The document provides an introduction to Parliament and outlines its objectives, which are to explain what Parliament is, what it does, the differences between Parliament and government, and the roles of MPs and Lords. It describes Parliament as consisting of the Monarch, House of Commons, and House of Lords. It explains that the government is formed by the political party with the most seats and runs departments, while Parliament holds the government accountable and passes laws. It provides information on how citizens can engage with their representatives.
This document outlines the program and goals for a conference organized by the Houses of Parliament called "#YourParliament". The one-day conference in London includes breakout sessions, presentations, and discussions on increasing public knowledge of Parliament, explaining its value, creating a greater sense of ownership, and diversifying engagement. It also provides information on ongoing outreach efforts like community workshops, open events, supporting select committees, and training programs to empower others to educate about Parliament.
This document provides an introduction to campaigning and the political process in the UK Parliament. It outlines the key stages of developing and passing legislation, including green papers, white papers, pre-legislative scrutiny, the Queen's speech, and passage of a bill through both the House of Commons and House of Lords. It also describes how citizens can engage with their MPs and peers at different stages of this process to make their voices heard.
The document provides an introduction to how the UK Parliament works. It explains that Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and monarch. The core tasks of Parliament are to propose and pass laws, hold the government to account, and enable the government to set taxes. It then outlines the process for a bill to become law and various ways citizens can engage with Parliament, including by contacting their MP, submitting evidence to committees, or creating an online petition.
Presentation by Minna Sipola, Ministry of Justice, FinlandOECD Governance
Presentation from the OECD Roundtable on Equal Access to Justice, Latvia, 2018. For more information see: http://www.oecd.org/gov/equal-access-to-justice-oecd-expert-roundtable-latvia-2018.htm
The document provides information about engaging with the UK Parliament on issues that matter. It explains that the Outreach and Engagement Service aims to increase public knowledge and engagement with Parliament. It then gives overviews of Parliament and the government, explaining their roles in making laws, holding the government accountable, and other functions. The document outlines initial steps to take an issue to Parliament through an MP and provides examples of parliamentary questions, early day motions, petitions, and debates that can be used to influence Parliament.
This document provides information about engaging with the legislative process in the UK Parliament, specifically in the House of Lords. It outlines the stages of a policy from a party manifesto through royal assent. It describes ways to find information about bills, contact peers, and submit evidence to committees considering legislation. The final sections provide details on an upcoming Small Business Bill and encourage involvement in the bill committee process.
The document provides an introduction to the UK Parliament, describing its key components. Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. The House of Commons holds the government to account and passes laws, while the House of Lords reviews legislation. Bills are proposed by the government or private members and must pass through both Houses as well as receive Royal Assent to become law.
The document provides an introduction to Parliament and outlines its objectives, which are to explain what Parliament is, what it does, the differences between Parliament and government, and the roles of MPs and Lords. It describes Parliament as consisting of the Monarch, House of Commons, and House of Lords. It explains that the government is formed by the political party with the most seats and runs departments, while Parliament holds the government accountable and passes laws. It provides information on how citizens can engage with their representatives.
This document outlines the program and goals for a conference organized by the Houses of Parliament called "#YourParliament". The one-day conference in London includes breakout sessions, presentations, and discussions on increasing public knowledge of Parliament, explaining its value, creating a greater sense of ownership, and diversifying engagement. It also provides information on ongoing outreach efforts like community workshops, open events, supporting select committees, and training programs to empower others to educate about Parliament.
This document provides an introduction to campaigning and the political process in the UK Parliament. It outlines the key stages of developing and passing legislation, including green papers, white papers, pre-legislative scrutiny, the Queen's speech, and passage of a bill through both the House of Commons and House of Lords. It also describes how citizens can engage with their MPs and peers at different stages of this process to make their voices heard.
The document provides an introduction to how the UK Parliament works. It explains that Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and monarch. The core tasks of Parliament are to propose and pass laws, hold the government to account, and enable the government to set taxes. It then outlines the process for a bill to become law and various ways citizens can engage with Parliament, including by contacting their MP, submitting evidence to committees, or creating an online petition.
Presentation by Minna Sipola, Ministry of Justice, FinlandOECD Governance
Presentation from the OECD Roundtable on Equal Access to Justice, Latvia, 2018. For more information see: http://www.oecd.org/gov/equal-access-to-justice-oecd-expert-roundtable-latvia-2018.htm
The document provides information about engaging with the UK Parliament on issues that matter. It explains that the Outreach and Engagement Service aims to increase public knowledge and engagement with Parliament. It then gives overviews of Parliament and the government, explaining their roles in making laws, holding the government accountable, and other functions. The document outlines initial steps to take an issue to Parliament through an MP and provides examples of parliamentary questions, early day motions, petitions, and debates that can be used to influence Parliament.
This document provides information about engaging with the legislative process in the UK Parliament, specifically in the House of Lords. It outlines the stages of a policy from a party manifesto through royal assent. It describes ways to find information about bills, contact peers, and submit evidence to committees considering legislation. The final sections provide details on an upcoming Small Business Bill and encourage involvement in the bill committee process.
The document provides an introduction to the UK Parliament, describing its key components. Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. The House of Commons holds the government to account and passes laws, while the House of Lords reviews legislation. Bills are proposed by the government or private members and must pass through both Houses as well as receive Royal Assent to become law.
The document discusses symbols and institutions of government in the United Kingdom. It describes the national flag as being the flag of England featuring a rose, a symbol of political divisions from the 15th century. It also summarizes that the Queen is head of state but does not rule the country, having no real power, while Parliament and the government hold power. It provides an overview of the House of Commons and House of Lords, their roles in making and changing laws, with the Lords having less power but ability to delay laws.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Queens From Ari KellenAri Kellen
Queens is one of New York City's most unique and exciting boroughs, yet many living in Brooklyn or Manhattan turn their noses up at it. It's a fantastic place to visit, with plenty to offer. Here are some things you didn't know about Queens.
The United Kingdom has a constitutional monarchy form of government with Queen Elizabeth II as the current monarch. It has an unwritten constitution and a parliamentary democracy system. The parliament is made up of three parts: the House of Lords, House of Commons, and the Sovereign. Members of Parliament represent local constituencies and can meet with constituents to discuss concerns, though their ability to directly help is limited. The Prime Minister is the head of government and leads the Cabinet, which meets weekly to discuss important issues.
