POL214Y5 Lecture 11: House of Commons
Document Summary
Pol214 lecture 11 house of commons. The 15(cid:373)i(cid:374) slot for (cid:862)state(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts (cid:271)y (cid:373)e(cid:373)(cid:271)ers(cid:863) is a ti(cid:373)e where mps from all the parties can make a one-minute statement on any issue they choose. No one will be called on to speak unless name is on list. As a result, it is obvious what the votes will be at the end of a debate. A government with majority mps never has to worry about losing an important vote. Every day, ministers must: answer question about how they are spending public money, respond when mps point out mistakes made by government departments. Question period is exciting but also a predictable event in theatre: opposition mps attack the government in dramatic/rhetorical terms and minister unite behind their pm in defense. As we have seen, there are three roles of the mp in the parliamentary system: trustee concept role, constituency delegate role, party delegate role.
