Politics Essay Questions for Revision
1. Parliament as a whole still works effectively in influencing the government
and holding it to account ( Ali NH)
2. Ministers still decide policy mainly on the basis of the advice they are given
by their civil servants
3. Prime Ministerial government is a myth
4. Despite declining membership, political parties still play important roles in the
political system (Carl P)
5. The case for the state funding of political parties is now overwhelming (Mark
B)
6. There is no space for policies and ideas of third parties in British politics (Joe
H)
7. Parties have to change their political images from time to time (Ben S)
8. Although governments are dependent on parliamentary support, in practise
they usually dominate parliament and control its business ( Seb T)
9. In disagreements over policy, ministers are always likely to win over their
civil servants
10. Discuss the view that the cabinet is the “supreme decision making body in the
government”.
11. Party relations of the major parties seem to be more about public relations than
policy (Matt S)
12. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between the policy
programmes of the main parliamentary parties (Gareth W)
13. Discuss the extent to which party domination hinders the HOC in performing
its main functions
14. Ministers rather than civil servants determine the policies of their departments
15. Discuss the view the cabinet in modern times has no significant influence on
decision making within government
16. Power inside both the Conservative and Labour parties is concentrated in their
respective leaderships (Michael J)
17. To what extent are British major parties based on distinct ideologies (Krishant
M)
18. The HOC is too dominant within Westminster Parliament
19. Permanent, politically neutral and anonymous – How far does the British civil
service reflect these key features
20. Values of New Labour are based on the values of Thatcherism (George S)
21. Main political parties may claim to be democratic organisations may claim to
be democratic organisations but in practise they are not (Calum M)
22. In Britain, Parliament is dominated by the political power of the Government
(Hiten P)