The document outlines the various powers and duties of the Queen of England. As head of state, she has ceremonial and symbolic roles but also retains certain legal and constitutional powers. These include immunity from prosecution, issuing passports, commandeering ships when needed, meeting weekly with the Prime Minister, and serving as a symbol that unites the Commonwealth nations. The Queen's powers derive from the royal prerogative and include granting honors and pardons, assenting to legislation, summoning and dismissing Parliament, appointing the Prime Minister and ambassadors, declaring war, and serving as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. However, many of the Queen's formal legal powers have been transferred over time to elected representatives and the
In the 5th century, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes migrated by sea and established themselves in Britain, giving the island its modern name of England meaning "land of the Angles". Anglo-Saxon society was hierarchical, with eorls and thegns as the hereditary aristocracy and warriors below the king. Peasants and slaves were at the lowest levels. While many settlers were farmers, some were also fishermen. The major Anglo-Saxon gods worshipped were Tiw, Woden, and Thor, as well as Frig. Though Pope Gregory I sent Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, it was Celtic monks from Wales and Ireland who spread the religion to
The document discusses the structure of Parliament in Canada. It is comprised of three parts: the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Commons. The Queen is Canada's Head of State and all laws are made in her name. She is represented in Canada by the Governor General. The Senate passes all bills from the House of Commons and represents regions, minority groups, and provinces/territories. However, there have been calls to reform the unelected Senate, with options including abolishing it or making it elected.
To become UK Prime Minister, one must be the leader of the political party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons. The House of Commons has 646 members who are each elected to represent a constituency. The leader of the party with the most seats becomes Prime Minister. Recent UK Prime Ministers have included Margaret Thatcher of the Conservative Party from 1975-1990, Tony Blair of the Labour Party from 1997-2007, and the current Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative Party since 2010.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy where the Queen is the symbolic head of state but does not hold real power. According to the constitution, the Queen reigns but does not rule. The real power in the country belongs to the British Parliament, which consists of two houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Commons is elected by British citizens and makes laws regarding policy, while the House of Lords can offer, change, and delay laws.
- Canada has a parliamentary democracy with three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch includes the Queen, Senate, and House of Commons. The executive branch implements laws and includes the Queen, Prime Minister, and Cabinet. The judicial branch applies laws independently.
- The federal government has three levels - the Queen as head of state, the Prime Minister as head of government, and Parliament which passes laws. Provincial governments have similar structures without the Senate. The Supreme Court is the highest court.
Queen Elizabeth II has been the Queen of the United Kingdom since 1952. She was born in 1926 in London to Prince Albert and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. In 1947, she married Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. They have four children together - Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. As Queen, Elizabeth performs ceremonial and diplomatic duties and serves as a symbolic figurehead of the UK. She spends her free time enjoying corgis, horses, and puzzles.
Absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch has total political power over the state and its people. Throughout much of European history, absolute monarchy was justified by the divine right of kings. While some monarchs like Louis XIV of France achieved high levels of control, others faced opposition from aristocrats and clergy. By the 19th century, absolute rule had declined across Europe except in Russia, where the tsar maintained power until 1905.
The United Kingdom has a parliamentary democracy where the Queen is the head of state and elections take place every five years. Political parties nominate candidates to represent constituencies in the House of Commons. Whichever party wins a majority forms the government, while the second largest becomes the opposition. New laws are debated in both the House of Commons and House of Lords before being signed by the Queen. The prime minister leads the governing party and appoints ministers to the cabinet.
As government and politics the constitutionflissxoxo
This document provides an overview of the AS Government and Politics unit on governing the UK. It covers the key topics of the UK constitution, including definitions of codified and uncodified constitutions, unitary and federal systems, and rigid vs flexible constitutions. The sources of the UK's uncodified constitution are explained, such as statute law, common law, conventions, and EU laws. Core principles like parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law, and constitutional monarchy are also introduced. The document provides context and examples to explain these complex constitutional concepts in an accessible way.
The British Government consists of three main parts: the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and the Queen. The House of Lords has 675 members who play an important role in reviewing legislation. The House of Commons has 650 members who are elected by constituents to represent specific districts. It is the most powerful house. General elections are held every five years so the British people can select parties to form a government led by a Prime Minister to run the country, subject to approval by the Queen.
The document provides information about the British monarchy, including:
- The Queen reigns over the UK and other Commonwealth realms, with her role today being mainly symbolic and ceremonial.
- Biographical details are given about Queen Elizabeth II, who became Queen in 1952 at age 26 and remains the country's head of state.
- The line of succession to the throne is outlined, starting with Prince Charles as the heir apparent.
- Additional facts are included about members of the royal family like Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
Europe is the world's second smallest continent in terms of area. It has around 50 countries and a population of over 733 million people, making it the third most populous continent. Historically, European powers controlled large portions of other continents between the 16th and 20th centuries. Today, Europe has a high population density and wealth, with its economy being the largest on Earth.
The document provides an overview of the British political system, including:
1. It describes the key elements of the British political system including the monarchy, government, parliament, and elections.
2. It explains some of the core aspects of the British style of democracy including the informal nature of politics and decision-making, as well as the relationship between individuals and the state.
3. It outlines the roles and functions of key political institutions like the House of Commons, House of Lords, cabinet, and prime minister.
The document discusses the British monarchy and government. It provides details about the royal family, the role of the monarch, and how the monarch's powers are balanced by parliament and the prime minister. It also summarizes the roles of the cabinet, civil service, and local governments in Britain.
The current British monarch is Queen Elizabeth II. First in line to the throne is her eldest son Charles, Prince of Wales. Second in line is Charles' elder son Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Third in line is Charles' younger son Prince Harry of Wales.
This document provides an introduction to campaigning and the legislative process in the UK Parliament. It outlines the key stages of developing and passing legislation, including the introduction of a bill through a political party's manifesto, green and white papers, pre-legislative scrutiny by committees, passage through both the House of Commons and House of Lords, royal assent, and post-legislative scrutiny. It also describes how citizens can engage with MPs and peers during this process to influence legislation.
