Guides

All the major political parties have representation in the Lords. Until the removal of the hereditary peers, the Conservatives had a substantial in-built majority, which continues to remain to an extent. In practice, the Conservatives and Labour are now reasonably in terms of working peers, with the Liberal Democrats having sufficient numbers to swing key...Read More

Pillar three relates to justice and home affairs (JHA), another highly sensitive political area. As such, decision-making under pillar three continues to be primarily intergovernmental. This is probably the least developed area of EU common policy, because of the cultural and legal barriers to harmonisation and the implications it has for national sovereignty. Indeed, the...Read More

Pillar two relates to common foreign and security policy (CFSP). The Maastricht Treaty provides for the EU to develop CFSP, covering all areas of foreign and security policy with the following objectives: 1. To safeguard the common values, interests, independence and integrity of the EU, in conformity with the UN Charter 2. To protect the...Read More

Plaid Cymru emerged from the 2005 general election with somewhat disappointing results. It lost the Ceredigion seat to the Liberal Democrats and saw its overall representation fall to three points, its lowest level since 1992. Its share of the vote was also down, leaving the party with just 12.6%. But things change. In 2006, the...Read More

In our guide to plenary sessions in the Scottish Parliament you will find useful information regarding the business agenda of Parliament decided by the Parliamentary Bureau, how debates and motions are tabled in Parliament, the rules of weekly question sessions, voting in the Parliament and the passing of legislation including which areas the Scottish Parliament...Read More

Our guide to plenary sessions provides information on how business agendas and debates are tabled, the passage of legislation, and voting processes in the Assembly. To find out more on this issue click through our guide to plenary sessions in the Welsh Assembly.Read More

If an MP believes another MP has broken the procedural rules of the House, a Point of Order may be raised with Speaker. Points of order may be taken by the chair at any time except during oral questions or statements and prior notice may have been given. The accusing MP makes the case and...Read More

The Treaty of Rome set the EU the task of promoting the harmonious development of economic activities, balanced and continuous expansion, increased stability, rising living standards and closer relations between member states "by establishing a common market and progressively approximating the economic policies of member states". Ensuring that the benefits of economic policy are evenly...Read More

Once the political decision has been taken to pursue a specific policy or legislative objective, work on drafting a proposal begins within the relevant DG. Most initial proposals are drafted by a middle-ranking 'A' grade civil servant, and is gradually passed upwards (being revised throughout) through the DG's hierarchy, to the commissioner's cabinet, to the...Read More

Political parties become governments by winning elections having put a manifesto containing policy proposals to voters. But not all policies that a government makes while in power can be found in these documents and regardless of where an idea originated, most go through some development within government prior to implementation. Policy-making can take a number...Read More

Increasingly new pieces of government legislation are published in draft about one Session ahead of their intended introduction and passage. Draft Bills are normally subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny at the hands of a joint-committee of MPs and peers formed for that purpose. Such a committee will take evidence from individuals and organisations who express an...Read More

Increasingly new pieces of government legislation are published in draft about one Session ahead of their intended introduction and passage. Draft Bills are normally subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny at the hands of a joint-committee of MPs and peers formed for that purpose. Such a committee will take evidence from individuals and organisations who express an...Read More

Primary legislation (Bills and Acts) is split into two categories – Public Bills and Private Bills (with Hybrid Bills in a sub-category between the two). Public Bills are pieces of legislation that affect everyone and every organisation in the same way. For example, a Bill that introduces a new driving offence applies to everyone who...Read More

Primary legislation (Bills and Acts) is split into two categories – Public Bills and Private Bills (with Hybrid Bills in a sub-category between the two). Public Bills are pieces of legislation that affect everyone and every organisation in the same way. For example, a Bill that introduces a new driving offence applies to everyone who...Read More

The Scottish parliament may legislate on any issue that is not in a reserved area. To become law, a bill must be introduced to the parliament, be considered and passed by MSPs, be agreed by the UK government and be given Royal Assent. A bill can be introduced in three ways: Executive bills are introduced...Read More

The head of the British Government is the Prime Minister. The leader of the largest party in the House of Commons is by convention asked by the monarch to be Prime Minister and to form a government. This can only take place after the loser of the election has conceded defeat and tendered his or...Read More

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman or PMOS is a civil servant charged with presenting the Prime Minister and the Government to the media in the best light possible, whilst maintaining the independence and objectivity of the Civil Service. The PMOS briefs press and broadcast journalists most weekdays when Parliament is sitting, giving the Prime Minister's...Read More

Prime Minister's Questions (widely known as PMQs) is the set-piece of the Parliamentary week. The Prime Minister comes to the Commons at noon every Wednesday when Parliament is sitting and answers questions from back-benchers and opposition leaders. Unlike other oral question sessions, the Prime Minister has no foreknowledge of what is to be asked, although...Read More

While the procedure for Private Bills mirrors that for Public Bills, additional weight is given to those individuals and organisations 'directly or specially' affected by proposals, given that the legislation would favour an individual or organisation over a comparable individual or organisation. An application requesting a Private Bill must be lodged with the House authorities...Read More