Parliament Structure

• Executive and Legislature

  The government comes from people sitting in Parliament. The legislature and executive are fused.
• House of Lords Membership

  The Lords was initially composed of peers, based on hereditary titles.

  The power of Lords declined as the Commons grew.

  In 1958, the Life Peerages Act gave the PM the ability to nominate peers based on merit, lending legitimacy.

  This continued until newLabour reformed the House of Lords.

  The Lords has no size limit, the majority are life peers, however 92 are hereditary peers.

  Life peers are nominated by the HLAC and the PM.
• House of Commons Membership

  650 people elected, one from each constituency.

  Most people can run to be elected, aside from police or armed forces.

  It is unlikely for an independent to win, meaning individuals must work their way through the party political process.

  Frontbench MPs hold a ministerial position, they are more likely to be loyal due to pay and their position.

  Whips are individuals who organise the party's contribution to Parliament.

  The Speaker controls the debates, who can speak and must uphold rules.

  The opposition shadows the governing party and provides scrutiny.