Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City

University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Group 2
•Trang Kim Ngân
•Lê Hoàng Khương Linh
•Tạ Thị Hòa
•Võ Thị Lam Tường
•Lê Nguyễn Thùy Trâm
•Phạm Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Giàu
 Table of contents
I. History
II. Layout and Main positions
III. The procedure of making law
IV. The party system
V. Roles
VI. Members
I. The History of the House of Commons
 THE BRITISH
PARLIAMENT

What is the UK
parliament?

Politicians ( MPs) meet to

decide laws and make
decisions for the United
Kingdom.

The jobs Parliament does is

to check that the
Government is running the
country properly.
The British Parliament works in a large building called the Palace of Westminster.
( " THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT")

The House of Commons The House of Lords

 THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS
*Start from the 2nd half of the 13th century:

- Landholders and other property owners send representatives to Parliament

=> To present grievances and petitions to the king and to accept commitments to the
payment of taxes.

*In the 14th century:

- The knights and burgess chosen as representatives began sitting in a separate chamber, or "
house", from that used by the nobles and high clergy.
II. House of Commons – Layout and Main positions
 The lower house >< More powerful one

Constituencies in the UK
England 533
Scotland 59
Number of MPs: 650 –
representing 650 constituencies Wales 40
Northern Ireland 18
The UK 650
 The The
Government Opposition

The Commons Chamber

 Frontbenchers

The Opposition The Government

Leader of the Opposition Prime Minister
Keir Starmer Boris Johnson
 The The
Government Opposition
L I N D S AY
HOYLE
 “We shape
our
buildings
and
afterwards
our
buildings
shape us.”
Winston
Churchill
III. The procedure of making law
How does
a bill
become
a law ?
 The
government
-
place a greater
control over
the Internet

Present the Outline a

government’s firmer plan for
ideas for future government
policy policy
 Opposition
parties

Public Governing
inquiries parties

Campaign Civil
groups servants
 Report stage Consideration of
First reading
amendments

Second
reading Third reading Royal Assent

Committee House of
stage Lords

The procedure of making a law

IV. The party system in the House of Commons
 A. The relationship between Parties and
• MPs.
MPs belong to different political
parties and nearly always vote their
party.
• The party with the most MPs elected
will form the Government (the
Conservative Party).
• The Official Opposition is the
Labour Party.
• Liberal Party doesn’t have many
MPs
• The independent MPs don’t belong
to any parties .
• House of Commons choose a cabinet
of 20 senior ministers.
Why do MPs belong to different political parties?

There are national

The 650 MPs could parties specific to that
come from any country who are MPs
political parties. for their party relating
to that country.
 B. The role of Whips

• Make sure the maximum number of their party members vote,

and vote the way their party wants.

• Be responsible for arranging the business of Parliament.

• Work as intermediaries between backbenchers and

frontbenchers.
V. Roles of the House of Commons
1. Legislation

• The House of Commons is the

effective legislative authority

• It alone has the right to impose taxes

and to vote money to, or withhold it
from, the various public departments
and services.
 2. Scrutiny of the government

• Main role is to examine and challenge the work of

the government. Scrutiny: MPs need to
know what the
• Every week, for half an hour, the Prime Minister Government is doing
comes to the House of Commons to answer and why. They can do
questions from MPs. Ministers from each that by asking questions
government department attend the Commons on a and requesting
rota basis to answer questions. information or by
carrying out in-depth
 The government can publicly respond to explain
inquiries.
and justify policies and decisions.
 3. Debate the issues of the day

Debates in the Commons provide

an opportunity for MPs to:
• Discuss the big political issues
of the day and proposals for new
laws.
• Look at the creation and
amendment of laws as well as
national and international issues.
• Discuss the Government policy
and other topical issues of the
day.
VI. Members of the House of Commons
 Qualifications:
Over 18

A citizen of United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Commonwealth of

Nations.

Be nominated by 10 parlimentary electors.

Pay a £500 deposit.

Stand for a specific party.

 Disqualifications
Members of :
• The House of Lord
• Welsh Parliament
• National Assembly for Wales/ Northern Ireland Assembly

The subject of Bankruptcy Restrictions Order ( in England and Wales).

Prisoners
 • Traditionally, MPs ordinary people.
• Were not even paid until the
IN THE beginning of 20th century.
PAST  Had powerful and wealthy
background.

SALARY

• Even now, do not get paid very much.

AT THE • From 1/4/2020, the basic annual salary
PRESENT for an MP: £81,932.
• Receive expenses.
Working condition
• MPs have extremely
busy lives
 “The theory is that a member of
Parliament should not do just one
job”

MP PATRICK MERCER
Politicians have a higher rate of divorce than the
national average.
o Do not leave much time for their families.
o Could not return home everyday.
Thank you for listening!