As part of our Norfolk Annual VCSE Conference, Nikki Luke, Senior Education and Engagement Officer for the East of England, will be delivering a politically neutral session on the opportunities for engaging with and influencing Parliament to ensure the voices of those we support are heard.
The document discusses symbols and institutions of government in the United Kingdom. It describes the national flag as being the flag of England featuring a rose, a symbol of political divisions from the 15th century. It also summarizes that the Queen is head of state but does not rule the country, having no real power, while Parliament and the government hold power. It provides an overview of the House of Commons and House of Lords, their roles in making and changing laws, with the Lords having less power but ability to delay laws.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Queens From Ari KellenAri Kellen
Queens is one of New York City's most unique and exciting boroughs, yet many living in Brooklyn or Manhattan turn their noses up at it. It's a fantastic place to visit, with plenty to offer. Here are some things you didn't know about Queens.
The United Kingdom has a constitutional monarchy form of government with Queen Elizabeth II as the current monarch. It has an unwritten constitution and a parliamentary democracy system. The parliament is made up of three parts: the House of Lords, House of Commons, and the Sovereign. Members of Parliament represent local constituencies and can meet with constituents to discuss concerns, though their ability to directly help is limited. The Prime Minister is the head of government and leads the Cabinet, which meets weekly to discuss important issues.
The document outlines the various powers and duties of the Queen of England. As head of state, she has ceremonial and symbolic roles but also retains certain legal and constitutional powers. These include immunity from prosecution, issuing passports, commandeering ships when needed, meeting weekly with the Prime Minister, and serving as a symbol that unites the Commonwealth nations. The Queen's powers derive from the royal prerogative and include granting honors and pardons, assenting to legislation, summoning and dismissing Parliament, appointing the Prime Minister and ambassadors, declaring war, and serving as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. However, many of the Queen's formal legal powers have been transferred over time to elected representatives and the
In the 5th century, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes migrated by sea and established themselves in Britain, giving the island its modern name of England meaning "land of the Angles". Anglo-Saxon society was hierarchical, with eorls and thegns as the hereditary aristocracy and warriors below the king. Peasants and slaves were at the lowest levels. While many settlers were farmers, some were also fishermen. The major Anglo-Saxon gods worshipped were Tiw, Woden, and Thor, as well as Frig. Though Pope Gregory I sent Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, it was Celtic monks from Wales and Ireland who spread the religion to
The document discusses the structure of Parliament in Canada. It is comprised of three parts: the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Commons. The Queen is Canada's Head of State and all laws are made in her name. She is represented in Canada by the Governor General. The Senate passes all bills from the House of Commons and represents regions, minority groups, and provinces/territories. However, there have been calls to reform the unelected Senate, with options including abolishing it or making it elected.
To become UK Prime Minister, one must be the leader of the political party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons. The House of Commons has 646 members who are each elected to represent a constituency. The leader of the party with the most seats becomes Prime Minister. Recent UK Prime Ministers have included Margaret Thatcher of the Conservative Party from 1975-1990, Tony Blair of the Labour Party from 1997-2007, and the current Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative Party since 2010.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy where the Queen is the symbolic head of state but does not hold real power. According to the constitution, the Queen reigns but does not rule. The real power in the country belongs to the British Parliament, which consists of two houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Commons is elected by British citizens and makes laws regarding policy, while the House of Lords can offer, change, and delay laws.
- Canada has a parliamentary democracy with three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch includes the Queen, Senate, and House of Commons. The executive branch implements laws and includes the Queen, Prime Minister, and Cabinet. The judicial branch applies laws independently.
- The federal government has three levels - the Queen as head of state, the Prime Minister as head of government, and Parliament which passes laws. Provincial governments have similar structures without the Senate. The Supreme Court is the highest court.
Queen Elizabeth II has been the Queen of the United Kingdom since 1952. She was born in 1926 in London to Prince Albert and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. In 1947, she married Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. They have four children together - Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. As Queen, Elizabeth performs ceremonial and diplomatic duties and serves as a symbolic figurehead of the UK. She spends her free time enjoying corgis, horses, and puzzles.
Absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch has total political power over the state and its people. Throughout much of European history, absolute monarchy was justified by the divine right of kings. While some monarchs like Louis XIV of France achieved high levels of control, others faced opposition from aristocrats and clergy. By the 19th century, absolute rule had declined across Europe except in Russia, where the tsar maintained power until 1905.
The United Kingdom has a parliamentary democracy where the Queen is the head of state and elections take place every five years. Political parties nominate candidates to represent constituencies in the House of Commons. Whichever party wins a majority forms the government, while the second largest becomes the opposition. New laws are debated in both the House of Commons and House of Lords before being signed by the Queen. The prime minister leads the governing party and appoints ministers to the cabinet.
As government and politics the constitutionflissxoxo
This document provides an overview of the AS Government and Politics unit on governing the UK. It covers the key topics of the UK constitution, including definitions of codified and uncodified constitutions, unitary and federal systems, and rigid vs flexible constitutions. The sources of the UK's uncodified constitution are explained, such as statute law, common law, conventions, and EU laws. Core principles like parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law, and constitutional monarchy are also introduced. The document provides context and examples to explain these complex constitutional concepts in an accessible way.
The British Government consists of three main parts: the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and the Queen. The House of Lords has 675 members who play an important role in reviewing legislation. The House of Commons has 650 members who are elected by constituents to represent specific districts. It is the most powerful house. General elections are held every five years so the British people can select parties to form a government led by a Prime Minister to run the country, subject to approval by the Queen.
The document provides information about the British monarchy, including:
- The Queen reigns over the UK and other Commonwealth realms, with her role today being mainly symbolic and ceremonial.
- Biographical details are given about Queen Elizabeth II, who became Queen in 1952 at age 26 and remains the country's head of state.
- The line of succession to the throne is outlined, starting with Prince Charles as the heir apparent.
- Additional facts are included about members of the royal family like Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
Europe is the world's second smallest continent in terms of area. It has around 50 countries and a population of over 733 million people, making it the third most populous continent. Historically, European powers controlled large portions of other continents between the 16th and 20th centuries. Today, Europe has a high population density and wealth, with its economy being the largest on Earth.
