UK Parliament: Checks, Composition, and Scrutiny, Schemi e mappe concettuali di Inglese

Scarica UK Parliament: Checks, Composition, and Scrutiny e più Schemi e mappe concettuali in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! PARLIAMENT’S ROLE. The main functions of the UK Parliament are to:  Check and challenge the work of the Government(scrutiny).  Make and change laws (legislation): For new legislation to become law, the House of Commons and House of Lords must debate, amend and vote on the proposals.  Debate the important issues of the day (debating): Both Houses of Parliament debates in which Members discuss government policy, proposed new laws and topical issues of the day.  Check and approve Government spending (budget/taxes). ITS COMPOSITION. Parliament is formed by three elements: the House of Commons(659 Members), the House of Lords and the Monarchy. The House of Lords and House of Commons meet in separate rooms of the Palace of Westminster ( known as " Houses of Parliament " ) , in London. The House of Lords includes two different types of members: the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal; It is non- elective. Generally the decisions made in one House have to be approved by the other. In the modern era, the real power is held by the democratically elected House of Commons; the Queen acts only as a representative figure, and the powers of the House of Lords are strongly limited. CHECKING THE WORK OF GOVERNMENT. One of Parliament's main roles is to examine and challenge the work of the government. The House of Commons and the House of Lords use similar methods of scrutiny. The principal methods are questioning government ministers, debating and the investigative work of committees. Committees of smaller groups of MPs and/or Lords look at specific policy issues. The government can publicly respond to explain and justify policies and decisions. MPs and Lord question government ministers of the House during the regular oral question times or in writing. Question time takes place for an hour from 2.35 pm on Mondays, 11.35am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 9.35am on Thursdays. Debates in the Commons provide an opportunity for MPs(Ministers of Parliament) to look at the creation and amendment of laws as well as national and international issues and can be on any subject.