Ciarán Norris

1. An introduction to Parliament Ciarán Norris

2. What is Parliament? ? ? ?

3. What does Parliament do? Makes and passes laws (Legislation) Holds Government to account (Scrutiny), including enabling them to set taxes Raises key issues

4. The Monarch • A politically neutral role • Signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent) • Opens Parliament each year

5. The House of Commons • The democratically elected chamber of Parliament • There are currently 650 MPs • All MPs are elected at least every 5 years

6. The House of Lords • The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, often known as the revising House • There are currently 755 Members (as at July 2010) • These include: • 637 Life Peers • 92 Hereditary Peers • 26 Bishops

7. The Government 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

8. Government (Whitehall) Parliament(Westminster) • Formed by the party who can command the confidence of the Commons • Some MPs and Lords • Runs Government departments and public services • Accountable to Parliament • Commons, Lords, Monarch • Holds Government to account • Passes laws • Enables taxation • Represents public • Raises key issues

9. Get involved! You can get involved through lots of different ways including: • Contacting your MP, requesting that they ask a question, present a petition or raise a debate on your behalf • Contacting a Member of the House of Lords, requesting that they ask a question or raise a debate • Working with a Select Committee

10. Where can I get information? • www.parliament.uk • 020 7219 4272 – Commons information • 020 7219 3107 – Lords information