Role of Parliament

• House of Commons
• House of Lords
• Crown(Queen)

• Legislates
  • HC is responsible for creating most laws produced each year.
    
  • Majority of these laws are proposed to fulfil the claims set in the governments manifesto.
  • Backbencher MPs can also introduce law as a Private Members' bill.
• Debates
  • House must debate, scrutinise and vote on whether to approve the bill.
  • House hold debates on government policy, new laws and major issues of  the day.
  • MPs are able to represent and put forward views of their constituents.
• Spend Public Money
  • Government must gain permission from majority of MPs in the HC to raise taxes and spend money.
  • Only the HC is responsible for approving measures to increase taxes.
• Scrutinises the Government
  • The Commons hold the government to account (Public Accounts Comittee)
    

• Legislates
  • Proposes and introduces bills of a less contraversial nature, therefore easing the burden on the HC
  • Refines the law proposed by HC by adding technical improvements after scrutinising it and revising it.
  • Spends two thirds of its time on legislation
• Scrutinises the Government
  • It is the Chambers which question the Government, reviews government policy and matters of current concern
  • Makes the government 'think again' by making major amendments to bills
• Debates
  • Debates, scrutinises and votes of bills. Can vote against a bill but has limited power to stop it becoming law. They can delay a law for up to one year (Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949)
• Experties
  • Many peers sit on specialist committees eg; European Union Comittee to scrutinise proposed European Legislation
    

The Crown has a limited role in the legislative process:

• Opens Parliament at the beginning of each session which she reads a speech announcing the forthcoming proposals for legislation by the government for that session
• Gives Royal Assent to bills (Stamp of approval)
• Appoint and dismiss the PM