The Parliament is an indispensable part of UK politics. It plays several major roles.
It scrutinizes the work of the Government
It deliberates and passes laws for the legislature
Empowering the Government to raise revenues
The Two – House System
The Parliament in UK is functions in 2 houses – The House of Commons and The House of Lords. However both the Houses indulge in similar types of job. Both the Houses scrutinize the work of the Government, deliberate and pass laws for the legislature and also debate on the current issues. Apart from these, the House of Commons is also responsible for generating money for the Government by approving Bills that raise taxes. Usually when one House makes a decision, the other House has to approve the same also. The two tier system acts as check and balance for each other.
The House of Commons
The members of the House of Commons are publicly elected members. The party that enjoys the majority in the house of Government forms the Government. The members of the House of Commons are popularly known as MP’s. The MP’s discuss and debate on the big political issues of the day and put forward proposals for new laws. It is the office of the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the other principal figures of the main political parties. Decisions on financial Bills are taken by the House of Commons only. They deal with subjects like new taxes that are about to be implemented. The House of Lords can have these Bills in their agenda for discussion but they cannot block or change them.
The House of Lords
The members of the House of Lords are mostly appointed by the Queen. A fixed member are elected and the rest are the members of the Church of England archbishops and bishops. The house of Lords acts as a revising body for the house of Commons and it adds to the works of the House of Commons. The House of Lords is also considered to be the apex court of the land. It is the Supreme Court of England. Salaried, full timed judges, who are called Law Lords carry out the judicial works.
