The functions of Parliament

Parliament's main functions are law-making, authorising taxation and public expenditure and examining government policy, especially proposals for expenditure. It discusses what the Government has done, is doing and intends to do, points to Government errors and attempts to change and modify its policies.

The British Parliament is often referred to as "the Legislative" — the body which makes laws. New laws can only come into force when they have passed through Parliament. A proposal for a new law is known as a "bill". Most bills are introduced by the Government. There are about fifty bills passed each year. Every bill brought in by the Government has been approved first by the Cabinet.

Once the Government has decided to introduce a bill, it is the responsibility of one minister. The preparation of the text often takes many months, with long consultations with civil servants in the minister's department. Bills may be introduced in either House, though the most important bills are submitted to the House of Commons first. Bills dealing with money are an exception and are always introduced in the Commons by a member of the Government, usually the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

According to custom each bill must have three "readings" in the Commons. The "first reading" is, in fact, an announcement that the bill is appearing. The printed text of the bill is then published and circulated. The "second reading" is the main debate on the general principles and objectives of the bill; at the end of the debate a vote is taken. This is an occasion when members of the two main parties vote in blocks. They do as the Whips7 instruct them and there are few deviations. Proposals for amendments are made during this stage.

After passing the second reading the bill must go to a committee for detailed examination, in the course of which there may be proposals for amendment. The committee stage of a bill affecting the Constitution is taken in a Commit­tee of the whole House, in the Commons Chamber, but most bills are sent to small "standing" committees. The minister in charge of a bill will always be a member of the committee. It is usual to speak of the committee amending a bill, but in fact it is really the minister who decides which amendments are to be accepted. Today, the committees are completely dominated by party discipline and the minister can always rely on his party's full support.

After the committee has finished with the bill, the next stage is called "the Report Stage". The House now summarizes the committee stage. The "third reading" is a final review and discussion of the amendments.

Next the bill must go through the same stages in the House of Lords. If the House of Lords should reject a bill passed by the Commons, the bill can go no further for a few months, but if during the following session of Parliament the Commons pass it again, in substantially the same form as before, it must go to the Queen for her signature. The royal assent has not been refused since 1707. Besides legislation, another important function of Parliament is controlling the Government in power and scrutinizing its policies. A Member of Parliament may challenge or disagree with the policy of the Government on two occasions. Firstly, during a debate on a particular bill, when he may object to its general principles and objectives, or during the committee stage he may put forward amendments. Question time also offers a number of oppor­tunities for discussing and criticizing Government policy. Apart from the bills proposed by the government which have been discussed, there are also private Members bills, i.e. MP's who do not hold positions in the Government. Every MP has the right to introduce a Bill, but normally only six days (always Fridays) in each session of Parliament are allowed for the second reading debates on bills put forward by members other than ministers. Usually about 15 to 20 private Members' bills are discussed each year, but not many of them become law.