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Engaging and Influencing
A. Nothing…yetB. A bitC. Lots!
How much do you know about UK Parliament?
1234567891011121314151617181920Time’s
up!
How do you cut your toast?
Who makes decisions for Scotland?
Welsh Parliament
60 Members (AMs)
Makes decisions about devolved matters
UK Parliament
650 MPs
Makes laws and decisions about UK
Scottish Parliament
129 Members (MSPs)
Makes decisions about devolved matters
UK Parliament
The House of Commons The House of Lords
Look inside… the House of Commons
1111247811
47
202365
Other
Independent
Green
Alliance
SDLP
Plaid Cymru
Sinn Féin
DUP
Lib Dem
SNP
Labour
Conservative
326 seats needed to win a majority
General Election 2019
A. TrueB. False
Parliament and Government are the same thing
Government Front Bench
Look inside… the House of Commons
A. Inherit a title from your familyB. Chosen for being an expertC. Bishop in the CofED. Any of these ways
How do you become a member of the House of Lords?
Crossbenchers
• Many independent • No party majority• No time limits• Members of the
Lords use their expert knowledge to improve new laws
A second opinion
Find a member of the House of Lords by interest16
‘Lord Speaker’
Lord McFall
What does Parliament do?
SCRUTINYChecks and challenges
the work of Government
LEGISLATIONMakes and changes laws
BUDGETING/TAXESChecks and approvesGovernment spending
Legislation
PUBLIC BILLS
Public bills propose changes to the law as it applies to the general population
• Government Bills• Private Members’ Bills
(PMBs)
PRIVATEBILLS
Private bills only change the law as it applies to certain organisations or specific individuals.
Hybrid bills mix aspects of public and private bills.
HYBRID BILLS
Different types of bill
Private Members’ Bills
Ballot Ten Minute Rule Presentation Bill
21 3
C R
First Reading
SecondReading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
ThirdReading
ThirdReading
ReportStage
CommitteeStage
SecondReading
FirstReading
R 2C13
A Royal AssentThe stages of a Bill
How can you get involved?
Contact your MP
How to contact your MP
members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
EnterYour
postcode
Tips for Engaging with your MP
•Try to put party politics to one side
•Be prepared to explain yourself
•Put a face and personal story to your email
•Be specific about what you want them to do for you
•Avoid mass email campaigns
•Be persistent and keep in touch
Contact another member
No luck with your MP?
A Lord or Baroness with a relevant
area of expertise
An APPG which relates to your
issue
What can you ask your MP to do for you?
1.Ask a Parliamentary question
2.Raise or participate in a debate
3. Sign an EDM
Parliamentary Questions (PQs)
• Asked to Government Ministers
• Allow MPs and Lords to hold Government to account
• Oral questions
• Written questions
• Different ministerial question times each day in the Commons
• Lots of different types of debates
• Can be requested by Government, opposition, backbench MPs or public
• Enable MPs to raise awareness of an issue and challenge government policy in more detail
Take part in a Debate
EDMs are
• “Petitions” signed by MPs• Ministers cannot sign• Do not trigger further
action• A means of raising
awareness
Sign an Early Day Motions
DIY Campaigner
Get involved with a Select Committee
Select Committees investigate important
issues by asking members of the public for their
opinions.
EDUCATION
PETITIONS
HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES
ENVIRONMENT
HE
ALT
H A
ND
S
OC
IAL C
AR
E
TR
AN
SP
OR
T
WOMEN AND EQUALITIES
WORK AND PENSIONS
What do Select Committees do?
Open until 8th November
Open until 5th November
Start or sign an e-petition
10,000 + signatures Government will respond
100,000 + signatures petition will be debated
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Houses of Commons Enquiry Service
0800 112 4272 (Freephone) or 020 7219 4272
House of Lords Enquiry Service
0800 223 0855 (Freephone) or 020 7219 3107
parliament.uk/mailing-list