
MPs may rebel
Negative media coverage
Needs party support and collective cabinet decisions
PM not free to choose ministers
Coalition Governments
4 of 77
Define Collective responsibility
Collective responsibility is the convention that all ministers must approve publicly of its collective decisions
5 of 77
Define Individual ministerial responsibility
Individual ministerial responsibility is the convention that ministers are responsible for the actions for all of those in their department
6 of 77
What is the order of a Bill becoming an Act?
Information
Green paper
White Paper
First Reading
second reading
committee stage
report stage
third reading
Lords repeat
Consider amendments
Royal assent
7 of 77
3 groups who sit in the House of Lords?
Hereditary peers
Lord Spirituals
Life peers
8 of 77
What is the difference between direct and indirect taxes
Direct Taxes are directly taken from your income like income tax, also known as progressive taxation. Indirect taxes are charged at a flat rate and take no accountability of ones ability to pay like VAT.
9 of 77
Explain the 2 components of the budget
Budget speech will occur first which reviews economic performance and makes forecasts before mainly laying out changes to taxation and spending.

Finance Act is when the contents of the budget become a 'money bill' essentially meaning it is fast tracked
10 of 77
What does the Monetary Policy committee do?
Meets monthly to decide whether to raise or lower interests rates.
11 of 77
Name 3 allowances councillors receive
General allowance - Depending on the role and responsibility in the council. Every councillor will receive between £800-£15000
Special allowance - Given to members of the council with special responsibility
Childcare allowance - if councillor needs to pay
12 of 77
What is the sovereignty of parliament?
No parliament can bind its successors
No body can question the validity of parliaments laws
Parliament can make a law on any subject
13 of 77
What is the separation of powers?
Legislator, Executive and Judiciary
Parliament, government and court
14 of 77
What is the rule of law?
No person is above the law
No person can be punished unless courts decide a breach of law
All Government actions must be authorised by law
15 of 77
What are the legal sources of the constitution?
Judicial Precedent - Case Law - Using previous cases to judge present cases
EU Law
Statute - Acts of Parliament
Common Law - royal prerogative powers
16 of 77
What are the non legal sources of the constitution?
Conventions (monarch doesn't exercise out of her convention)
Cabinet manual - practical manual on being an MP
Treatisies - How parliament should be run
17 of 77
Who can vote in general elections?
18+
British or EU citizen
On the voting register
18 of 77
Who can not vote in general elections?
Foreign nationals
Those convicted of election fraud in past 5 years
Convicted prisoners
Those detained under the Mental Health Act
19 of 77
Who can stand in general elections?
18+
UK Citizen
Must have a local connection
Must pay deposit to stand for parliament
20 of 77
Who can not stand in general elections?
Members of the House of Lords
Those banned from voting
Prisoners currently in prison
21 of 77
Name 5 powers of the Queen
Appoints PM
Appoints all other ministers
Head of judiciary
Head of CoE
Head of armed forces
22 of 77
3 ways the monarchy is funded?
Sovereign Grant - Profits from the Crown Estate go to the treasury - 25% given to monarch for living costs
Privy Purse - Mainly from The Duchy of Lancaster which covers 19268 acres of land
Other personal investments
23 of 77
What is a 2 tier authority
County council sits above district councils which provide more local services
24 of 77
What services do county councils provide?
Education
Social Services
Libraries
Waste Disposal
25 of 77
What services do district councils provide?
Waste collection
Public toilets
Planning applications
Environmental health
26 of 77
What is a unitary authority?
A single-local authority carries out most local government functions in its area
27 of 77
What is the role of the electoral commission?
Sets limits on election spending
Approves questions posed in referendums
28 of 77
Benefits of FPTP?
Simple and uncomplicated
Normal produces a single government
Allows for stability
29 of 77
Weaknesses of FPTP?
Locally winning candidate does not need to achieve outright majority of votes in constituency
Nationally, no correlation between votes cast and seats won
30 of 77
Explain the Party List system
The party list system is a proportional voting system where voters will vote for a party rather than a candidate. Before the election begins, each party will choose candidates to take the seats that they win. The seats are then shared as the vote is done,
31 of 77
What is a combined authority?
A legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of 2 or more councils to collaborate and work together to make collective decisions across council boundaries - this is exclusive to England. eg: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
32 of 77
What recommends levels of payments to councillors?
Independent Remuneration panel
33 of 77
What are 5 ways Local Authorities raise money?
Council Tax
Fees and Charges
Savings
General Govt Grants
Specific Govt Grants
34 of 77
How does Council Tax work in England?
Council Tax is a domestic tax per household. Each household in a area will be valued and put into a band of A-H with H being the most highest valued properties. The higher your band (h) the more council tax you pay, with the average being D. Council Tax i
35 of 77
Give 4 examples of Fees and Charges that a council will levy
Any 4:
Adult community care
Rents
Planning permission
Leisure
Burials and cremations
Car parking charges
36 of 77
What body deals with serious police complaints?
Independent office of police conduct
37 of 77
Give 5 examples of adult community care
Meals on wheels
carers in the home
Transport pickups
Adaptations to the home
Residential care
38 of 77
Name 3 responsibilities of a police and crime commissioner
Responsible for:
Maintaining an effective police force in their area
Holds regular meetings with the CC and ACC
Sets out local policing priorities and a plan to tackle them
39 of 77
What is a Clinical Commissioning group?
Local groups in England that commission secondary care services from NHS trusts and/or voluntary or private sector providers like planned health care and rehabilitative care.
40 of 77
What are NHS Trusts? and explain the reform
NHS trusts run groups of hospitals in a specific area and are the main providers of secondary healthcare in England

