Parliamentary scrutiny
Parliamentary scrutiny - paragraph completion
3 paragraphs argue one side. You write the rebuttal and the interim judgement.
How this works. Each pre-written opening argues one side of the theme. Your job is the rebuttal: answer it with the named cases, then end on an interim judgement. Your writing saves on this device.
Paragraph 1 · theme: Independent of the whips
Evaluate the view that Parliament is effective in scrutinising the executive.
The opening (given) - rebut this
Independent of the whips is often used to argue the view. Public Bill Committees: Whipped and partisan; membership reflects party balance. PMQs: Planted softball questions from the government benches. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: Urgent Questions (Granted by the Speaker, not the whips - Bercow's expansion from 2010.); Select committees (Chairs elected by secret ballot of the whole House since Wright 2010.); House of Lords (No government majority, many crossbenchers, no re-election pressure.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.
Paragraph 2 · theme: Forces ministers to answer
Evaluate the view that Parliament is effective in scrutinising the executive.
The opening (given) - rebut this
Forces ministers to answer is often used to argue the view. PMQs: The PM rarely answers the question; the format rewards soundbites. Public Bill Committees: Ministers defend the bill; they are not on trial. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: House of Lords (Ministers answer in the chamber, and defeats force the Commons to think again.); Backbench rebellions (Governments negotiate before losing - the threat does the work.); Select committees (Ministers and officials must appear and answer on the record.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.
Paragraph 3 · theme: Changes policy or law
Evaluate the view that Parliament is effective in scrutinising the executive.
The opening (given) - rebut this
Changes policy or law is often used to argue the view. Select committees: Around two-thirds of significant recommendations are not implemented. Public Bill Committees: Nearly all successful amendments are the government's own. Urgent Questions: Produces answers, not amendments. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: Backbench rebellions (Spring 2025: the government retreated on the deepest welfare cuts after backbench rebellion.); House of Lords (Regular amendments - the 2015 tax credits defeat forced a government retreat.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.