Parliament (also known as the House of Commons and the House of Lords) is a legislative institution that performs three core functions: representing citizens’ interests, passing laws and overseeing government action via inquiries and hearings. Some contexts restrict the term to parliamentary systems, while others use it to refer to any elected legislative body. Parliaments are generally unicameral or bicameral although more complex models exist, including tricameralism.
A key function of Parliament is its role in holding the executive to account, with the ultimate sanction being the passage of a motion of no confidence that removes support for a government and triggers a General Election. Parliament also scrutinises the government through select committees, which generally mirror government departments and work on a specific policy area (although some are cross-cutting), by conducting inquiries and questioning ministers. Following a series of reforms, select committees are becoming more independent and prominent.
The other primary means of scrutiny and accountability is the ability of MPs to ask questions of ministers in the House of Commons chamber, and especially through the high-profile Prime Minister’s Questions session. Ministers must also answer urgent questions if the Speaker of the House determines that an issue is of public importance.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords are made up of members elected to represent specific constituencies, which helps to make Parliament a more responsive body to local issues. However, some argue that the House of Lords is less representative in terms of its make-up and connection with constituencies and that there are not enough opportunities for the public to contribute to the agenda through e-petitions and other citizen initiatives.
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