Engaging with Parliament

A service from the Houses of Parliament Politically neutral Aim is to increase knowledge and engagement with work and processes of Parliament Not an alternative to MPs

In your groups, complete the quiz:  Circle or tick the answers you think are correct  Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers – have a guess!

House of Commons House of Lords The Monarch

Makes and passes laws (Legislation) Holds Government to account Enables the Government to set taxes

 Politically neutral  Signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent)  Opens Parliament each year

 The democratically elected chamber of Parliament  There are 650 MPs  All MPs are elected at least every 5 years

 Making and passing laws  Holding the Government to account  Representing constituents  Approving the Budget and setting taxes

 The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, also known as ‘the revising House’  There are 759 Members (as at May 2013)  Members include: ◦ 641 Life Peers ◦ 92 Hereditary Peers ◦ 26 Bishops

 Making and passing laws  Holding the Government to account  Debating key issues  Scrutinising EU legislation

The party or parties who can command the confidence of the House of Commons forms the Government The Government: runs public departments i.e. The Home Office, NHS proposes new laws to Parliament is accountable to Parliament

 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

 The 10 Downing Street website has a full list of all Government Ministers  There are links to each Department’s website, which give details of Ministers with their specific responsibilities

 Green Papers: discussion documents  White Papers: very close to what will be in a Bill  No legal force  Consultations may be carried out on both  Parliament will conduct pre-legislative scrutiny

 The Government publishes some Bills in draft form before they are introduced formally in Parliament  They receive pre- legislative scrutiny in Parliament  The draft Bill will be considered either by an existing Select Committee or a specially convened ad hoc Committee

Bill is introduced to the House; a formality First opportunity for debate of the main principles of the Bill. Vote on whether the Bills proceeds Amendments can be proposed. Detailed examination of the Bill in a Public Bill Committee Further amendment to the content of the Bill. All MPs may speak and vote; Speaker selects amendments for discussion Final chance for the Commons to debate the contents of a Bill, but no amendments. Vote on whether the Bill is approved

Bill is introduced to the House; a formality First opportunity for debate of the main principles of the Bill. List of Speakers is opened. Vote on whether the Bills proceeds Amendments can be proposed. Detailed examination of the Bill in a Committee of the Whole House (any Member). No time limit. Further line by line consideration of the Bill. All amendments can be discussed and any Member can take part. Final chance to debate and change the Bill. Amendments can be made. Vote on whether the Bill is approved

‘Ping-pong’. Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of a Bill before it can become an Act of Parliament Monarch's agreement to make the Bill into an Act and is a formality. When Royal Assent has been given, the announcement is usually made in both Houses by the Lord Speaker in the Lords and the Speaker in the Commons

Ways to influence draft legislation:  Green Papers  White Papers  Pre-legislative Committees  Public Bill Committees  MPs and Members of the House of Lords

In your groups, discuss:  What issue/subject would you like to raise at Parliament?

Parliamentary Questions Written or spoken questions asked by MPs and Lords, directed at the Government Adjournment debates Westminster Hall debates Questions for Short Debate Debates which happen every day in the House of Commons and the House of Lords

 Allow MPs to show their opinion on a particular subject

Based on the issue/subject you identified earlier:  Write your own Parliamentary Question OR  Write your own Early Day Motion

 Informal cross-party groups on many different subjects, e.g. ◦ Youth Affairs ◦ Asthma ◦ Football  APPGs are a useful way to identify MPs/Lords with an interest in a certain issue

 Work in Pairs split into A and B  A: Read card about debates  B: Read card about Select Committees  Explain to your partner:  What is a debate/ Committee?  How could you get involved?

 Set up to scrutinise specific areas of work and Government departments  Work carried out through public inquiries  Groups and individuals submit evidence to enquiries  Inquiry report created and passed to Government department

 A Select Committee is holding an inquiry into the subject you choose and would like your evidence.  What experience do you have of what the government does related to this?  Does this work or have little effect, why?  What could be improved?  Lots of people have given evidence, why should the Committee listen to you?

  Commons Information Office  Lords Information Office  Parliament’s Outreach Service