How Parliament works

What Parliament does, its role in UK politics, and its relationship with Government, the Crown and Europe

• Checking the work of Government
• Making laws
• Debating
• Check and approve Government spending and taxation
• Parliament's authority
• Relations with other institutions

Since temporary arrangements to enable hybrid proceedings have expired, most MPs have returned to Westminster. Some MPs who are unable to attend physically due to public health reasons are able to participate remotely in some proceedings.

• Commons Chamber proceedings
• Departmental questions and Prime Minister's Questions
• Urgent questions
• Ministerial statements
• Voting

The House of Lords has made changes to the way it works in response to Covid-19.

• Changes to work in the Lords chamber and committee
• Online voting in the House of Lords

What happens in Parliament on a regular basis, including Question Time, Ministerial Statements and Early Day Motions.

• Prayers
• Question Time
• Urgent Questions
• Ministerial statements
• Debates
• Divisions
• What are Early day motions?
• Written questions and answers
• Written ministerial statements
• Judgments

Find out the difference between Bills and Acts, types of Bills and what stages they go through to become law.

• Why are new laws needed?
• What is a draft bill?
• What is a bill?
• How does a bill become a law?
• What is an Act of Parliament?
• What is Secondary Legislation?
• The Parliament Acts

Explanation of the main types of committees: Select, Joint and General.

• Select Committees
• Joint Committees
• General Committees (including Public Bill Committees)
• Grand Committees

Find out how Members of Parliament are elected to the House of Commons, how the Parliamentary constituency system works and what happens at the dissolution of Parliament.

• General elections
• By-elections
• Parliamentary constituencies
• Swearing in and the parliamentary oath
• Voting systems in the UK

Key business and ceremonial events - both regular and occasional - punctuate the parliamentary year.

• Addresses to Members of Parliament
• Parliamentary sessions and sittings
• State Opening of Parliament
• Prorogation
• Recall of Parliament
• Lord Chancellor's breakfast
• Lying-in-state

We produce a series of free guides which you can read online, or contact us to request copies.

• Get Involved guide
• Getting your voice heard
• The House of Commons at work
• You and your MP
• What's happening in your Parliament?
• The Story of Parliament
• Easy Read guides
• House of Lords publications