The House of Commons is one of the two chambers of the UK Parliament, alongside the House of Lords. It is made up of 650 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) who represent constituencies across the UK.
The House of Commons is responsible for making and passing laws, as well as scrutinising and holding the government to account. It is led by the Speaker of the House, who is responsible for maintaining order and ensuring that debates are conducted fairly and efficiently.
The House of Commons has a number of important functions. Firstly, it is responsible for electing the Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the House. The Prime Minister then forms the government, which is responsible for setting policy and implementing laws.
Secondly, the House of Commons is responsible for passing legislation. Bills (proposed laws) can be introduced by the government, individual MPs, or committees of the House. The House debates the bill in a number of stages, and if it is passed, it moves on to the House of Lords for further scrutiny and approval.
Thirdly, the House of Commons is responsible for holding the government to account. MPs can ask questions of government ministers, table motions for debate, and initiate parliamentary inquiries into specific issues. This allows the House to scrutinise the government's policies and actions, and to ensure that they are acting in the best interests of the UK.
The House of Commons is a vital institution in the UK's democratic and constitutional system. It provides a forum for debate and decision-making, and ensures that the government is accountable to the people it serves.
You can learn more about this topic and relevant case law with our Public Law notes.
