U.63. British Institutions: Parliament, Government, Parties, Electoral Process, and the Crown

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.1. The powers of Parliament

• Houses of Parliament, Westminster

• Two chambers (separate) : House of Lords and House of Commons AND The Sovereign (King Charles III) (Royal Assent).

• May make or repeal any law.

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.2. The functions of Parliament (main)

• Main role → to pass legislation

• Authorises taxation and public expenditure

• Scrutinises the work of the Gvt. and public administration

• Debate major political, economic, and social issues affecting the country.

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.2. The functions of Parliament (secondary)

• Provides a public forum win which government policy can be examined and challenged → this helps inform MPs ad electorate

• Parliamentary committees:

  • Investigates government departments

  • Examine proposed legislation

  • Produces reports on matters of public concern.

• IMPORTANT! Negotiation of international treaties is reserved to the Royal Prerogative exercised by the Government.

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.3. Meeting of Parliament

• Parliament’s max duration of 5 years, unless disolved beforehand.

• Business of Parliament are organised in sessions.

• Election → Parliament dissolves → sessions begin in Autumn with State Opening and the King’s Speech. (Deals with legislative programme and main policy goals for next session)

• Recesses:

  • Christmas

  • Easter

  • Summer

  • Summoned under emergencies

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.4. The House of Lords. Peerage.

• Non-hereditary: Granted by the Sovereign on the advice of PM (life peerages cannot be inherited)

• Lords Spiritual: Members of the Church of England

• House of Lords Act (1999): 92 hereditary peerages → when vacancy, successor elected internally

• 800 MEMBERS (more or less), one of the biggest in the world.

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.4. The House of Lords. Functions.

• Main function→ revising chambers and examining bills passed by HoC (only have the power to delay bills and tell HoC to reconsider and cannot normally present legislation to become law)

• Proposes amendments

• Scrutinises delegated legislation and debates matters of importance

• Presided by Lord Speaker

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.5. The House of Commons

• Principal legislative chamber

• Divided by: Government + coalition, Speaker and Deputy Speaker (explain, tie), and Opposition and other Parties.

• Functions:

  • Exercises democratic control over Government.

  • Government ministers regularly answer questions from MPs, participates in debates, and defends proposed legislation.

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.6. The passing of laws.

BILL (introduced by the Government (HoC) → First reading (formal stage, Bill read and copies to members) → Second reading (debate: “Should it continue the legislative process?") If Yes → Examination by Public Bill Committee or Committee of the Whole House (these may propose amendments → Returns to House, Report Stage → Accepted by HoC and HoL → Royal Assent → Bill becomes ACT OF PARLIAMENT.

** Individual MPs and HoL may introduce a Private Members’ Bill (rare)

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.7. Parliamentary control

• In addition to detailed scrutiny by selected committees, HoC provides several opportunities for Opposition and Government to examine/challenge policies:

  • Question Time → questions to Ministers on their work (either spoken or written, Hansard, official report of Parliamentary debates)

  • PMQs → normally held on Wednesdays, questions from Leader of the Opposition and other parties.

2. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 2.7. Parliamentary control. Principle of confidence, Whips, and Party discipline.

• Government is controlled by HoC under a principle of confidence → vote of no confidence → resignation / dissolution of Parliament and elections

• Whips are the ones whom political parties rely on to organise parliamentary business:

  • Party whips inform Members of forthcoming business and importance of particular votes (1,2,3)

  • Three-line whip = strongest instruction to attend vote with party. If not attended = expulsion form the party.

• Party discipline is stronger in HoC than HoL, because HoL members are not elected and many sit as independent Cross-bench peers with no party affiliation.

3. THE GOVERNMENT. 3.0. Introduction

• Formed by:

  • PM

  • Ministers appointed by the Sovereign on PM’s advice

  • Supported by Government Whips

• Functions:

  • Developing and implementing public policy

  • Administering the country

  • Proposing legislation to Parliament

3. THE GOVERNMENT. 3.1. The Prime Minister. Election.

• Unlike Spain, PM isn’t formally elected by a vote of investiture in Parliament → following a general election, the Sovereign appoints PM as a person most likely to commend confidence of HoC (Lead Party with majority of seats rules without coalition)

• Procedures for electing leaders within parties:

  • Labour → ballot of party members, affiliated supporters, and eligible trade union members

  • Conservative → through process involving MPs and party members

3. THE GOVERNMENT. 3.1. The Prime Minister. Current PM and his roles.

• Andy Burnham (Labour Party). Elected July, 2026. Resides at 10, Downing Street, Westminster, London.

• Roles:

  • Chair Cabinet meetings

  • Allocates responsibilities among ministers

  • Advices Sovereign on affairs through regular private audiences

  • Represents the UK and leading role in foreign and domestic policy.

3. THE GOVERNMENT. 3.2. Departmental Ministers

• Every government department is led by a Minister

• Chancellor of the Exchequer → economy, taxation, national budget

• Foreign Secretaries → foreign affairs, international relations

• Home Secretaries → policing, immigration, internal security

• Secretaries of State → defence, education, health, social care, justice, etc.

** Secretaries of State are assisted by Junior Ministers and Parliament Under-Secretaries

3. THE GOVERNMENT. 3.3. The Cabinet

• The Cabinet:

  • Principal decision-making body of Gvt.

  • More or less 20 senior Ministers, size varies

  • Members appointed by Sovereign (OAotPM)

• Responsibilities:

  • Determining Government’s overall policy

  • Coordinating departments

  • Resolving major political issues

  • Agreeing on legislative programme presented to Parliament

  • Most important issues of the Nation.

**Collective ministerial responsibility is an essential principle of British system. Any minsiter who cannot accept an agreed policy will be expelled from the Party.

3. THE GOVERNMENT. 3.4. The local government.

• Operates with a significant level of authority and may vary (England, Scotland, NI, Wales)

• Organised through:

  • County councils

  • District councils

  • Metropolitan boroughs (like LDN)

  • Unitary authorities

  • Policing, fire, rescue… may be administered by separate authorities

• FUNDED from local taxation, business rates and GVT GRANTS

• Councillors → elected by local residents on a 4 year term (may vary)

• Councils elect a mayor, council leader, or chair (depends on local gvt.)

• In most authorities:

  • Mayor → representative functions

  • Council leader → political exercise