The UK Parliament is the legislative body of the United Kingdom, responsible for making laws, scrutinizing the government, and representing the interests of the people. It is made up of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The House of Commons is the lower chamber of Parliament, with 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the people in general elections held every five years. The party that wins the most seats forms the government, and the leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister. The role of the House of Commons is to pass laws, approve government spending, and hold the government to account through debates, questions, and committee inquiries.
The House of Lords is the upper chamber of Parliament, with around 800 members who are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. The House of Lords plays a role in scrutinising legislation passed by the House of Commons, but it does not have the power to block or veto legislation. Its main role is to act as a revising chamber, scrutinising and amending legislation and providing expertise and experience on a range of issues.
The UK Parliament has a number of important functions, including:
Passing laws: The primary function of Parliament is to make laws, which are proposed by the government or by individual MPs.
Scrutinising the government: Parliament holds the government to account through debates, questions, and committee inquiries, and can require government ministers to appear before Parliament to answer questions.
Representing the people: MPs and Lords represent the interests of their constituents and act as a link between the people and the government.
Approving government spending: Parliament approves the government's budget and has the power to scrutinise and approve government spending.
The UK Parliament plays a vital role in the UK's democratic system, ensuring that laws are made and implemented in the interests of the people and that the government is held to account for its actions.
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