parliament explained introduction to parliament 18.09.14
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction to Parliament
Nerys DaviesSeptember 2014
Parliament is made up of: a) House of Commons and House of Lordsb) House of Commons and Governmentc) Government and Monarchd) House of Commons, House of Lords
and Monarch
What is Parliament?House of Commons House of Lords
The Monarch
The Queen
Which TWO answers describe the work of Parliament?
a) running Government departmentsb) checking up on the work of Governmentc) being the highest court of appeal in the UKd) making new laws
What is the role of the Queen?
• politically neutral • signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal
Assent)• opens Parliament each session
The House of Commons
How can people become members of the House of Lords?
a) Members of the public nominate themb) An independent Commission recommends themc) The Prime Minister chooses themd) Their titles are passed down to them through their familye) All of the above
The House of Lords
The core tasks of Parliament
Makes and passes laws(Legislation)
Holds Government to account
Enables the Government to set taxes
The Government• the party with (usually) the majority of
seats in the House of Commons forms the Government
• the Government:– runs public departments (e.g. Home Office)– proposes new laws to Parliament– is accountable to Parliament
Parliament (Westminster)
• 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
Legislation
Types of legislation
• Public Bills are proposed changes to general lawoGovernment Billso Private Members Bills
• Private Bills are local /one-off changes to laws
• Hybrid Bills are a mixture of the above• Delegated/Secondary Legislation
The House of Lords pass more changes (amendments) to legislation than the House of Commons.
a) Trueb) Falsec) Both Houses pass approximately the same number of amendments
Passage of a bill
Scrutiny of legislation• Green Papers and White Papers• Pre-legislative committees, Draft bills• Passage of a bill
– Public Bill committees– MPs and members of the House of Lords
• Act of Parliament• Post-legislative scrutiny
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
How many select committees have a female Chair
a) HoC – 6 HoL - 16b) HoC – 7 HoL - 18c) HoC – 4 HoL - 12d) HoC – 8 HoL - 10
How many select committees have a female Chair
House of Commons:8
House of Lords10
Select Committees• scrutinise specific areas of work and
Government departments• carry out public inquiries• groups and individuals can submit
evidence• relevant Government Department is
required to respond to report
Select Committees webpages
Questions and debatesHouse of Commons Journal14 May 1606 p309
“a strange spanyell of mouse-colour came into the House”
Questions and debatesParliamentary Questions• written or spoken questions asked by MPs
and Lords, directed at the GovernmentWritten Ministerial Statements• Can be in response to oral questions not
answered or ways of informing the House without coming to the chamber
Debates• debates happen every day that the House
of Commons or the House of Lords are sitting.
Other ways MPs can raise issues?
Petitions• usually a call on Government for action
regarding an issue (local or national)
Early Day Motions• a published statement allowing MPs to
show their opinion on a specific subject
Who is the only person who is allowed an alcoholic drink on the Floor of the House of Commons?
a) Speakerb) Prime Ministerc) Chancellor of the Exchequerd) Chief Whip
• Only includes provisions on imposition and alteration of taxes to raise money for central Govt
• Controversial, important or novel provisions dealt with by Committee of whole House
The Finance Bill
• Lords debates, but does not amend Finance Bills by convention
• Lords do not debate Finance Bills clause by clause by convention
The Finance Bill – scrutiny?
• Government introduced fixed-term Parliaments
• End of session just a few weeks after Budget
• Provision for Collection of Taxes Act amended by 2011 Finance Act to allow for carry-over of Budgets
• Will not apply for dissolution of Parliament prior to elections
The Finance Bill – carried over
Autumn Statement
http://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/6485
Run up to the General Election
Lots of Housekeeping• Preparing for new MPs• Organising rooms with the Whips• Organising new technology for
Members
House of Commons Library
• The House of Commons library briefings offer impartial analysis and statistical data
http://www.parliament.uk/commons-library • Legislation briefings are on the bills pages• Also a commons library blog for recent papershttp://commonslibraryblog.com/
Questions?
Where can I get information?
• 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]