To become foundation trusts which means they will have much more financial control. Can dictate pay of staff more and take out bank loans
41 of 77
What does the national institute for health and care excellence do?
Independent organisation that provides guidance to the nation on health technologies and clinical practises like new medicines.
42 of 77
What are Care Quality commissioners similar to?
(referenced in lectures)
OFSTED
43 of 77
Give 3 facts about CQC's
Role is to improve quality of healthcare
Independent watchdog for both NHS hospitals and care homes
Publishes annual reports and inspections on its website
44 of 77
Main role of Public health England?
Promotes healthier lifestyles
45 of 77
What are Health and wellbeing boards and they do what?
Locally based forums covering same areas CCGs
They oversee the performance of local health and social care services
46 of 77
What are the main 3 things OFTED inspects?
Schools
Sixth forms
Early Years providers
47 of 77
What must happen if a school is rated as 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate'?
The schools must act on the recommendations as OFSTED will return soon to check
48 of 77
What is a community school?
A school that is essentially owned by the Local Authority (the community ;)
49 of 77
Give 4 points about community schools (budgets, admissions, land, control)
LA owns land
LA controls 90% of the budget
LA will decide admissions criteria if oversubscribed
Under LA jurisdiction
50 of 77
What is an Academy school?
State schools funded by Central government and are independent from LA
51 of 77
Give 3 things Academies are in control of
Pay for staff
curriculum
School days/terms
52 of 77
Main role of Chief constable?
Deploys police appropriately and effectively across the area.
53 of 77
What does the Chief Constable produce annually?
Reports on the performance of the police force in their area.
54 of 77
What is a contributory benefit?
A benefit that will only be paid if the claimant has paid National Insurance
55 of 77
Give 2 examples of a contributory benefit
Job seekers allowance
Statutory maternity pay
56 of 77
What is a non-contributory benefit?
Paid on basis of need and qualification and is NOT dependent on National Insurance
57 of 77
Give 2 examples of non-contributory benefits
Income Support and Child benefit
58 of 77
What is a means tested benefit?
Paid to claimants who meet criteria and no other income or savings
59 of 77
Give an example of means tested benefits
Council tax support
60 of 77
What is a universal benefit
There is a criteria but not dependent on income or savings
61 of 77
Give an example of a universal benefit
Basic state pension
62 of 77
What is the difference between committee style and executive decision making
Committee decision making involves the whole council meeting to make decisions but executive decision making involves a small group of executives led by a directly elected mayor or council leader
63 of 77
What was introduced in 2011 that allowed councils to choose what style of decision making?
Localism Act 2011
64 of 77
What are the 3 different types of electoral cycles?
Whole council
Elect by thirds - held 3 years in a row, 3 councillors per ward for 4 years
Elect by halves - held every 2 years, 2 councillors per ward for 4 years
65 of 77
County councils and London boroughs have what type of election?
All out whole elections
66 of 77
Metropolitan districts have what type of election?
Elect by thirds
67 of 77
District councils and 'new unitaries' have what type of election?
They can choose: Whole, thirds or halves.
68 of 77
Cabinet meetings must be open to the public unless in limited defined circumstances was a part of what legislation?
Local Authorities Regulations 2012
69 of 77
Around how many bodies can you apply for information from?
100,000
70 of 77
Give 3 examples of bodies you can apply for information from?
Local authorities, Hospitals, state schools, police forces, NHS, Govt departments
71 of 77
How do you apply for information under FOI?
You must apply in writing
No reason needed
Bodies must respond within 20 working days
72 of 77
How many categories are exempt under FOI? How is it split?
23 categories are exempt
8 by absolute exemption
15 by qualified exemption
73 of 77
Give 3 bodies exempt from FOI
queen
special forces
Security/Intelligence
74 of 77
What are the 3 types of land and explain them all
Greenfield - never been built on and never should be. Protected land.
Greenbelt - Land cannot be developed on, to prevent urban sprawl and cities getting even bigger
Brownfield - Sites previously developed, ready to be built on again.
75 of 77
What are the 2 main advantages of Two Tier authorities?
Closeness to community
Clearer awareness of community needs - can lead to more tailored services
76 of 77
What are 2 disadvantages of Two Tier Authorities?
Confusion on each tiers responsibilities
Duplication of staff/resources
Less cost effective
77 of 77

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What regulates MPs outside interests?

Back

Independent parliamentary standards authority

Card 3

Front

What are the 4 main powers of the PM?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the 5 main constraints of PM powers?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Define Collective responsibility

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Journalism resources:

See all Journalism resources »See all DIA resources »