BRITISH PARLIAMENT :. A SHORT NOTE

 

WRITE A SHORT NOTE ON BRITISH PARLIAMENT

 

INTRODUCTION.

 

The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies and the British overseas territories. It alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all other political bodies in the UK and the overseas territories.

 

THE TWO-HOUSE SYSTEM

The business of Parliament takes place in two Houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Their work is similar: making laws (legislation), checking the work of the government (scrutiny), and debating current issues.

The House of Commons is also responsible for granting money to the government through approving Bills that raise taxes. Generally, the decisions made in one House have to be approved by the other.

In this way the two-chamber system acts as a check and balance for both Houses.

 

THE HOUSE OF COMMON_:

The honourable, the Commons assembled in the Parliament. 

The Commons is publicly elected. The party with the largest number of members in the Commons forms the government. Prime minister is from house of commons. Consists of 650 members.

Members of the Commons (MPs) debate the big political issues of the day and proposals for new laws. It is one of the key places where government ministers, like the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, and the principal figures of the main political parties, work. 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 LORDS:

The right honourable the Lord spiritual and temporal assembled in parliament.

The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. It is independent from, and complements the work of, the elected House of Commons. The Lords shares the task of making and shaping laws and checking and challenging the work of the government. Consists of 736 membHouses

 

ROLE OF THE PARLIAMENT IN FUNCTIONING OF THE GOVERNMENT:

              The main functions of UK parliament are:

 

•       CHECKING THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT:

One of Parliament's main roles is to examine and challenge the work of the government. The House of Commons and the House of Lords use similar methods of scrutiny, although the procedures vary.

The principal methods are questioning government ministers, debating and the investigative work of committees. The government can publicly respond to explain and justify policies and decisions.

•       DEBATING:

Both Houses of Parliament hold debates in which Members discuss government policy, proposed new laws and topical issues of the day. Debates are designed to assist MPs and Lords to reach an informed decision on a subject. Votes are often held to conclude a debate, which may involve then passing or rejecting a proposed new law (legislation) or simply registering their opinion on a subject. All debates are recorded in a publication called 'Hansard' which is available online or in print.

•       CHECK AND APPROVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON TAXATION:

Parliament looks closely at the Government's tax and spending plans on our behalf and tries to make sure that public money is being spent fairly and efficiently. The Government cannot raise new taxes or spend public money without Parliament's agreement.  Law making:

Parliamentary sovereignty is a principle of the UK constitution. It makes Parliament the supreme legal authority in the UK, which can create or end any law. Generally, the courts cannot overrule its legislation and no Parliament can  pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change. Parliamentary sovereignty is the most important part of the UK constitution.

 

•       RAISING PEOPLES ISSUES:

Parliament is a place where the concerns of different groups in society can be raised. 

Backbench MPs have various means by which they can raise issues including Questions, Adjournment debates and Westminster Hall debates. These also provide ways in which issues brought to them by their constituents can be discussed.

It can also be used by MPs to raise questions about the problems in other countries and what the Government is doing about it.

•       DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS:

As Ministers have to be in Parliament, Westminster acts as a way of recruiting and developing political leaders. 

Raising issues in Parliament demonstrates the quality of backbenchers and may lead to them being picked for ministerial office.Facing questions in Parliament tests the ability of Ministers to deal with issues and can make or break their reputations

 Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies and the British overseas territories. It alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all other political bodies in the UK and the overseas territories.