February 2011
An Introduction to the
new Parliament

A service from the Houses of Parliament
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Politically neutral
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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?
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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
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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
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Cabinet formed

Shadow Cabinet announced
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New Parliament convenes / MPs sworn in

Membership of Committees announced
House of Commons
The
Monarch
House of Lords
Makes and passes laws
(Legislation)
Holds Government to
account
Enables the Government
to set taxes
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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

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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

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The party, or parties, that can command a
majority of seats in the House of
Commons forms the Government
The Government runs public departments
i.e. The Home Office, Benefits Agency
The Government proposes new laws to
Parliament
The Government is accountable to
Parliament
Government
(Whitehall)
Commons, Lords,
Monarch
•
•
•
•
•
•
Holds Government
to account
Passes laws
Enables taxation
Represents public
Raises key issues
• Approximately 110
members
• MPs and Lords
(Usually)
• Chosen by Prime
Minister
• Runs public services
• Accountable to
Parliament
In the Constituency
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Helps constituents
with problems
Visits groups and
individuals to hear
issues/ concerns
Represents
constituents to
various bodies
Campaigns
In Parliament
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Represents their
constituency
Raises issues on
behalf of
constituents
Passes new laws
Scrutinises the work
of Government
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Questions to Ministers
Adjournment/
Westminster Hall
debates

Early Day Motions
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Meetings with Ministers
As well as questions,
debates, early-day
motions
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Select Committees
All-Party Parliamentary
Groups
10-Minute Rule Bill/
Private Members Bills
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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
Commons
Public Bill
Committee
Bill presented /
First Reading
Second Reading
Third Reading
Committee of
the Whole House
Lords
Bill presented /
First Reading
Report
Second Reading
Committee
(whole House)
Report
Third Reading
After
Consideration of
Lords Amendments
Ping Pong
Royal Assent
Regulations

The House of Lords is the second chamber of
Parliament, often known as the revising House.
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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:
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Contacting your MP
Contacting a Member of the HoL
Sending a petition
Working with a Select Committee
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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
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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.
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Local MP in first instance
Identify & contact Parliamentarians with an
interest
Be clear on aims
Remember party & Government positions
Be positive and proactive
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Questions

www.parliament.uk

020 7219 4272 – Commons information
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020 7219 3107 – Lords information