An Introduction to Parliament

October 2012

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

Conservative - 305

Labour - 253

Lib Dem - 57

DUP - 8

SNP - 6

Sinn Fein - 5

Plaid Cymru - 3

SDLP - 3

Green - 1

Respect - 1

Alliance - 1

Independent - 3

Speaker - 1

Deputy Speakers - 3

The party or parties who

can command the

confidence of the House of Commons

forms the Government

The Government:

runs public departments such as The Home Office, the NHS

proposes new laws to Parliament

is accountable to Parliament

• Commons, Lords, Monarch • Holds Government to account • Passes laws • Enables taxation • Represents public • Raises key issues

• Some MPs and some Lords

• Chosen by the Prime Minister

• Runs Government departments and public services

• Accountable to Parliament

Government (Whitehall)

House of Commons

House of Lords

Monarch

Makes and passes laws (Legislation)

Holds Government to account

Enables the Government to set taxes

A politically neutral role

Signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent)

Opens Parliament each year

The democratically elected chamber of Parliament

There are currently

650 MPs

All MPs are elected every 5 years

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

There are currently 826 Members (as of October 2011) of whom 790 are currently eligible

These include: ◦ 710 Life Peers ◦ 92 Hereditary Peers ◦ 24 Bishops (max. 26)

Members of the House of Lords do not have constituencies so, in theory, you can contact any member

There is currently no Government majority in the House of Lords

A large number of Cross-Benchers – independent of political party – sit in the Lords

Biographies of all Members of the Lords are available at www.parliament.uk

Represents their constituency

Raises issues on behalf of constituents

Passes new laws

Scrutinises the work of Government

Helps constituents

with problems Visits groups and

individuals to hear issues/ concerns

Represents constituents to various bodies

Campaigns

In constituency In Westminster

Not sure who your MP is? Go to www.parliament.uk and use “Find Your MP”

You can also ask the House of Commons

Information Office for details on 020 7219 4272

You can phone, e-mail or write to your MP

Most MPs hold surgeries, where you can meet them in person

Penny Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth North

Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth South

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

Government and individual

members can propose laws

All legislation proposed by the Government must be scrutinised by both Houses of Parliament

Members can suggest changes (“amendments”) at particular stages

Much of the most careful scrutiny goes on in Committee, particularly in the House of Lords

Cross-party

Both MPs and Members of the House of Lords

Based around common interest (e.g. Housing and care for older people, motor neurone disease, football) or countries of the world

Not involved in formal decision making, but important in developing knowledge

www.parliament.uk

Commons Information Office

020 7219 4272

Lords Information Office

020 7219 3107