People Power and Parliament an introduction to your Parliament UK Parliament Outreach and Engagement Service YourUKParl UK Parliament Outreach and Engagement Service Free service Impartial Helping you get involved and play your part in the UK Parliament ID: 768018
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People, Power and Parliament an introduction to your ParliamentUK Parliament Outreach and Engagement Service @ YourUKParl
UK Parliament Outreach and Engagement Service Free serviceImpartialHelping you get involved and play your part in the UK Parliament
Session outcomes By the end of this session, you will know:What the UK Parliament isWhat the UK Parliament doesThe difference between the UK Parliament and the UK GovernmentWhat MPs and Members of the House of Lords doA bit more about the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme.
House of Commons House of Lords The Sovereign
The House of Commons Democratically elected chamber of the UK Parliament 650 MPs Elected every 5 years70,000 eligible voters per constituency (approx)
The House of Lords Independent from the House of CommonsShares the task of making and shaping laws, and checking and challenging the work of the government.
Number of Peers: around 800 Average daily attendance: 476 (15-16 session) Peers officially appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister or recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission 92 hereditary Peers 26 England Archbishops and Bishops Excluding Crossbenchers, Archbishops/Bishops and Non-affiliated, there are 11 parties represented in the House of Lords The House of Lords
The Queen Head of State Politically neutral Signs off laws passed by Parliament giving ‘Royal Assent’ Attends the annual State Opening of Parliament Reads the Queen’s/King’s Speech outlining the aims of their Government The Sovereign
Checks and challenges the work of the Government (scrutiny) Makes and changes laws (legislation) Debates the important issues of the day (debating) Checks and approves Government spending (budget/taxes) What does the UK Parliament do?
What is the UK Government? The party with (usually) the majority of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government Runs departments (e.g. Home Office, Transport, Health) Proposes new laws to Parliament Accountable to Parliament
Commons, Lords and Sovereign Checks and challenges the GovernmentMakes and changes lawsGovernment (Whitehall) Some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister Runs Government departments Parliament (Westminster)
General Election 2017 – results
Most diverse House of Commons ever! Women MPs - 208 BAME MPs - 52 LGBTQ MPs – 45 MPs with disabilities – 5
Post-election: keep engaged Campaign for change in law or policy Contact your MP Contact a member of the House of Lords Contribute to select committee inquiries Take an interest: read, talks, debates Vote in future elections
The new Parliament New Parliament called Re-election/election of Commons Speaker Swearing in and oaths State Opening of Parliament: list of Government’s proposed legislation Commons and Lords debate the Queen’s Speech Maiden speeches
How does Parliament check and challenge the Government?
Parliamentary Questions (PQs) Asked to Government Ministers Allow MPs and Lords to hold Government to accountOral questionsWritten questions Different ministerial question times each day in the Commons
Westminster Hall debates House of Commons Chamber debatesBackbench Business Committee debatesOpposition Day debatesGovernment debatesHouse of Lords debates Parliamentary Debates
How does Parliament make and change laws?
The stages of a Bill
What do Select Committees do? Check policy and the work of Government Use evidence submitted by the public, groups and individuals Government responds to select committee reports
What do Select Committees do? Usually 11 members (Commons)Committee Chairs elected by MPsCommittees start again in July 2017, after the general election and the State Opening of Parliament
Where to get more information Houses of Commons Enquiry Service 0800 112 4272 (Freephone) or 020 7219 4272 hcenquiries@parliament.uk House of Lords Enquiry Service0800 223 0855 (Freephone) or 020 7219 3107hlinfo@parliament.uk