The Parliament of the United Kingdom is one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world. Parliamentary government within the UK is based on a two-chamber system. The House of Lords (the upper House) and the House of Commons (the lower House) sit separately and are constituted on entirely different principles. The legislative process involves both Houses. The main functions of Parliament are to:
- Examine proposals for new laws
- Provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of the government
- Scrutinise government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure
- Debate the major issues of the day
Parliament has a maximum duration of five years. At any time up to the end of this period, a general election can be held for a new House of Commons.
The House of Commons is generally regarded as the lower House, but it is the main parliamentary arena for the political battle. As with the House of Lords, the House of Commons debates new primary legislation as part of the process of making an Act of Parliament. The House also scrutinises the work of the Government – it does so through various means, including questioning ministers in the Chamber and through the Select Committee system. Because the House of Commons is elected, unlike the Lords, a party that wins the majority of Commons seats is called upon to form the next government.
The House of Lords is the second chamber of the Parliament. Members of the House consist of both hereditary peers (who now number only 92 following the House of Lords Act 1999) and life peers (who make up the rest of the 675 strong chamber). In general the role of the House of Lords is similar to that of the House of Commons in legislating, debating, and questioning the executive. The are two important exceptions though: members of the Lords do not represent constituencies, and are not involved in matters of taxation and finance.
Committees within the House of Commons consist of Standing Committees and Select Committees.
Select committees are appointed by the House to perform a variety of tasks on the House's behalf, including scrutinising the work of Government Departments and advising on the procedures and domestic administration of the House. The findings and recommendations of select committees are submitted to the House as printed reports. The House nominates members of committees; for departmental select committees and domestic committees a member of the Committee of Selection makes the motion, and for other committees it is usually made by the Government after consultation with the Opposition.
A joint committee consists of a select committee of the House of Commons and a select committee of the House of Lords appointed to meet as one committee under one chairman: its procedure follows that of House of Lords select committees.
A select committee chooses its own chairman, although there is usually an informal understanding about the party from which each chairman will be chosen. Members speak seated around a horseshoe shaped table, and refer to each other by name. Most select committees call witnesses, and usually meet in public whilst hearing evidence, but always sit in private when deliberating. Most select committees are appointed by standing order, either without a time limit or for the lifetime of a Parliament, and the members, once chosen, usually serve for the remainder of the Parliament, unless changes become necessary. In total, the party membership of all the select committees approximately reflects party proportions in the House.
Back bench MPs (who hold no ministerial post and therefore sit on the back benches) are most often the voice of inner party dissent – as they hold no rank within the party they cannot be threatened by the party whips with the loss of such a post. In this way they are more able to voice their opinion and that of their constituents instead of toeing the party line.
One of the few times in the House of Commons when an MP is allowed to use their vote they way they see fit is when a Private Members bill is introduced. This is where an individual MP can introduce a bill before Parliament in an attempt to get it passed. MP’s are given free reign over their vote mainly in matters of morality such as capital punishment or abortion.
The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet, decides the agenda of Cabinet meetings and has the power to both appoint and sack ministers. He leads his party into general elections and also represents his country on the international front.
Unlike the President of the USA, who can choose anyone for his cabinet (even a member of the public from the street), the Prime Minister can only choose from amongst the elected MPs. Also, whereas the President of the USA does not have to defend himself or his actions to congress, the Prime Minister is answerable to Parliament.
Bibliography
Held David, Models of Democracy, Polity Press, 1987
Politics class notes
Sociology class notes
EU Institutions class notes
