This task links to the Course Assessment Specification (CAS): The legislative branch - the role of committees.

Much of the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords takes place in committees, made up of around 10 to 50 MPs or Lords. These committees examine issues in detail, from government policy and proposed new laws, to wider topics like the economy.

There are four different types of committee in the UK:

1. Select
2. Joint
3. General
4. Grand

Watch the short explainer video above to help you understand the role of Select Committees in the UK. We are going to look at a case study of the House of Commons Liaison Committee.

This Committee is made up of Select Committee Chairs. It considers the overall work of select committees, promotes effective scrutiny of Government and chooses committee reports for debates. It questions the Prime Minister about policy, usually three times a year.

Take a look at the House of Commons Liaison Committee in action (via video meeting as this took place during the pandemic) on Weds 27 May.

As you watch the video above, note the ways in which the committee members are scrutinising the Prime Minister. Do you think this is an effective example of how the legislative branch in the UK is able to scrutinise the government? Leave your views in the comments below: