Healthcare, education, the environment, international aid, crime...
issues affecting all our lives shaped and driven by Parliament.
But how did it all begin?
What does Parliament do all day and how do you fit in?
Parliament has evolved throughout it's long history to become what it is today,
changing over time to meet the needs of the people.
Two key historical events began this process.
In 1215, King John put his seal on Magna Carta.
He agreed to a list of 63 rules set out by a group of barons.
This ensured, for the first time, that no-one, not even the King, was above the law.
50 years later, Simon De Montfort, for the first time,
invited representatives of the towns and shires to his 1265 Parliament.
These events established the foundations for the representative democracy we have today,
and from this point onwards, the power to make decisions for the nation,
passed, over time, from the Monarch to Parliament.
Let's take a closer look at the UK Parliament today.
You've probably heard of the Government.
The Government's job is to run the country.
Parliament's job is to check and challenge what the Government does.
Let's take a closer look at what happens in Parliament today.
Parliament is made up of three parts:
the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the King or Queen, known as the Monarch.
The House of Commons chamber is where important topics are debated,
laws are discussed and where Members of Parliament, MPs,
can keep an eye on the work of the Government.
There are 650 MPs and each one represents an area of the UK.
These areas are called constituencies.
Most MPs belong to a political party
which is a group of people with similar views on how the country should be run.
Some MPs are independent which means they are without a party.
MPs are voted for by the people in their constituency at General Elections.
The leader of the party that wins the election becomes the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister and their party run the country and are called the Government.
The Prime Minister chooses 20 senior ministers to help manage the work of the Government.
This group of people are known as the Cabinet.
Each senior minister is in charge of leading decision making about a particular area
like education or the health service.
It's their job to make sure their part of Government runs smoothly.
Parties not in power are known as the Opposition.
They take a leading role in checking and challenging the ideas of Government
thorough debates in the chamber.
At the head of the house sits the Speaker.
It's their job to make sure debates are kept in order.
Sometimes they can get very lively.
The Government has been elected to run the country
and Parliament holds the Government to account for us, the public.
But how?
Prime Minister's Questions and Ministerial Questions give MPs and Lords
the opportunity to challenge the Government's policies.
It's in these debates that they can share the views of their constituents,
and the public, and how new policies may affect them.
Another way Parliament can scrutinise, or look in detail,
at the work of Government is through Select Committees.
Select Committees analyse and scrutinise policy.
They’re made up of either MPs, Lords, or a mixture of both.
Together, committee members look at a particular subject
and make recommendations on improvements.
Witnesses with expertise in the area under scrutiny
are called to give evidence which is used to help shape the committee's enquiry.
Members of the public with a view on the subject can also give evidence for consideration.
At the end of an enquiry the committee writes a report with recommendations
that the Government usually responds to within 60 days.
Both houses in Parliament share responsibility for making and shaping laws.
But where do laws come from?
A Bill is a proposal for a new law
or to change an existing law.
It comes from lots of places, like governing and opposition parties,
public enquiries, civil servants or campaign groups.
So how does an idea get turned into a law?
Imagine the Government wanted to place greater controls over the internet.
A proposal, called a Green Paper, is published
which presents the Government's ideas for future policy.
This is open for public discussion with interested groups
like internet service providers and others likely to be affected.
Once findings are gathered, a White Paper is published
which outlines a firmer plan for Government policy.
Cabinet ministers must agree whether the proposal is taken forward.
Once agreed, a Bill is drawn up and the minister responsible for the policy
introduces the Bill to Parliament for debate.
MPs and Members of the House of Lords comment on, debate, or amend the Bill through several stages.
At the end of the process, apart from very rare circumstances,
it must be agreed by both houses.
It's then passed to the monarch, who gives formal approval, or Royal Assent,
and the Bill becomes law, called an Act of Parliament.
In the UK we live in a democracy.
This means power is in the hands of the people through our right to vote.
Throughout history, lots of people in the UK have campaigned
for the voting rights we have today.
There are many types of elections to vote in.
General, Local, European...
Let's take a closer look at how MPs are elected
to the House of Commons through a General Election.
General Elections take place in the UK usually once every five years.
And every seat is up for grabs.
On polling day, voters make a choice from a list of candidates.
The candidate with the most votes then becomes that constituency's MP.
But how would I know who to vote for?
Before elections, candidates need to campaign to get people to vote for them.
Campaigning can involve handing out political leaflets, speaking in public debates,
talking to people during door to door visits, and party political broadcasts.
Parties standing for election publish a declaration
of their policies during the campaign, called a manifesto.
Once elected, an MP represents all their constituents,
even the ones that didn't vote or voted for a different candidate.
The party with the most MPs elected forms the Government
and their leader becomes Prime Minister.
And if there's a hung parliament, where there's no clear winner,
then a minority government or a coalition government may be created,
or a fresh election held.
One way to have a say in how the country is run is to use your vote.
You have to be 18 or over to vote in General Elections,
but you can register from the age of 16.
There are lots of other ways to get involved and have your voice heard, whatever your age.
Remember, MPs represent all of their constituents.
But how?
You can visit an MP in their local constituency office or
you can even travel to the Houses of Parliament to lobby them in Central Lobby.
Lords have knowledge and experience in specific subject areas,
you can look them up by policy interest on the Parliament website.
Anyone can contact any Lord or their local MP by letter, phone or email
to discuss an issue important to them or their community.
Sometimes there is strength in numbers.
You could join the youth section of a party, or the UK Youth Parliament.
If you're passionate about an issue,
you could start a petition for a cause, either on paper or online,
or join an existing campaign, pressure or protest group to influence decision-making.
These groups use different methods to get their voices heard,
from lobbying to peaceful protest, all designed to bring about change.
You can get your voice heard in school or college by joining or starting a Student Council.
A bit like a mini-parliament.
So, Parliament sits at the heart of UK democracy, debating the big issues of the day,
making and shaping laws and holding the Government to account.
By voting, petitioning, campaigning and more,
you can also get involved with the work of Parliament.
What will you do?