Is Parliament Effective?

This final lesson draws together the themes of the Parliament topic and asks the overarching question: Is the UK Parliament effective at performing its key functions? This is one of the most common essay questions in A-Level Politics, and a strong answer requires balanced analysis, specific examples, and a clear conclusion.

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Framework for Evaluation

To evaluate Parliament's effectiveness, consider its four main functions:

1. Legislation — Does Parliament make good laws?
2. Scrutiny — Does Parliament hold the government to account?
3. Representation — Does Parliament represent the people?
4. Legitimacy — Does Parliament command public trust and democratic authority?

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1. Parliament as a Legislature

Evidence of Effectiveness

• Multi-stage legislative process — Bills pass through multiple readings, committee stage, and ping-pong, ensuring thorough examination.
• Lords revision — The Lords frequently improves the quality of legislation through detailed amendment.
• Pre-legislative scrutiny — Select committees examine draft bills before they are formally introduced, identifying problems early.
• The Parliament Acts — The democratic safeguard ensures the elected chamber can prevail.

Evidence of Ineffectiveness