The document provides an overview of the British political system, including:
1. It describes the key elements of the British political system including the monarchy, government, parliament, and elections.
2. It explains some of the core aspects of the British style of democracy including the informal nature of politics and decision-making, as well as the relationship between individuals and the state.
3. It outlines the roles and functions of key political institutions like the House of Commons, House of Lords, cabinet, and prime minister.
The document discusses the British monarchy and government. It provides details about the royal family, the role of the monarch, and how the monarch's powers are balanced by parliament and the prime minister. It also summarizes the roles of the cabinet, civil service, and local governments in Britain.
The current British monarch is Queen Elizabeth II. First in line to the throne is her eldest son Charles, Prince of Wales. Second in line is Charles' elder son Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Third in line is Charles' younger son Prince Harry of Wales.
This document provides an introduction to campaigning and the legislative process in the UK Parliament. It outlines the key stages of developing and passing legislation, including the introduction of a bill through a political party's manifesto, green and white papers, pre-legislative scrutiny by committees, passage through both the House of Commons and House of Lords, royal assent, and post-legislative scrutiny. It also describes how citizens can engage with MPs and peers during this process to influence legislation.
As part of our Norfolk Annual VCSE Conference, Nikki Luke, Senior Education and Engagement Officer for the East of England, will be delivering a politically neutral session on the opportunities for engaging with and influencing Parliament to ensure the voices of those we support are heard.
Event organised by Parliament's Outreach Service in partnership with the British Deaf Association. How Parliament works and to have a say on topics that matter.
This document provides an overview of the legislative process in the UK Parliament. It outlines the key stages from a party's manifesto discussion through to a bill becoming an Act. These stages include the general election, Queen's Speech, green and white papers for consultation, scrutiny by select committees, passage through the House of Commons and Lords, and royal assent. It also provides information for citizens on how to get involved at different stages, such as by contacting their MP or a member of the House of Lords.
This document provides an overview of the UK parliamentary process for creating and passing legislation. It outlines the stages a bill goes through, from a party's manifesto and green/white papers, to pre-legislative scrutiny by committees, debates and votes in the House of Commons and House of Lords, and finally royal assent. It also gives information for citizens on how to get involved at different stages, such as by contacting their MP or a Lord, submitting evidence to committees, or attending debates.
The document provides an overview of the legislative process in the UK Parliament, outlining key stages from a policy timeline and manifesto discussions through to passage of a bill and post-legislative scrutiny. It also gives information on how citizens can get involved at different stages, including contacting their MP or member of the House of Lords about a bill and submitting evidence to public bill committees. Resources are provided for finding information on specific bills and researching politicians.
The document provides information about how citizens can get involved with the UK Parliament by contacting their MP, submitting evidence to committees reviewing bills, watching or attending debates, tracking bills online, and signing up for email updates. It explains the roles of the House of Commons and House of Lords in making laws and provides background on the legislative process.
Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. The House of Commons is elected and scrutinizes the government, while the House of Lords reviews legislation. The Monarch formally approves laws but remains politically neutral. Bills are introduced and debated before becoming acts of Parliament. Select committees oversee specific policy areas. Parliament holds the government accountable and enables taxation through legislation and questions.
The document outlines the agenda and goals of a conference organized by the UK Parliament's Outreach and Engagement Group. The conference aimed to discuss how to increase public understanding of Parliament and encourage more people to get involved. It provided information on the challenges of low political engagement and outlined the Group's activities to address this like workshops, open events, and a program called UK Parliament Week.
This document provides an overview of different levels of government in the UK, with a focus on central government and the House of Commons. It discusses that central government is responsible for issues affecting the entire nation, such as changes in law, taxation policy, and national budgets. The central government is called Parliament, consisting of the Monarch, House of Commons, and House of Lords. The House of Commons has around 646 elected MPs who represent constituencies and vote on legislation and policies. It plays key roles in making laws, controlling finances, scrutiny, and protecting individuals.
The document outlines the programming for a conference in Leeds in April 2016 about engaging the public with the UK Parliament. It discusses challenges in public engagement as shown in polls and outlines the goals and activities of the Outreach and Engagement Service, including community workshops, open events, select committee engagement, and training programs focused on women, adults with disabilities, and others. It promotes upcoming events and invites attendees to get involved in UK Parliament Week in November 2016.
The document provides an overview of governance and politics in Northern Ireland. It discusses:
- The key institutions that govern Northern Ireland including the Northern Ireland Assembly, Executive, and their powers and responsibilities.
- The transfer of certain powers from central government in the UK to the devolved Northern Ireland government.
- The main functions and proceedings of the Northern Ireland Assembly, including its committees.
- An introduction to lobbying and influencing political decisions in Northern Ireland.
Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. The House of Commons is elected and scrutinizes the government, while the House of Lords passes more amendments to legislation than the Commons. Both houses, along with the Monarch, hold the government to account and pass laws. Select committees in both houses also scrutinize specific policy areas.
The document outlines the programming for a conference in Cardiff in April 2016 about increasing public engagement with the UK Parliament. It discusses challenges around public perceptions of Parliament and outlines the Outreach and Engagement Service's focus on increasing knowledge, explaining Parliament's value, creating a greater sense of ownership, and diversifying engagement. The service offers various workshops, open events, support for select committees to engage the public, and "Train the Trainer" programs to involve more people and groups.
Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. It holds the government to account by passing laws, enabling taxation, and scrutinizing legislation. The government runs departments and proposes new laws but is accountable to Parliament. Members of the House of Lords can be appointed or inherit their titles. Parliament debates issues and scrutinizes the government through committees and questions.
Select committees hold government ministers and departments accountable for their policies and decisions. Their core tasks are to scrutinize legislation, examine public expenditure, and hold the government accountable. Select committees conduct inquiries where they gather evidence, write reports, and the government responds. Members of Parliament and Lords sit on select committees along with clerks and other staff. The committees encourage public participation by submitting written evidence, giving oral testimony, and engaging with the committee in other ways. Select committees have existed since 1668 and help Parliament oversee the work of the government.
