The house of Parliament has been the home of
British Government since 1512, there are two parts to parliament
the house of Lords and the House of Commons. It is the House of
Commons that the MPs elected members of Parliament sit.
Parliament is divided in two chambers, the
House of Commons and the House of Lords. You can sit and
listen to debates in either chamber, be warned you may have to
queue for at least an hour, longer for the House of Commons. It
is possible for UK citizens to request tickets for Prime
Minster's question time from there MP
The main functions of Parliament are to:
- make all UK law
- provide, by voting for taxation, the means
of carrying on the work of government
- protect the public and safeguard the rights
of individuals
- scrutinise government policy and
administration, including proposals for expenditure
- examine european proposals before they
become law
- hear appeals in the House of Lords, the
highest Court of Appeal in Britain
- debate the major issues of the day.
Parliament has a maximum duration of five
years. At any time up to the end of this period, a general
election can be held for a new House of Commons.
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