Political Process
By reading the page You and your MP I hope you got an understanding of the type of work an MP does and of some of their responsibilities. Of course, not all MPs are part of the Government and Parliament is made up of more than just the Government. Along with the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Crown is an integral part of the institution of Parliament.
Some MPs will be members of parties that are not in Government, some will be members of the main political party in power, The Labour Party, but not actually part of the Government ie not a minister but a backbench MP. These MPs are still part of Parliament and have an important role to play in the political process and in respresenting their constituents in Parliament. As well as MPs in the House of Commons Parliament is made up of The House of Lords and the monarchy. So how does the Political Process operate in the UK?
Difference between Parliament and Government
The UK is a Democracy, a very old Democracy. The origins of Parliament go back to the 13th century, so there are many rules about how it runs and a great many traditions. Parliament, as a political institution, has developed over hundreds of years. During that period the two distinct Houses - Commons and Lords - emerged and the balance of power between Parliament and the monarchy changed dramatically.
Every four to five years the electorate is invited to choose a person to represent them in Parliament, their MP. The leader of the political party with the most MPs in the House of Commons is asked by the Queen to become Prime Minister and to form a government that will manage the country.
State Opening of Parliament
The Parliament of the United Kingdom consists of:
- The Queen (our hereditary monarch)
- The House of Lords (approximately 725 unelected members known as peers)
- The House of Commons (646 elected Members of Parliament)
All three combine to carry out the work of Parliament. The Government consists of approximately 100 members of the political party which has the majority of seats in the House of Commons. It proposes policies which determine the running of the country.
Devolved Parliaments and Assemblies
In 1998 UK devolution created a national Parliament in Scotland, a national Assembly in Wales and a national Assembly in Northern Ireland (currently suspended). For more information click here.
Europe
The UK is one of 27 member states of the European Union and is subject to European Union (EU) legislation.
Parliaments Role |
Big Ben |
One of the jobs Parliament does is to check that the Government is running the country properly. Parliament is the highest legislative authority in the UK — the institution responsible for making and repealing all UK law. If Parliament thinks that a particular Government policy is against the public interest, then it can force the Government to change its mind. A proposal might then be altered, or perhaps withdrawn altogether. Parliament keeps a check on the work of government on behalf of citizens through investigative select committees and by asking ministers questions. Parliament works examining and challenging the work of the government (scrutiny) as well as Debating and passing all laws (legislation) and enabling the government to raise taxes The House of Commons has to approve proposals for government taxes and spending.
Governments Role | Whitehall |
The leader of the political party with the most MPs in the House of Commons is asked by the Queen to become Prime Minister and to form a government that will manage the country. At the moment this is Tony Blair and the Labour Party.
Over 1,000 people are entitled to sit in the two Houses of Parliament, but only about 100 of these belong to the Government. Members of the Government are usually members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords, to enable Parliament to keep a check on their work by asking questions, debating, etc.
The Government is effectively the management of the country. It makes the important decisions, for example about foreign policy, education, or health, but many of these decisions have to be approved by Parliament.
If a government could not win support for its main policies in the House of Commons, it would have to resign and a general election would be called.Government is split into Departments, which you will sometimes hear described as 'Whitehall departments', named after the street in London where many of the head office buildings are located.
- Department for Constitutional Affairs
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport
- Home Office
- Department of Health
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Department for Transport
- Department for Education and Skills
- Department for Trade and Industry
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- HM Treasury
- Northern Ireland Office
- Privy Council
- Wales Office
- Scotland Office
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Department for International Development
- Ministry of Defence
- Department for Communities and Local Government
- Cabinet Office
- Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
Links
Use the following links to get more information about the Government and Parliament:
- Parliament's education unit website.
- For more information on the history of Parliament including rules, customs and traditions; how the Two-house system works (Lords and Commons); how laws are passed; MPs and The Lords click here or here or here.
- Much of the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords takes place in committees, click here for more information on the work of committees
- Information on voting in the House of Commons, which is known as a division.
- How to arrange a visit to Parliament click here.
- Information about how The Government works click here.
- Information on the difference between Parliament and Government click here.
- For a guide to Government Departments click here
- Information about No 10
- ePolitix site is the UK's premier politics website, which aims to improve communication between parliamentarians, constituents and organisations.