This document provides an overview of the UK Parliament and how academics can engage with it. The UK Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. It makes laws, holds the government accountable, and enables taxation and spending. Academics can engage with Parliament through select committees, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, All-Party Parliamentary Groups, and by providing research evidence.
This document provides an introduction to the UK Parliament. It explains that Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. The Queen is the head of state and performs ceremonial duties like granting royal assent to pass laws. The houses of Parliament hold the government accountable, pass laws, and enable taxation. It describes the roles of the government and select committees. The passage of bills and types of legislation are outlined.
Similar to How the uk parliament works december 2016 (20)
This document provides information and guidance on how to engage with UK parliamentarians. It outlines that citizens can start by contacting their local MP through their contact information listed on the Parliament website, by phone, or in person at their local town hall or library. For peers in the House of Lords, it recommends identifying peers who support your issue and contacting them via email. It also suggests researching all-party parliamentary groups, bills, early day motions, select committees, and parliamentary briefings to find parliamentarians interested in your issue. The document provides tips for effective engagement, such as relating your issue to local constituents or a peer's expertise, and clearly stating the problem, why you care, and what action you want them to take.
This document discusses post-legislative scrutiny in the House of Lords. It begins by defining post-legislative scrutiny as a review of legislation to determine if policy objectives were met and the effectiveness of the legislation. A history of post-legislative scrutiny is then provided, noting recommendations from 2004-2008 to establish a formal process. In 2011, the House of Lords decided to form ad hoc committees each year to review particular Acts. Examples of past committees and the factors considered in choosing topics are also outlined. The document concludes by discussing some practical challenges for post-legislative scrutiny committees, such as timely production of government memorandums and gathering expertise.
The document discusses pre-legislative scrutiny, which allows Parliament and outside groups to provide input on draft bills before they are finalized. This benefits both the government and those affected by creating opportunities for consultation and making it easier to alter bills early on. Pre-legislative scrutiny can be conducted by select committees, joint committees of MPs and peers, or ad hoc committees. It aims to result in better legislation and a smoother legislative process overall.
This document discusses the process of debates and voting in the House of Commons. It outlines that all debates take place on a motion, which is a proposal to elicit a decision. Debates can be initiated by the government, opposition, backbenchers, or the Backbench Business Committee. Once debated, the question is put to a vote through either a voice vote, where the Speaker determines the outcome, or a division vote, where Members physically vote by entering different lobbies and are counted. The results are then announced. Divisions aim to take 10-15 minutes but can be deferred to the following Wednesday under certain circumstances.
The House of Lords scrutinizes legislation, holds the government accountable through select committees, and acts as a forum for debate. It does not directly represent constituents or control taxation. Debates in the House of Lords can take various forms, including question times and motions for balloted debates on "take note" motions. Procedure is organized by the usual channels but all members have equal access to the order paper. Debates are self-regulated and courteous, focusing on substance rather than party politics. Voting is usually by voice but any member can force a division, with decisions made by simple majority.
The document summarizes how the UK parliamentary petitions system works. It explains that there is a new e-petitions website jointly run by the House of Commons and government. The Petitions Committee oversees both e-petitions and traditional paper petitions. For an e-petition to be considered, it needs six supporters and 100,000 signatures to potentially be debated. The committee can seek more information, refer petitions to other committees, or schedule debates. The goal is to give citizens a way to raise issues in Parliament that may not otherwise be debated and increase public engagement with the political process.
The document discusses House of Lords select committees in the UK Parliament. It notes that Lords committees are cross-cutting rather than departmental, complement the House of Commons, have a consensual style, and include members from different parties. It provides examples of the Economic Affairs Committee's inquiries and invites public engagement through submitting written evidence, giving oral evidence, or attending outreach events. Written evidence should be relevant, concise, original, and timely.
This document discusses ways for the public to get involved with select committees in the UK House of Commons. It outlines the different types of select committees and provides examples of how citizens can submit written evidence, give oral testimony, participate in focus groups, attend town hall meetings, and engage with committees through social media or early career academic events. The document encourages clear, evidence-based written submissions and gives tips for effective oral presentations to committees.
This document provides an introduction to select committees in the UK Parliament. It explains that select committees hold inquiries into matters of public policy or administration, gathering written and oral evidence. This allows them to scrutinize the government and other organizations and produce reports making recommendations. The document outlines the process committees go through for inquiries and evidence gathering. It also notes that committees can take on pre-legislative and post-legislative scrutiny and that citizens can engage with their work by submitting evidence or contacting committee members.
This document provides an introduction to select committees in the UK Parliament. It explains that select committees hold inquiries into matters within their remit, gather written and oral evidence, and produce reports with recommendations. Citizens can get involved by submitting evidence, attending oral evidence sessions, or contacting their MP or committee members about issues. The document outlines the inquiry process and gives information on how citizens can learn more about select committees and their role in scrutinizing legislation and government.
The document discusses how citizens can engage with the UK parliamentary process. It provides information on the structure of parliament, the roles of the House of Commons and House of Lords, and how a bill becomes law. It highlights several ways citizens can get involved, such as by watching or attending debates on bills, researching MPs and peers, writing to elected officials, and submitting evidence to committees considering legislation. The goal is to educate citizens on the legislative process and encourage their participation.
This document summarizes the different types of questions that can be asked in the House of Lords and the procedures around each. It outlines oral questions, questions for short debate, questions for written answer, private notice questions, and Secretary of State questions. For each type it describes the scheduling, timing, topicality requirements, and processing handled by the Table Office.
This document provides information about parliamentary questions in the House of Commons. It notes that in the 2014-15 session, 30,869 written parliamentary questions (PQs) were tabled, with the most going to the Department of Health and the least going to the Wales Office. It states that Members table PQs to seek information, press for action on issues, and follow up on constituency matters. The roles of the Table Office include checking PQs for errors and ensuring they follow parliamentary rules before being tabled.
The document outlines several ways for UK citizens to get involved with their Parliament, including contacting their MP directly by letter, email or social media to express opinions; MPs can submit parliamentary questions on behalf of constituents or to challenge government policy; citizens can support early day motions to show support for issues; and citizens can participate in open inquiries or create petitions to engage with Parliament.
