February 2011

An Introduction to the new Parliament

A service from the Houses of Parliament

Politically neutral

Aim is to increase knowledge and engagement with work and processes of Parliament

Not an alternative to MPs

Took place on May 6 2010

What was decided?

650 seats in House of Commons UK Government What about the House of Lords?

Conservative - 307

Labour - 258

Lib Dem - 57

DUP - 8

SNP - 6

Sinn Fein - 5

Plaid Cymru - 3

SDLP - 3

Green - 1

Alliance - 1

Independent - 1

Speaker - 1

If a single party had won over 50% of seats: -automatically form Government

However, no party received over 50% of seats:◦ Largest party could have formed minority

Government◦ Two parties formed coalition Government◦ There could have been a re-election

Coalition formed between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats

Cabinet formed

Shadow Cabinet announced

New Parliament convenes / MPs sworn in

Membership of Committees announced

House of Commons

House of Lords

The Monarch

Makes and passes laws(Legislation)

Holds Government to account

Enables the Government to set taxes

Parliament debates and discusses a huge range of subjects that affect us all

Health and housing, schools and pensions, jobs and training, the way in which we choose our politicians, the way our streets are policed, laws on immigration, roads and railways, how our energy is provided – all are topics debated in Parliament

Your representative in Parliament can raise issues important to you

Is the democratically elected chamber of Parliament.

There are 650 MPs.

MPs are usually elected every 4 to 5 years.

Making and passing laws

Holding the Government to account

Raising key issues

Representing constituents

Approving the Budget, public expenditure and allowing government to set taxation.

The Prime Minister

The Cabinet

The party, or parties, that can command a majority of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government

The Government runs public departmentsi.e. The Home Office, Benefits Agency

The Government proposes new laws to Parliament

The Government is accountable to Parliament

• Commons, Lords, Monarch

• Holds Government to account• Passes laws• Enables taxation• Represents public • Raises key issues

Government (Whitehall)• Approximately 110 members• MPs and Lords (Usually)• Chosen by Prime Minister• Runs public services• Accountable to Parliament

In Parliament

Represents their constituency

Raises issues on behalf of constituents

Passes new laws Scrutinises the work

of Government

In the Constituency

Helps constituents with problems

Visits groups and individuals to hear issues/ concerns

Represents constituents to various bodies

Campaigns

Questions to Ministers

Adjournment/ Westminster Hall debates

Early Day Motions

Meetings with Ministers

As well as questions, debates, early-day motions

Select Committees

All-Party Parliamentary Groups

10-Minute Rule Bill/ Private Members Bills

All UK laws decided by Parliament

Government and individual members can propose laws

However, majority of laws passed come from Government

e.g. Welfare Reform Act

Lords

Bill presented /First Reading

Commons

Second Reading

Public BillCommittee

Committee of the Whole House

Report Third Reading

Bill presented /First Reading

Second ReadingCommittee

(whole House)Report Third Reading

After

Consideration ofLords Amendments Ping Pong Royal Assent Regulations

The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, often known as the revising House.

There are more than 700 Members (777 in November 2010)

Most are Life Peers, but there are also:◦ 92 Hereditary Peers◦ 26 Bishops

All Members of the House of Lords represent you

They play an important role in the passing of laws

They hold Ministers to account through questions and debates

They debate key issues

A politically neutral role

Signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent).

Opens and closes Parliament each year

You can get involved through lots of different ways including:

Contacting your MP Contacting a Member of the HoL Sending a petition Working with a Select Committee

You can contact your local MP about any issue that affects you in your constituency.

You can request that your MP asks a question, presents a petition or raises a debate on your behalf.

You can find out who your MP is on the Parliament website

You can contact any Member about issues that you would like Parliament to look at.

You can request that a Member asks a question or raises a debate on your behalf.

It is useful to contact a Member who has a particular interest in your issue. You can find out what individual Members are interested in by looking on the Parliament website.

Local MP in first instance Identify & contact Parliamentarians with an

interest Be clear on aims Remember party & Government positions Be positive and proactive

Questions

www.parliament.uk

020 7219 4272 – Commons information

020 7219 3107 – Lords information