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Source 1 examines the legislative process for government bills in Parliament - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 2
Question 1
Source 1 examines the legislative process for government bills in Parliament. If the government cannot maintain the support of their own backbenchers, their bills w... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Source 1 examines the legislative process for government bills in Parliament - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 2
Step 1
Points from the source for the view
Answer
The source indicates that Parliament plays a limited role in shaping government legislation. It highlights that only government proposed amendments are successful in the Commons due to the necessity of maintaining backbench support. The public bill committees are cited as lacking time and specialism which inhibits thorough examination of proposals. Moreover, the House of Lords, while having more time for scrutiny, mainly sees amendments from the government, bolstering the argument that Parliament's role is largely ineffective.
Step 2
Points against the view
Answer
Conversely, the House of Lords has the capacity for more in-depth scrutiny and the involvement of crossbenchers demonstrates that not all amendments originate solely from the government. Furthermore, the possibility for independent proposals shows that the legislative process can be influenced outside of the government's direct control. The importance of public bill committees and their role in influencing legislation through evidence from external experts cannot be overlooked.
Step 3
Conclusion and judgment on the view
Answer
In conclusion, while there are mechanisms through which Parliament can influence legislation, the overwhelming evidence suggests that government dominance in proposing amendments and controlling the legislative agenda makes Parliament largely ineffective in shaping significant changes. The lack of effective structures to challenge government legislation underscores the argument. However, the role of the Lords and external contributions add complexity to this view.