engaging with parliament. a service from the houses of parliament politically neutral aim is to...
TRANSCRIPT
Engaging with 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
In your groups, complete the quiz: Circle or tick the answers you think are
correct Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers
– have a guess!
House of Commons
House of Lords
The Monarch
Makes and passes laws(Legislation)
Holds Government to account
Enables the Government to set taxes
Politically neutral Signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal
Assent) Opens Parliament each year
The democratically elected chamber of Parliament
There are 650 MPs All MPs are elected at least every 5 years
Making and passing laws Holding the Government to account Representing constituents Approving the Budget and setting taxes
The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, often known as the revising House.
There are 789 Members (as at Oct 2014) Members include:
◦ 678 Life Peers◦ 85 Hereditary Peers◦ 26 Bishops
Making and passing laws Holding the Government to account Debating key issues Scrutinising EU legislation
The party or parties who can command the confidence of the House of Commons forms the Government
The Government:• runs public departments i.e. The Home
Office, NHS• proposes new laws to Parliament• is accountable to Parliament
Commons, Lords and Monarch
holds Government to account
passes laws
Government (Whitehall)
• some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister
• runs Government departments and public services
Provide specialist impartial information and briefing service for MPs, Peers, their staff, committees and staff of the Houses
Produce wide range of briefing material
Available online at www.parliament.uk under research publications
Ways to influence draft legislation: Green Papers White Papers Pre-legislative Committees Public Bill Committees MPs and Members of the House of Lords
In your groups, discuss:
What issue/subject would you like to raise at Parliament?
Parliamentary Questions• Written or spoken questions asked by MPs
and Lords, directed at the Government
Adjournment debates Westminster Hall debates Questions for Short Debate• Debates which happen every day in the
House of Commons and the House of Lords
Informal cross-party groups on many different subjects, e.g.◦ Cancer◦ Asthma◦ Carers
APPGs are a useful way to identify MPs/Lords with an interest in a certain issue
Set up to scrutinise specific areas of work and Government departments
Work carried out through public inquiries Groups and individuals submit evidence to
enquiries Inquiry report created and passed to
Government department
www.parliament.uk and @UKParliament
Commons Information Office020 7219 4272 [email protected]
Lords Information Office020 7219 3107 [email protected]
Parliament’s Outreach Service020 7219 [email protected]