qs get involved with parliament
TRANSCRIPT
Get involved with Parliament
Queen’s Speech
Parliament’s Outreach Service
• a free service from the Houses of Parliament• politically neutral• aims to increase knowledge and engagement with work and
processes of Parliament
What is Parliament?House of Commons House of Lords
The Monarch
What is the role of the Monarch?
• politically neutral • signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent)• opens Parliament each year
What is the role of the House of Commons?• making and passing laws• holding the Government to account• representing constituents• approving the Budget and setting taxes
What is the role of the House of Lords?
• making and passing laws• holding the Government to account• debating key issues • More time to scrutinise EU legislation
Parliament (Westminster)
• Commons, Lords and Monarch• holds Government to account• passes laws
Government (Whitehall)
• some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister
• runs Government departments and public services
Bills before Parliament: how to get involved
When to contact an MP/Peer about a Bill:
• Second reading• Committee stage• Report Stage• Third reading
Where to find information online:Find an MP - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/ Find a Peer - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/ Speakers list - www.lordswhips.org.uk/todays-lists Bills - http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
Get involved with Parliament
Other things to contact your MP or a Peer about or that you can be involved with directly:
• Select Committees• Parliamentary debates• Parliamentary Questions• Petitions• All Party Parliamentary Groups
Your next steps...• Watch, read or attend a debate on a bill• Use http://services.parliament.uk/bills/ to find
information on specific bills (e.g. Library briefing papers or amendment papers)• Use www.parliament.uk to research MPs and Lords
with an interest in your issue• Write to an interested MP or Lord about your issue• Read the advice on submitting evidence to Public Bill
Committees• Submit evidence to a Public Bill Committee
Where can I get information?
• www.parliament.uk and @UKParliament
• Commons Information Office020 7219 4272 [email protected]
• Lords Information Office020 7219 3107 [email protected]
• Parliament’s Outreach Service020 7219 [email protected]
Passage of a bill
Bill starting in the House of Commons
Bill starting in the House of Lords
House of Commons
1 2 C R 3
House of Commons
1 2 C R 3House of Lords
1 2 C R 3
House of Lords
1 2 C R 3
First r
eading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report reading
Third re
ading
First r
eading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report reading
Third re
ading
A
A
Consideration of
amendments
Royal Assent
Royal Assent