Get involved with parliament: Queen's Speech
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Get involved with parliament: Queen's Speech
- 1. Get involved with Parliament Queen’s Speech
- 2. Parliament’s Outreach Service • a free service from the Houses of Parliament • politically neutral • aims to increase knowledge and engagement with work and processes of Parliament
- 3. What is Parliament? House of Commons House of Lords The Monarch
- 4. What is the role of the Monarch? • politically neutral • signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent) • opens Parliament each year
- 5. What is the role of the House of Commons? • making and passing laws • holding the Government to account • representing constituents • approving the Budget and setting taxes
- 6. What is the role of the House of Lords? • making and passing laws • holding the Government to account • debating key issues • More time to scrutinise EU legislation
- 7. 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
- 8. Bills before Parliament: how to get involved When to contact an MP/Peer about a Bill: • Second reading • Committee stage • Report Stage • Third reading Where to find information online: Find an MP - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/ Find a Peer - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/ Speakers list - www.lordswhips.org.uk/todays-lists Bills - http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
- 9. Get involved with Parliament Other things to contact your MP or a Peer about or that you can be involved with directly: • Select Committees • Parliamentary debates • Parliamentary Questions • Petitions • All Party Parliamentary Groups
- 10. Your next steps... • Watch, read or attend a debate on a bill • Use http://services.parliament.uk/bills/ to find information on specific bills (e.g. Library briefing papers or amendment papers) • Use www.parliament.uk to research MPs and Lords with an interest in your issue • Write to an interested MP or Lord about your issue • Read the advice on submitting evidence to Public Bill Committees • Submit evidence to a Public Bill Committee
- 11. Where can I get information? • www.parliament.uk and @UKParliament • Commons Information Office 020 7219 4272 hcinfo@parliament.uk • Lords Information Office 020 7219 3107 hlinfo@parliament.uk • Parliament’s Outreach Service 020 7219 1650 parliamentaryoutreach@parliament.uk • Kate Anderson, Regional Outreach Officer for London and the South East andersonk@parliament.uk
- 12. Passage of a bill Bill starting in the House of Commons Bill starting in the House of Lords House of Commons House of CommonsHouse of Lords House of Lords Royal Assent Royal Assent
Editor's Notes
- Important points to stress: You don’t work for an MP or for a political party. The service is free of charge. You will be giving facts about Parliament and expressing no opinions.
- Parliament comprises of two Houses of Parliament: The House of Commons The democratically elected chamber of Parliament. The House of Lords The second chamber of Parliament. Often known as the revising House as they happen to spend approximately 60% of their time reviewing draft bills. The Monarch Her Majesty the Queen, as Head of State. The UK Parliament is the oldest in the world.
- Her Majesty the Queen as Head of State. A politically neutral role. Signs off laws passed by Government – Royal Assent. Opens Parliament each year – a ceremonial role when she also reads the Queen’s Speech which outline the aims of ‘her’ Government. She has weekly meetings with the Prime Minster where she can offer advice and counsel, however, the Prime Minister is under no obligation to accept the advice. The Queen is a ceremonial figurehead for Parliament.
- the democratically elected chamber of Parliament there are 649 MPs (as at March 2013) all MPs are elected at least every 5 years The House of Commons is perhaps the part of Parliament we are all most familiar with as we are used to seeing the green benches on the news. It is the democratically elected chamber of Parliament which means that we, the British public, are responsible for the political composition of the House. Each MP represents an average of 68,500 potential voters, plus everyone else who is in their area who cannot vote (under 18s etc). MPs represent everyone in their constituency – regardless of their political affiliations and whether they voted for them or not. The number of seats is decided by the Boundary Commission – an independent body which recommends the boundaries regarding Parliamentary constituencies. At the 2010 general election the number of seats increased from 646 to 650 to reflect the growing population. The party, or parties, with the largest number of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government (which remember is separate to Parliament). What MPs do: MPs don’t have a job description, but do have a code of practice they are expected to adhere to (available on www.parliament.uk). What each MP does varies - however all MPs work in their constituency and in Parliament (the House of Commons). MPs divide their time between their constituency and Westminster, depending on the Parliamentary business and constituency commitments. MPs ask questions, take part in debates, sit on Committees, take part in the legislative process and vote on debates and bills. They can vote as they wish, but generally they are expected to vote with their party. (Independent MPs do not belong to a party, and therefore do not have a party whip.) House of Commons and finance: The Commons alone is responsible for making decisions on financial Bills, such as proposed new taxes. The Lords can consider these Bills but cannot block or amend them. The House of Commons allows the government to set levels of taxation and approves the budget – this is solely the responsibility of the House of Commons, the House of Lords do not get involved. The Government cannot set taxation levels or set a new budget without the approval of the House of Commons. Finding your MP: With internet access – illustrate by accessing www.parliament.uk and asking delegates to give you their postcode – then demonstrate how you can find out further info on this MP, including election results and Parliamentary career. With no internet access - use a phone with a speaker and call the Information Office using a delegate’s postcode.
- House of Lords membership provides breadth of experience and expertise. No party group in the House of Lords holds a majority. Members of the Lords speak and debate on the basis of their personal interest and professional expertise, rather than just along strict party-political lines. The House of Lords is a key contributor to process of initiating, revising and amending legislation. All laws must be agreed by both Houses before receiving Royal Assent. The House of Lords has no general power to veto legislation, but its ability to delay and ask the Government and the House of Commons to think again is an essential contribution to the legislative process. The Lords cannot hold up a piece of government legislation indefinitely. It also checks and challenges the activities of government (scrutinises their work). It does this through several mechanisms including questioning the government, debates on topical issues and select committee inquiries.
- This is another way to think about the distinction between Parliament and Government: they are in different places (Westminster / Whitehall). Parliament is all MPs, all Peers and the Monarchy Government is just some MPs and some Peers who have been chosen by the Prime Minister to be Ministers. OPTIONAL GROUP DISCUSSION BEFORE EXERCISE ON SLIDE 14 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 makes and passes laws (legislation) holds the Government to account (scrutiny) enables the Government to set taxes raises key issues
- Information about each of these processes is below the relevant slide (slides 16 – 20).
- Parliament’s Outreach Service can come and deliver workshops to any groups, usually at a place and time convenient to them. We do need a minimum of 15 people per session. Ask the learners to complete feedback forms.