Westminster is one of the oldest parliaments in the world, its origins going back to 1256.
It has a two chamber system:
The House of Lords (the upper House).
The House of Commons (the lower house or second chamber).
The system of the UK Parliament is a complex one, however the UK Parliament website provides extensive information on the House of Commons and the House of Lords such as, current business and future events, bills before parliament, committee details and so much more.
Click here for the UK Parliament website.
Reserved matters are legislated within the UK Parliament and include:
• Constitutional matters
• UK foreign policy
• UK defence and national security
• Fiscal, economic and monetary System
• Immigration and nationality
• Energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear energy
• Common markets
• Trade and industry, including competition and customer protection
• Some aspects of transport, including railways, transport safety and regulation
• Employment legislation
• Social security
• Gambling and the National Lottery
• Data protection
• Abortion, human fertilisation and embryology, genetics, xenotransplantation and vivisection
• Equal opportunities
The role of your MP is:
• To represent their constituency in Parliament
• To represent their individual constituents
• To pass on the views of their constituents to the Government
• To vote on Bills in the House of Commons
• To sit on committees and all-party groups
Watch Westminster
Live coverage of all UK Parliament proceedings, including Select and Standing Committees which are meeting in public, is available through Parliament’s internet service. Click here to view Parliament TV.
Other useful websites:
www.direct.gov.uk
www.theyworkforyou.com
www.epolitix.com
www.changeactivist.org.uk
www.number10.gov.uk
www.youngpeople.pm.gov.uk