The document outlines several ways for UK citizens to get involved with their Parliament, including contacting their MP directly through letters, email or social media to express opinions or raise issues. Citizens can also engage with Parliament through parliamentary questions asked by MPs, early day motions expressing MPs' views, providing evidence for open inquiries, or creating petitions. The overall goal is to provide citizens opportunities to make their voices heard by their representatives and government in Parliament.
UK Parliament Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness of and encourage more engagement with Parliament across the UK. In 2016, it will take place from November 14-20. Partner organizations are encouraged to host events for the public, schools, and their users to get involved. In 2015, over 130 events were held across the UK. The document provides information on how organizations can participate through hosting events or activities in categories of engage, explore, and empower. It also provides tips for planning a successful UK Parliament Week event and information on resources and support available.
The document provides information on finding and accessing information from UK parliamentary select committees on the www.parliament.uk website, including lists of current select committees and their open calls for evidence, publications of reports and evidence, and contact details for each committee. It also outlines resources for learning about the role and procedures of select committees, as well as briefings and analysis from the House of Commons Library.
The document provides an overview of select committees in the House of Lords. It explains that select committees are appointed groups of Lords members that examine particular policy areas or draft legislation. There are different types, including domestic committees focused on House administration, legislative committees that consider bills, and investigative committees that examine public policy matters. Select committees follow processes like calling for evidence, hearing oral/written testimony, deliberating, and publishing reports to inform the House and wider public. Membership rotates to encourage broad participation among Lords.
This document provides an overview of select committees in the House of Commons, including their roles, membership, processes, and relationship with the government. Select committees examine policies, expenditures, and administration of government departments through written and oral evidence, reports, and debates. They are comprised of backbench MPs and have powers to request evidence and reports. The government must respond to committee reports within two months and committees may schedule debates on their findings.
More from UK Parliament Outreach and Engagement Service (20)
AHMR is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed online journal created to encourage and facilitate the study of all aspects (socio-economic, political, legislative and developmental) of Human Mobility in Africa. Through the publication of original research, policy discussions and evidence research papers AHMR provides a comprehensive forum devoted exclusively to the analysis of contemporaneous trends, migration patterns and some of the most important migration-related issues.
About Potato, The scientific name of the plant is Solanum tuberosum (L).Christina Parmionova
The potato is a starchy root vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are tubers of the plant Solanum tuberosum, a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States to southern Chile
Synopsis (short abstract) In December 2023, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 30 May as the International Day of Potato.
This report explores the significance of border towns and spaces for strengthening responses to young people on the move. In particular it explores the linkages of young people to local service centres with the aim of further developing service, protection, and support strategies for migrant children in border areas across the region. The report is based on a small-scale fieldwork study in the border towns of Chipata and Katete in Zambia conducted in July 2023. Border towns and spaces provide a rich source of information about issues related to the informal or irregular movement of young people across borders, including smuggling and trafficking. They can help build a picture of the nature and scope of the type of movement young migrants undertake and also the forms of protection available to them. Border towns and spaces also provide a lens through which we can better understand the vulnerabilities of young people on the move and, critically, the strategies they use to navigate challenges and access support.
The findings in this report highlight some of the key factors shaping the experiences and vulnerabilities of young people on the move – particularly their proximity to border spaces and how this affects the risks that they face. The report describes strategies that young people on the move employ to remain below the radar of visibility to state and non-state actors due to fear of arrest, detention, and deportation while also trying to keep themselves safe and access support in border towns. These strategies of (in)visibility provide a way to protect themselves yet at the same time also heighten some of the risks young people face as their vulnerabilities are not always recognised by those who could offer support.
In this report we show that the realities and challenges of life and migration in this region and in Zambia need to be better understood for support to be strengthened and tuned to meet the specific needs of young people on the move. This includes understanding the role of state and non-state stakeholders, the impact of laws and policies and, critically, the experiences of the young people themselves. We provide recommendations for immediate action, recommendations for programming to support young people on the move in the two towns that would reduce risk for young people in this area, and recommendations for longer term policy advocacy.
UN WOD 2024 will take us on a journey of discovery through the ocean's vastness, tapping into the wisdom and expertise of global policy-makers, scientists, managers, thought leaders, and artists to awaken new depths of understanding, compassion, collaboration and commitment for the ocean and all it sustains. The program will expand our perspectives and appreciation for our blue planet, build new foundations for our relationship to the ocean, and ignite a wave of action toward necessary change.
A Guide to AI for Smarter Nonprofits - Dr. Cori Faklaris, UNC CharlotteCori Faklaris
Working with data is a challenge for many organizations. Nonprofits in particular may need to collect and analyze sensitive, incomplete, and/or biased historical data about people. In this talk, Dr. Cori Faklaris of UNC Charlotte provides an overview of current AI capabilities and weaknesses to consider when integrating current AI technologies into the data workflow. The talk is organized around three takeaways: (1) For better or sometimes worse, AI provides you with “infinite interns.” (2) Give people permission & guardrails to learn what works with these “interns” and what doesn’t. (3) Create a roadmap for adding in more AI to assist nonprofit work, along with strategies for bias mitigation.
Combined Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Vessel List.Christina Parmionova
The best available, up-to-date information on all fishing and related vessels that appear on the illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing vessel lists published by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and related organisations. The aim of the site is to improve the effectiveness of the original IUU lists as a tool for a wide variety of stakeholders to better understand and combat illegal fishing and broader fisheries crime.
To date, the following regional organisations maintain or share lists of vessels that have been found to carry out or support IUU fishing within their own or adjacent convention areas and/or species of competence:
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT)
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC)
South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO)
South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO)
Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
The Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List merges all these sources into one list that provides a single reference point to identify whether a vessel is currently IUU listed. Vessels that have been IUU listed in the past and subsequently delisted (for example because of a change in ownership, or because the vessel is no longer in service) are also retained on the site, so that the site contains a full historic record of IUU listed fishing vessels.
