The Legislature

Parliament is the supreme legislative authority and consists of three separate elements: the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the elected House of Commons. Over the centuries the balance between the three parts of the legislature has changed, so that the Queen’s role is now only formal and the House of Commons has gained supremacy over the House of Lords.

The House of Commons is a popular assembly elected by almost universal adult suffrage. There are 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) – each member representing one of the 650 geographical areas (constituencies) into which the country is divided for electoral purposes (523 for England, 38 for Wales, 72 for Scotland and 17 for Northern Ireland). If an MP dies, resigns or is made a peer, a by-election is held in that constituency to elect a new MP. Leaders of the Government and Opposition sit on the front benches of the Commons, with their supporters (back-benchers) behind them. The House is presided over by the Speaker.

The House of Lords, which is presided over by the Lord Chancellor, is probably the only upper House in the democratic world whose members are not elected. It is made up of the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal; the former consist of the representatives of the Church of England (the Archbishops of York and Cunterbury and 25 bishops); the latter comprise all hereditary and life peers (life peers, named by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, do not pass on their title when they die).

The main functions of the Parliament are: making laws, providing money for government through taxation, examining government policy, administration and spending, debating political questions.

Making new laws: Bills and Acts

A proposal for a new law is called a bill. Bills may be introduced in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords by any member. In practice most bills are proposed by the Government. After being discussed and perhaps changed, the bill is sent to the other House to go through the same process. When both Houses agree on a text, the bill is sent to the Queen for her signature (or “Royal Assent”) at which point it becomes an Act of Parliament. A bill which has been passed by the House of Commons is almost certain to become law, and about fifty bills become Acts each year. The House of Lords can revise bills but cannot stop them from becoming Acts; it can only delay the process for a maximum of 12 months. The Royal Assent is a formality: no Sovereign has refused a bill since 1707.

Because Britain has no written constitution, there is no special procedure for changing the laws which govern the country. If a political party has a clear majority in the House of Commons it can make new laws and give itself new powers. This allows a Government to make radical changes in the law.

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