House of Commons

• How many MP's are in the House of Commons?

  650
• How many seats are available for MP's?

  427
• What does the Speaker do?

  Is an MP who has been elected by other MP's to act as Chair during debates in the House of Commons

  Ensure that rules are observed and order is maintained in the Chamber
• What do Ministers do?

  • Appointed by Prime Minister
  • Each MP are given a specific area of government policy to oversee
  • They speak on behalf of the government from the frontbenches during parliamentary debates
  • They must answer questions put to them by other MPs.
• What are Government Benches?

  The government benches refer to the seating area in a legislative assembly where members of the ruling party or coalition sit.

  Government sit to the right of the Speaker
• What is the national government responsible for?

  • Developing and implementing policy
  • Drafting laws
• What are the Opposition Benches?

  The seating area in a legislative chamber where members of the opposition party sit. They sit opposite the government
• What are Serjeant at arms?

  responsible for security and keeping order within the commons section of Parliament

  They carry the commons mace during the Speaker's procession before each day's sitting
• What is the Clerk?

  Principal constitutional adviser to the Commons - manages the contract and leases regarding the property of the House of Commons
• Representation

  MPs represent their constituents, they also represent a range of knowledge, backgrounds and political parties
• Debate

  MPs can debate issues arising for the country and time is allocated for the Oppositions parties to debate issues of their choosing
• Scrutiny


  MPs can hold the government account through Prime Ministers Questions and Ministerial Questions offer the opportunity to check and challenge the government's policies.

  There are opportunities for the opposition and backbench MPs to put forward topics for debates - useful opportunity for scrutiny
• Urgent Questions


  Can be put forward on a daily basis in response to current affairs.