The House of Commons is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the House of Lords as the upper house. It is the primary legislative body responsible for making laws and holding the government accountable.
congrats on reading the definition of House of Commons. now let's actually learn it.
The House of Commons is the democratically elected chamber of the UK Parliament, with members (Members of Parliament or MPs) elected through a first-past-the-post system.
The House of Commons is responsible for initiating most legislation, including bills related to taxation and government spending, and has the power to approve or reject legislation passed by the House of Lords.
The leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons typically becomes the prime minister, who then selects a cabinet from among the members of Parliament.
The House of Commons holds the government accountable through mechanisms such as question time, where MPs can ask the prime minister and other ministers questions about their policies and actions.
The size of the House of Commons has varied over time, but it currently has 650 seats, with each member representing a specific geographic constituency.
Review Questions
Explain the role of the House of Commons in a parliamentary system of government.
In a parliamentary system, the House of Commons is the primary legislative body responsible for making laws and holding the government accountable. As the democratically elected chamber of the UK Parliament, the House of Commons initiates most legislation, including bills related to taxation and government spending. The leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons typically becomes the prime minister, who then selects a cabinet from among the members of Parliament. The House of Commons also holds the government accountable through mechanisms such as question time, where members of Parliament can ask the prime minister and other ministers questions about their policies and actions.
Compare the role of the House of Commons in a parliamentary system to the role of the legislature in a presidential system.
In a parliamentary system, the House of Commons is the primary legislative body and has a more direct influence over the executive branch, as the prime minister and cabinet are drawn from and dependent on the support of the legislative branch. In contrast, in a presidential system, the legislature and executive branch are more independent, with the president as the head of the executive branch and the legislature having a more limited role in selecting and overseeing the executive. Additionally, the House of Commons in a parliamentary system has the power to approve or reject legislation passed by the upper house (the House of Lords), whereas in a presidential system, the legislature and executive branch have more distinct and separate powers.
Analyze the role of the House of Commons in a bicameral parliamentary system, such as the UK, and how it differs from a unicameral system.
In a bicameral parliamentary system like the UK, the House of Commons is the lower house of the legislature and plays a crucial role in the legislative process. As the democratically elected chamber, the House of Commons is responsible for initiating most legislation and has the power to approve or reject bills passed by the upper house, the House of Lords. This creates a system of checks and balances between the two chambers. In contrast, a unicameral system has a single legislative body, which combines the functions of both the lower and upper houses. Without the separation of powers between two chambers, a unicameral system may have less extensive checks and balances on the legislative process, potentially giving the ruling party or coalition more influence over the passage of laws.
Related terms
Bicameral System: A system of government where the legislative branch is divided into two separate chambers or houses, typically an upper house and a lower house.
A system of government where the executive branch is dependent on the direct or indirect support of the legislative branch, often involving a prime minister as the head of government.
A group of the most senior government ministers, headed by the prime minister, who are collectively responsible for the policies and actions of the executive branch.