Understand Parliament, elections and how public decisions are made.
Parliament and government
The UK Parliament has two Houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. MPs in the Commons are elected to represent constituencies. Parliament makes laws, debates issues and scrutinises the government. The government manages the country’s day-to-day policies and public services.
Elections and representation
The UK has 650 parliamentary constituencies. Each elects one MP using first past the post: the candidate with the most votes wins. A by-election fills an individual vacant seat between general elections. Constituents can contact their MP about concerns.
How a law is made
A proposal for a new law is called a Bill. Parliament considers and debates Bills; after parliamentary approval and Royal Assent, a Bill becomes an Act. The Speaker chairs proceedings in the House of Commons and is expected to be politically impartial in that role.
Local and devolved decisions
Some decisions are made by local councils and devolved institutions. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved legislatures. Their powers are not identical, so learn the differences from the current official handbook.
Read further
This is a short revision overview, not a replacement for the official handbook.
The study guides and explanations are available without JavaScript. Enable JavaScript for interactive quizzes and memory games.