February 2011 An Introduction to the new Parliament.
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Transcript of February 2011 An Introduction to the new Parliament.
February 2011
An Introduction to the new 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
Took place on May 6 2010
What was decided?
650 seats in House of Commons UK Government What about the House of Lords?
Conservative - 307
Labour - 258
Lib Dem - 57
DUP - 8
SNP - 6
Sinn Fein - 5
Plaid Cymru - 3
SDLP - 3
Green - 1
Alliance - 1
Independent - 1
Speaker - 1
If a single party had won over 50% of seats: -automatically form Government
However, no party received over 50% of seats:◦ Largest party could have formed minority
Government◦ Two parties formed coalition Government◦ There could have been a re-election
Coalition formed between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats
Cabinet formed
Shadow Cabinet announced
New Parliament convenes / MPs sworn in
Membership of Committees announced
House of Commons
House of Lords
The Monarch
Makes and passes laws(Legislation)
Holds Government to account
Enables the Government to set taxes
Parliament debates and discusses a huge range of subjects that affect us all
Health and housing, schools and pensions, jobs and training, the way in which we choose our politicians, the way our streets are policed, laws on immigration, roads and railways, how our energy is provided – all are topics debated in Parliament
Your representative in Parliament can raise issues important to you
Is the democratically elected chamber of Parliament.
There are 650 MPs.
MPs are usually elected every 4 to 5 years.
Making and passing laws
Holding the Government to account
Raising key issues
Representing constituents
Approving the Budget, public expenditure and allowing government to set taxation.
The Prime Minister
The Cabinet
The party, or parties, that can command a majority of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government
The Government runs public departmentsi.e. The Home Office, Benefits Agency
The Government proposes new laws to Parliament
The Government is accountable to Parliament
• Commons, Lords, Monarch
• Holds Government to account• Passes laws• Enables taxation• Represents public • Raises key issues
Government (Whitehall)• Approximately 110 members• MPs and Lords (Usually)• Chosen by Prime Minister• Runs public services• Accountable to Parliament
In Parliament
Represents their constituency
Raises issues on behalf of constituents
Passes new laws Scrutinises the work
of Government
In the Constituency
Helps constituents with problems
Visits groups and individuals to hear issues/ concerns
Represents constituents to various bodies
Campaigns
Questions to Ministers
Adjournment/ Westminster Hall debates
Early Day Motions
Meetings with Ministers
As well as questions, debates, early-day motions
Select Committees
All-Party Parliamentary Groups
10-Minute Rule Bill/ Private Members Bills
All UK laws decided by Parliament
Government and individual members can propose laws
However, majority of laws passed come from Government
e.g. Welfare Reform Act
Lords
Bill presented /First Reading
Commons
Second Reading
Public BillCommittee
Committee of the Whole House
Report Third Reading
Bill presented /First Reading
Second ReadingCommittee
(whole House)Report Third Reading
After
Consideration ofLords Amendments Ping Pong Royal Assent Regulations
The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, often known as the revising House.
There are more than 700 Members (777 in November 2010)
Most are Life Peers, but there are also:◦ 92 Hereditary Peers◦ 26 Bishops
All Members of the House of Lords represent you
They play an important role in the passing of laws
They hold Ministers to account through questions and debates
They debate key issues
A politically neutral role
Signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent).
Opens and closes Parliament each year
You can get involved through lots of different ways including:
Contacting your MP Contacting a Member of the HoL Sending a petition Working with a Select Committee
You can contact your local MP about any issue that affects you in your constituency.
You can request that your MP asks a question, presents a petition or raises a debate on your behalf.
You can find out who your MP is on the Parliament website
You can contact any Member about issues that you would like Parliament to look at.
You can request that a Member asks a question or raises a debate on your behalf.
It is useful to contact a Member who has a particular interest in your issue. You can find out what individual Members are interested in by looking on the Parliament website.
Local MP in first instance Identify & contact Parliamentarians with an
interest Be clear on aims Remember party & Government positions Be positive and proactive
Questions
www.parliament.uk
020 7219 4272 – Commons information
020 7219 3107 – Lords information