The UK Parliament is made up of three parts – the Houseof Commons, the House ofLords and the Monarch (theKing or Queen).

The Palace of Westminster is another name for theParliament buildings becauseKings and Queens used to livehere.The last Monarch to dothis was King Henry VIII.

For more information aboutParliament and the serviceswe offer to young people and schools go towww.parliament.uk/educationor telephone 020 7219 4496.

Can you find?

Robing RoomThe original Palace burnt down in 1834. When it wasrebuilt Queen Victoria was onthe throne and her initials,VR,are throughout the Palace.

Royal GalleryThe artist who created the two biggest paintings didn’t sign hisworks. Instead, he painted aglass into them somewhere.

Princes’ ChamberThe symbols for England, Scotland and Ireland are dotted around thisChamber.

Lords’ ChamberThe Woolsack which is the seatof the Lord Speaker. It is a largecushion of wool covered in redcloth. It is stuffed with woolbrought from around theCommonwealth.

St Stephen’s HallThe crack in the blade of the sword on the statue ofFalkland. On the foot, youwill see a broken spur.This is where a suffragette (a woman campaigning forthe right to vote) chainedherself to the statue as aprotest and had to be cutfree.

Westminster HallThe carved angels high up in the roof. More than 600 tonnes of wood was used to create the roof beams.

Members’ LobbyThe mark on the door where Black Rod bangs to gain entryto the Commons.

Central LobbySome leeks, which are a national emblem for Wales. This is the mid-point between the Lords andthe Commons chambers. It is alsowhere people can come to meetor ‘lobby’ their MP.

Members’ ChamberThe Dispatch Box where MPs lean when they are talking in the House. The box contains anumber of holy books.

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Serjeant at ArmsMace ClerksFront Bench

GovernmentCurrently Labour Party

Liberal Democrats andsmaller political parties

SpeakerPress GalleryHansard ReportersOpposition

Currently Conservative Party

Crossbenches Clerks

Woolsack Liberal DemocratsBishops Throne

GovernmentCurrently Labour Party

Opposition Currently Conservative Party

A typical Lords working day

QuestionsQuestions to the Government lasting 30 minutes.

StatementsThe main business is sometimes interrupted for aGovernment minister to make a statement andanswer questions on it.

Making LawsIn order for laws to be made, a Bill (idea for anew law) has to be agreed by both the House ofCommons and the House of Lords before it ispassed to the Monarch for its final go-ahead or‘Royal Assent’.

DebatesDiscussions on a wide range of subjects affectingthe country are held every week. There are alsoshort debates (up to 1.5 hours) on current issues.

CommitteesThere are lots of committees set up to discussspecific subjects. They are made up of peers fromall parties who are selected because of theirexpertise in that area. There are often manydifferent committees working on any day.

What does the House of Lords do?The House of Lords works with the House ofCommons in these areas:

• Legislation – improve and make new laws

• Scrutiny – check the work of Government by asking questions and debating decisions

• Discussion – provide a group of experts to discuss issues in the chamber and in committees set up to look at specific subjects

The people who sit in the House of Lords,unlike the House of Commons, are notelected and not paid. There are currentlyaround 750 members, known as Lordsor Peers.

There are four types of member: Life Peers,Law Lords, Bishops and Hereditary Peers(who have inherited their title through their family).

The majority of Lords are Life Peers, chosenbecause of the work they have done outsideof Parliament. This can include jobs such assportsmen and women, actors, scientists,doctors, politicians, lawyers and writers.

Lords can belong to a political party andsome are chosen by the Government to work and represent one of their departments.Some Lords prefer to be independent and are known as Crossbenchers.

The Lord SpeakerThe Lord Speaker sits on the Woolsack and supervises proceedings in the chamber.He or she can offer advice but, unlike theSpeaker in the House of Commons, does not decide who speaks next or select topicsfor debate.

House of Lords Lords Chamber

What do MPs do?

• Legislation – improve and make new laws

• Scrutiny – check the work of Government by asking questions and debating decisions

• Representation – speaking for and on behalf of members of the public

Members of Parliament (MPs) divide theirtime between Westminster and the area they represent, known as their constituency.They hold meetings or ‘surgeries’ wheremembers of the public can come to them todiscuss any questions or problems they mighthave. An MP is elected to represent all thepeople living in their constituency, known asconstituents, whether they voted for them or not.

The House of Commons meets Monday toThursday as well as some Fridays to discussand vote on ideas for new laws as well asattend committees, meetings and debates.

House of Commons Commons Chamber

Question time with the Lord Speaker sittingon the Woolsack presiding proceedings

A Bill becomes an Act of Parliament once it has been approved by both Houses

In the House of Commons Chamber debateson legislation, general topics of interest orother issues take place

Once a Bill has completed all of its stages itcan become an Act of Parliament

1097Westminster Hallis built.

1969‘Representation of thePeople Act of 1969’lowered the voting agefrom 21 years to 18.

1215Magna Carta sealed by King John. This set thefounding principles forParliament and Constitution.

1689Passing of the Bill of Rights.This said that laws could onlybe made or removed byParliament and not by theMonarch alone.

1948The ‘National Health ServiceAct’ provides the majority ofhealthcare in England.

1870The ‘Elementary EducationAct 1870’ set the frameworkfor schooling of all childrenover the age of 5 and under13 in England and Wales.

1928With the ‘Representationof the People Act 1928’women were given theright to vote on the sameterms as men.

2002Webcasts of Parliamentproceedings begins.

The Commons SpeakerThe Speaker sits on the large raised chair atthe top of the House of Commons.The Speakeris elected by MPs to act as the chairperson.He or she will choose who speaks during debates and keep order in the chamber.

How do you become an MP?The UK is divided into 646 constituencies.Each constituency has about 70,000 peopleliving in it.You can become an MPindependently (not representing a party) butmost MPs elected represent a political party.The person with the most votes in eachconstituency will then become the electedMember of Parliament.

What can your MP do for you?You can write to or email your MP. You can also arrange to visit them personally bycontacting their office to find out when theyhold surgeries or by arranging to meet themat Westminster.Your MP can talk about thingsthat concern you in debates in the House ofCommons. They can also contact ministers of different departments on your behalf.

14th centuryThe Lords begin to sit in a separate House from the Commons.

1911 and 1949Parliament Acts allow someBills to become Acts withoutthe agreement of the Lords.

1958The ‘Life Peerages Act’creates the right for menand women to sit in theLords ‘for life’. Women sit inthe House for the first time.

1999The ‘House of LordsAct’ removes the rightof all but 92 hereditarypeers to sit and vote inthe House.

2005The ‘ConstitutionalReform Act’ sets up aSupreme Court,separating the law courtsfrom the law making.

1985Proceedings in the Lordstelevised for first time.

1649House of Lords stopsmeeting during OliverCromwell’s Commonwealth.

1660Monarchy is restored andthe House of Lords startsholding sessions again.

A typical Commons working day

QuestionsAn hour in which one or more Governmentministers answer questions from MPs. OnWednesdays the questions are all for the Prime Minister.

StatementsSometimes a Government minister will need tomake a statement on an important issue. If so, thiswill happen straight after question time.

Making LawsThe main business of the day will often be adebate on a Bill at one of its stages throughParliament.

DebatesThese can be on legislation (Bills) but sometimesit is an opportunity for the MPs to discuss animportant issue.

CommitteesAs in the Lords, there are lots of committees inthe Commons. MPs from all parties are asked tosit on these committees to discuss specific topics.