Unlike the IUU lists published on individual RFMO websites, which may update vessel details infrequently or not at all, the Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List is kept up to date with the best available information regarding changes to vessel identity, flag state, ownership, location, and operations.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
The Antyodaya Saral Haryana Portal is a pioneering initiative by the Government of Haryana aimed at providing citizens with seamless access to a wide range of government services
3. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Session objectives
By the end of this session, you will know:
•What Parliament is and what it does
•The difference between Parliament and
Government
•How Members of Parliament and Members of the
House of Lords hold the Government to account
6. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
The House of Commons
•The democratically elected
chamber of Parliament
•650 MPs, all are elected at
Least every 5 years
•Approximately 70,000 people
per constituency
9. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
The House of Lords
• The House of Lords is the second
chamber of Parliament, also
known as ‘the revising House’
• There are approximately 800
Members in total (173 are
Crossbenchers)
• Members include:
• Over 650 Life Peers
• Up to 92 Hereditary Peers
• 26 Bishops
11. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
The Government
•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
13. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Contacting your MP
• Your MP’s contact details will be on the Parliament
website: www.parliament.uk
• You can call the House of Commons Information
Office on 020 7219 4272
• Or at your town hall or local library
• Many MPs will have a contact address and number
in the constituency
14. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Contacting Members of the Lords
• You can call the House of Lords Information Office
on 020 7219 3107
• Identify Peers who will support your campaign
• Biographies of all Peers are available at
www.parliament.uk
• Members of the House of Lords do not have
constituencies, so in theory, you can contact any
member
22. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Select Committees
• In the Commons, Select Committees
typically have eleven members
• The Chair of the Committee is elected
by MPs from across the House
• Committees are most effective when
they work by consensus to produce a
report
• Committees scrutinise Government
work in detail
26. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Public Bill Committees
(House of Commons)
•Both Houses refer legislation to committees for
detailed discussion and approval
•If the Bill starts in the Commons the committee
is able to take evidence from experts and
interest groups from outside Parliament
32. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Where can I get information?
• www.parliament.uk and @yourUKParl
• Commons Information Office
0800 112 4272 (Freephone); 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
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.
Why bother? Because better engagement from you helps Parliament do its job. It needs to know about the effects of legislation and policy, and unless you tell them, it’s really hard for them to know.
http://www.parliament.uk/education/about-your-parliament/introduction/
Stop at Your Voice
Parliament comprises of three things. Two institutions and one person – the Queen
The House of Commons
The democratically elected house of Parliament. This is the one that is voted in every five years when there is an election.
The House of Lords
The second chamber of Parliament.
Not as important as the House of Commons. Not elected. Lords and Baronesses (Peers) are usually appointed because they are experts in a particular subject. Lord Sugar is an expert in business, Baroness Manningham-Buller was appointed when she retired from being head of MI5, which makes her chief spy, and Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson is an expert in Sport – she has won more medals than any other Olympic or Paralympic athlete. The House of Lords can only disagree with something that the House of Commons wants to do three times and then they have to let it through. Often, when the House of Lords tells the Government that they don’t like something the Government will make a change although not often the exact change the House of Lords want.
The Queen
The Queen is the Head of State. She opens Parliament every year and asks the party that wins a general election to become the government. The queen also has to agree all the laws that the rest of parliament votes for, but she always does.
Can anyone guess the last time a monarch disagreed with parliament? It was more than 300 years ago in 1707. Queen Anne.
Parliament spends about half its time deciding on the rules of the country by making and passing laws to deal with our constantly changing society.
It takes money from taxpayers, which the government uses to carry out its work. All government money comes from the people when they pay taxes like income tax, which is paid out of people’s wages and VAT, which is an extra cost added to things you buy, which the government takes in tax. It uses that money to run services like hospitals and schools, to pay soldiers, build roads.
It checks that government is doing a good job – which we call scrutiny - through MPs and Members of the House of Lords asking questions, which the government have to answer.
It also debates issues that are important and that the people care about.
The democratically elected chamber of Parliament.
The Monarch
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 Queens Speech which outline the aims of ‘her’ Government
She has weekly meetings with the Prime Minster
The Queen, upon request of the Prime Minister, can also dissolve Parliament.
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, so you only have yourselves to blame.
Each MP represents an average of approximately 70,000 potential voters, in the 650 parliamentary constituencies. plus everyone else who is in their area who cannot vote (under 18s etc). There are 650 MPs
MPs represent everyone in their constituency – regardless of their political affiliations and whether they voted for them or not: it doesn’t matter whether you support them, like them voted for them or voted at all, they are your representative in Parliament.
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 different from Parliament).
What does the House of Lords do? Basically the same as the House of Commons, but it does it slightly differently. 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 generally delays and asks the Government and the House of Commons to think again. The Lords cannot hold up government legislation that comes from a manifesto commitment 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. Very similar to the House of Commons. The House of Commons uses timetabling, the Lords doesn’t.
The Lords cannot change “money bills”, meaning the budget, so that phrase no taxation without representation applies here.
On average, 470 attend
Life peers – most members of the Lords are life peers - appointed for their lifetime only. The Queen formally appoints life peers on the advice and recommendation of the Prime Minister or the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Elected hereditary peers - the general right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords was ended in 1999 by the House of Lords Act. Ninety-two hereditary peers were elected internally to remain: these are known within the House of Lords as ‘excepted hereditary peers’. Excluded hereditary peers retain their peerages and titles (which are passed on to their children) and may stand in by-elections for membership of the House of Lords to replace an excepted hereditary peer who has died.
Life peers can be appointed via political lists of ad hoc House of Commons announcements.
Political lists – these are Lords appointed to boost the strengths of the three main parties. Regular attendance in the House is expected, usually on the frontbench as a spokesperson or whip.
Archbishops and bishops - a limited number of 26 Church of England archbishops and bishops sits in the House, passing their membership on to the next most senior bishop when they retire. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York traditionally receive life peerages on retirement.
Members of the Lords do not have specific constituents to represent or constituency issues to deal with.
No single political party has a majority in the House of Lords: the Government, opposition and crossbencher groups maintain roughly equal sizes.
Whereas the MPs are in the Commons because they represent an area, Peers sit in the House of Lords because of their expertise and experience in a subject, so if you are interested in something and can find a Peer who is interested in the same thing, why not contact them and ask them to raise your issue in Parliament?
