parliament explained: introduction to parliament september 2016

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Parliament ExplainedKate AndersonSenior Outreach and Engagement Officer

andersonk@parliament.uk@KateAHoP

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The UK Parliament is made up of:

a) House of Commons and House of Lordsb) House of Commons and Governmentc) Government and Monarchd) House of Commons, House of Lords

and Monarch

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How many MPs are there in the House of Commons?

a) 678b) 664c) 650d) 659

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How can people become members of the House of Lords?a) Members of the public nominate themb) An independent Commission recommends themc) The Prime Minister chooses themd) Their titles are passed down to them through their familye) All of the above

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What is the UK Parliament?

House of Commons

The monarch(The Queen)

House of Lords

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Which TWO answers describe the work of the UK Parliament?

a) running Government departmentsb) checking up on the work of Governmentc) being the highest court of appeal in the UKd) making new laws

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The UK GovernmentThe party with (usually) the majority of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government

The Government:

Runs public departments (e.g. Home Office)

Proposes new laws to the UK Parliament

Is accountable to Parliament

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UK Parliament UK Government

• Commons, Lords and Monarch• Holds Government to account • Makes laws• Enables the Government to raise and

spend money

• Some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister

• Runs Government departments and public services

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Types of legislationPublic Bills are proposed changes to general law• Government Bills• Private Members Bills

Private Bills are local /one-off changes to laws

Hybrid Bills are a mixture of the above

Delegated/Secondary Legislation

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The House of Lords pass more changes (amendments) to legislation than the House of Commons. a) Trueb) Falsec) Both Houses pass approximately the same number of amendments

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Select Committees

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What are Select Committees?• Select Committees scrutinise the work, policies and

spending of the UK Government

• They run in-depth inquires

• They want to hear public’s views and experiences

• The Government must respond to their reports

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Select Committees

• Committees control work programme• Independent of Government• Seek consensus• Programmes are flexible• Inquiries are based on evidence received• Anyone can submit evidence

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Inquiry Announced

Call for Evidence

Written Evidence Deadline

Oral Evidence Sessions

Report Preparation

Publication of Report

Government Response

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All-party parliamentary groups• All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups set up

by backbench MPs and Peers from different parties.

• APPGs focus on either a country or subject.

• Some groups involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament to help with administration, research and other activities.

• The Register of All-Party Groups shows who their senior members are and what support groups receive from outside Parliament.

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House of Commons Library Blog: http://commonslibraryblog.com/

Twitter: @commonslibrary

Read the research prepared for Peers and MPs

The Libraries ofthe UK Parliament and POST

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Get involved

Contact your MP or a member of the House of Lords Follow relevant Select Committees on Twitter Share your expertise with a Select Committee Access parliamentary briefings and topical research

Find out more at www.parliament.uk/get-involved or call the House of Commons Enquiry service on 0800 112 4272 or the House of Lords Enquiry Service on 020 7219 3107

andersonk@parliament.uk@KateAHoP