Parliament

Parliament in United Kingdom

Parliament

Introduction to Parliament

British Parliament, supreme legislature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists, technically, of the Crown, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons, but when commonly referred to, it means the House of Commons and House of Lords. Today the main legislative chamber is the House of Commons; its members alone are called members of Parliament. Parliament is the legislative branch of government. No statute may become law or be altered or repealed, nor may taxes be levied, without its consent. Thus, all powers of local government derive from Parliamentary acts. Cabinet members, including the prime minister, are members of one house or the other and are collectively responsible to the House of Commons. The House of Lords is the highest court of appeal in Britain’s judicial system.” (1)

Meaning of Parliament

The following is an old definition of Parliament [1]: The supreme legislature of Great Britain, consisting of the queen, or king, the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons. Assembles, at the queen’s summons, at least once in three years. Each constituent has a negative in making laws. The powers ate absolute. Each house judges of its own privileges. Members are entitled to the privileges of speech, person, domestics, and property. The distinctive duties of the house of lords are to sit as a court of review, and to mature bills affecting the peerage. The distinctive duties of the house of commons are to impose taxes, to vote money for the public service, and to determine matters concerning the election of its members. Bills are read twice in each house, committed, engrossed, and then read a third time. Concurrence in the three branches makes a bill a law. The houses may ” adjourn ” themselves; but the queen alone can “prorogue” (postpone) or ” dissolve ” parliament. See Contempt; House; King.

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Concept of Parliament provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)

Resources

Notes and References

  • Information about Parliament in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia
  • Guide to Parliament

    Parliament Meaning in Politics

    Description of Parliament published by Mona Chalabi: Made up of three parts (the crown, the House of Commons and the House of Lords), this is where laws are made.

    Definition of Stages Of A Bill Through Parliament

    A bill goes through a number of stages before it becomes an act.

    Parliament Meaning, as used in the UK Parliament

    The United Kingdom Parliament is made up of three parts – the Crown, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Parliament’s main functions are to conduct debates, to make and change legislation (laws) and to check the work of Government.

    A Parliament is also the period of parliamentary time between one general election and the next.

    Meaning of Parliament

    The following is an old definition of Parliament [1]: The supreme legislature of Great Britain, consisting of the queen, or king, the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons. Assembles, at the queen’s summons, at least once in three years. Each constituent has a negative in making laws. The powers ate absolute. Each house judges of its own privileges. Members are entitled to the privileges of speech, person, domestics, and property. The distinctive duties of the house of lords are to sit as a court of review, and to mature bills affecting the peerage. The distinctive duties of the house of commons are to impose taxes, to vote money for the public service, and to determine matters concerning the election of its members. Bills are read twice in each house, committed, engrossed, and then read a third time. Concurrence in the three branches makes a bill a law. The houses may ” adjourn ” themselves; but the queen alone can “prorogue” (postpone) or ” dissolve ” parliament. See Contempt; House; King.

    Resources

    Notes and References

    1. Concept of Parliament provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)

    Resources

    See Also

    • Government

    Meaning of Parliament

    The following is an old definition of Parliament [1]: The supreme legislature of Great Britain, consisting of the queen, or king, the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons. Assembles, at the queen’s summons, at least once in three years. Each constituent has a negative in making laws. The powers ate absolute. Each house judges of its own privileges. Members are entitled to the privileges of speech, person, domestics, and property. The distinctive duties of the house of lords are to sit as a court of review, and to mature bills affecting the peerage. The distinctive duties of the house of commons are to impose taxes, to vote money for the public service, and to determine matters concerning the election of its members. Bills are read twice in each house, committed, engrossed, and then read a third time. Concurrence in the three branches makes a bill a law. The houses may ” adjourn ” themselves; but the queen alone can “prorogue” (postpone) or ” dissolve ” parliament. See Contempt; House; King.

    Resources

    Notes and References

    1. Concept of Parliament provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)

    Resources

    See Also

    • Session

    Further Reading


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