The political party with (usually) the majority of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government. The Government proposes new laws to Parliament. The Government consists of approximately 100 members, all of whom are chosen by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister can choose whoever they want to be a member of their Government, with the only convention being that they are accountable to Parliament, and must therefore be a member of the House of Lords or the House of Commons.
The Government runs public departments, such as Health, Transport, Schools.
It is through the creation of legislation that the departments and local authorities are required to follow Government policy. If Government policy is not reflected in legislation then there is no obligation to follow it.
Ministers are MPs or Members of the Lords who are given extra responsibilities for leading or assisting the leader of one of the Government departments.
The Cabinet consists of senior Ministers chosen by the Prime Minister – the executive committee who head Government departments and decide Government policy.
Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government departments and are generally called ‘Secretary of State’, although some have special titles, such as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Ministers of State, Junior Ministers and Parliamentary Under–Secretaries of State assist the ministers in charge of the department.
A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is selected from backbench MPs as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the minister in the House of Commons.
Whips are MPs or Members of the Lords who are appointed to maintain party discipline. They make sure people vote the right way and show up.
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 Members of the House of Lords and the Monarchy
Government is just some MPs and some Peers who have been chosen by the Prime Minister to be Ministers.
If you can command the confidence of the House, you can form a Government.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/150209/150209.pdf
Register of Members interests
Select Committees
An inquiry will begin with the committee in question announcing the subject of an inquiry, and making a call to any groups or organisations with an interest in the inquiry subject to submit written evidence. In making the call for evidence, the committee will ask a number of questions that it wants groups to answer in their evidence. The call for evidence will also come with a deadline.
After the deadline for written evidence, the committee will then call a selected number of people to give oral evidence in Parliament. We should emphasise the majority of people that submit written evidence do not get called to an oral evidence session due to the sheer number of people submitting evidence.
The written and oral evidence will then be collated, which summarises the evidence received, and makes a number of recommendations. The report is then sent to the relevant Government department who will make a formal response.
They are a great way for groups and organisations to give their views and experiences directly to Parliament.
You may occasionally hear news reports refer to ‘an influential group of MPs’. These are usually Select Committees. They can often have a direct influence on Government policies.
House of Lords Select Committees draw on the experience of their members to conduct internationally respected investigations into specialist public and policy issues.
Unlike House of Commons committees, House of Lords committees take a broader, issues-focused perspective (eg communications, economic affairs, science and technology), not limited to the work of particular Government departments.
Membership
The majority of Commons Select Committee Chairs are now elected by their fellow MPs.
This applies to departmental committees and the Environmental Audit, Political and Constitutional Reform, Procedure, Public Administration and Public Accounts committees.
The other Committee members are nominated by their party after internal party elections.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/international-development-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/vaw/
Select Committees
An inquiry will begin with the committee in question announcing the subject of an inquiry, and making a call to any groups or organisations with an interest in the inquiry subject to submit written evidence. In making the call for evidence, the committee will ask a number of questions that it wants groups to answer in their evidence. The call for evidence will also come with a deadline.
After the deadline for written evidence, the committee will then call a selected number of people to give oral evidence in Parliament. We should emphasise the majority of people that submit written evidence do not get called to an oral evidence session due to the sheer number of people submitting evidence.
The written and oral evidence will then be collated, which summarises the evidence received, and makes a number of recommendations. The report is then sent to the relevant Government department who will make a formal response.
They are a great way for groups and organisations to give their views and experiences directly to Parliament.
You may occasionally hear news reports refer to ‘an influential group of MPs’. These are usually Select Committees. They can often have a direct influence on Government policies.
House of Lords Select Committees draw on the experience of their members to conduct internationally respected investigations into specialist public and policy issues.
Unlike House of Commons committees, House of Lords committees take a broader, issues-focused perspective (eg communications, economic affairs, science and technology), not limited to the work of particular Government departments.
Membership
The majority of Commons Select Committee Chairs are now elected by their fellow MPs.
This applies to departmental committees and the Environmental Audit, Political and Constitutional Reform, Procedure, Public Administration and Public Accounts committees.
The other Committee members are nominated by their party after internal party elections.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/international-development-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/vaw/
No new law can be made by Parliament unless it has completed a number of stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
While it is still journeying through Parliament, it is called a Bill.
So a Bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law, that is presented for debate before Parliament. Bills can begin in the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
A Bill only becomes an Act if it is approved by a majority in the House of Commons and House of Lords, and formally agreed to by the reigning monarch (known as Royal Assent).
An Act of Parliament is a law, enforced in all areas of the UK where it is applicable. (This picture depicts the Act which abolished the Slave Trade in 1807)
BALLOT for private members bills will be after the Queens speech.
The queen’s speech will list the bills the government want to introduce over the next year. Listen to it. Is there anything that you would like to get involved in? Anything of concern or interest? Get involved.
(If you have internet access go to website below to show flash version of passage of a bill.)
http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/passage_bill/index.htm
Committee stage is where detailed examination of the Bill takes place. It usually starts within a couple of weeks of a Bill’s second reading, although this is not guaranteed.
Amendments (proposals for change) for discussion are selected by the chairman of the committee and only members of the committee can vote on amendments during committee stage.
An e-petition needs six supporters to be opened for signature on the new site. Any British citizen or UK resident can start or sign no age limit. Clear request to Parliament or the Government, about something which is within their responsibility (not offensive or libellous). After six months, every e-petition is formally presented to the House and recorded in the Votes and Proceedings. Government response to petitions which reach 10,000 signatures.
What can the Petitions Committee do with the petition? Seek further info in writing - from petitioners, the Government, other public bodies, other relevant people/organisations
Seek further information in person – in Parliament or elsewhere
Refer to another select committee (but no obligation to act)
Schedule a debate in Westminster Hall (Monday afternoon, from 4.30pm for up to three hours)
Ask the Backbench Business Committee for debating time in the Chamber
Nothing
Parliament’s Outreach Service can come and deliver workshops to any groups, usually at a place and time convenient to them.
POST
We do need a minimum of 15 people per session.
Ask the learners to complete feedback forms.
http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/commonslibrary/