The impact of HOC select committees What is their basic weakness? What is their great strength?

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There are four content areas in UK Politics:
1. Democracy and participation
2. Political parties
3. Electoral systems
4. Voting behaviour and the media.

1. The impact of HOC select committees What is their basic weakness? What is their great strength?

HOL - Government of 1997 wanted quite radical reform but needed to move in 2 stages: 1. Firstly was the removal of hereditary peers, there would be an all-appointed chamber of life peers and COE bishops. There was compromise with the peers by allowing 92 hereditary peers to keep their seats 2. Stage 2 was to be an elected, or atleast partly elected chamber. This also ran into more obstruction and a lack of consensus, measure was taken off the agenda - The House of Lords Act 1999 did reduce number of hereditary peers to 92 - This resulted in the Lords consisting of more who were there by merit rather by birth making the body more professional HOC - Main reform concerned the departmental select committees, they scrutinise the work of governmental departments - They saw some enhancement in status, in 2004, the Chairs were awarded extra salary - Labour in 2010 introduced a system where the members of such committees were elected by the house and not by the government -> this led to increased independence and efficiency
Despite the inability to entrench law in the UK, it is becoming common practice to hold a referendum when constitutional changes are proposed - This was done for the devolution of power to Scotland and Wales, changing of FPTP to AVS, Good Friday Agreement and EU membership - When a 'no' result occurs, the government has no mandate and will not go against the will of the people - The effect of such referendums is to entrench constitutional developments as it is inconceivable as to what would happen if the government rejeted the wish of the electorate
All select committees suffer the same basic weakness, they do not have the power to enforce recommendations - All they can hope to do is bring attention to pressing matters and hold the government to account - The great strength of the committees is that the MPs who make up their membership tend to be independently minded, they operate outside party loyalty and ministers have to increasingly notice what they are saying
1. Executive dominance - MPs are mindless and simply do as the party whips tell them and hope one day that their loyalty will be rewarded by a ministerial position -> This is true of many MPs but there are also numerous independent minded MPs who are willing to put their beliefs and principles above party interests 2. Backbench MPs - Backbench MPs are powerless in the face of the frontbeches -> they have little or no influence over legislation and fail to bring government effectively to account 3. Debates - Parliamentary debates are often sparely attended, suggesting MPs lack interest in public policy -> much of the work of MPs is carried out behind the scenes in committees

The impact of HOC select committees What is their basic weakness? What is their great strength?

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The impact of HOC select committees What is their basic weakness? What is their great strength?

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson© 2026 Fatskills.com

All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | What Should We Know?
Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2026 Fatskills.com