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The British Parliament-House of Commons Page 01 THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT-HOUSE OF COMMONS PAGE 01 Table of Contents 1. Letter from the Chair 2. Introduction 3. Members of the Parliament (Delegate expectations) 4. Special procedure Topic: Counter terrorism in Great Britain a. History of terrorism in the United Kingdom b. Threat of terrorism at Home c. Role and Scope of the Security Agencies d. Border Security and Migrant Crisis 6. QARMAs 7. Recommended bibliography 8. References GOING BEYOND PAGE 2 1. Letter from the Chair. Dear Members of Parliament, It is our honour to welcome you to EAFITMUN and to the committee. We are Eduardo Tisnes Zapata, law student at EAFIT University and Federico Freydell Mesa, law student at El Rosario University, and we will be chairing EAFITMUN’s House of Commons. The last few years, have put this House under pressure for reasons involving the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, overseas and domestic terrorism and security crises; the flow of migrants from the Middle East and Africa and the lack of political consensus between the Government and the Opposition. The challenges you will face in the committee will not only require from you background academic knowledge, but they will demand your best abilities to negotiate between parties and to propose solutions that work best for the British people, meeting halfway and reaching across the House. As it is obvious we cannot have 650 MPs, therefore we will try to reproduce the Commons’ majorities and parties representation in the House. Nevertheless, no party will hold an overall majority, making solution and policymaking more challenging. Even though the main focus of this committee will be counter terrorism and border security, we expect the House to be able to address all sorts of issues that may arise. In addition we expect the highest level of debates, both in and out of the House Chamber, and the best bills you can propose and negotiate! Finally, and although this is an innovative and challenging committee, we hope that in the three days of debate and negotiation, you enjoy the EAFITMUN experience, meet new people and reach possible and innovative solutions. We are both looking forward to meeting you all, The Chair, Eduardo Tisnes Zapata Federico Freydell Mesa [email protected] [email protected] GOING BEYOND PAGE 3 2. Introduction The House of Commons is the lower house of the Through these functions,the House can have a close Parliament of the United Kingdom. In addition, it is control of Government. Nevertheless, regarding the public elected house of Parliament, in contrast some affairs of national security, the Government is to the House of Lords, where members are not obliged to inform or brief the House before. appointed by Her Majesty the Queen, who are hereditary peers or members of the Church of Making laws is a function shared with the Lords, England. The House is located in the Palace of albeit,n since 1911, the upper house lost its veto Westminster in London, and its official name is right over the Commons, and was restricted in its the Honourable the Commons of the United capacity to delay legislation. Nonetheless, while Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in laws may origin in the Lords as well, since 1911 Parliament Assembled (Parliament, 2018). important laws come from the Commons and are usually approved by the peers. Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected in general elections that are usually heldevery 5 years. Historically, snap elections could be called at any moment by the Prime Minister; however, after the Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011 2.1. History (Parliament, 2011), those powers were greatly Although the origins of Parliament can be traced limited. Today, snap elections can be called after back to the Norman Conquest and the reign of King the Parliament is dissolved as a result of a non William I, the most relevant event occurred in 1215, confidence vote (which usually occurs in the case with the sealing of Magna Carta by King John I. The of a hung parliament or political gridlock), or Great Charter (alternative name given to Magna through the vote of two-thirds of the vote of Carta) was the result of ten days of negotiations Parliament. A hung Parliament occurs when no between the King and rebel Barons; the Barons had party has an overall majority of 326 MPs. revolted over the excessive taxation and the governance of the King. Even though the King had The main four functions of the House consist in an organised administrative system (Britannica, (a) checking and challenging the work of the 2018), the Barons pushed as well for the Government, (b) making and amending laws, (c) recognition of individual liberties and the debating current affairs relevant to the country acknowledging that law applied to everyone, and (d) revising Government spending and funding including the Monarch. The Charter of 1215 was the (Parliament, 2018). first of a series of documents declaring the “rule of law” in England, setting the foundations for a representative government. GOING BEYOND PAGE 4 Parliamentary rights over the Crown were In 1911 the Parliament Act was passed after the reaserted in 1688 with the Glorious Revolution. Lord’s rejection of the “People’s Budget”; the Act One year later Parliament passed the Bill of removed the Lord’s right to veto bills coming from Rights, a declaration that embodied a series of the Commons. The House of Lords can now only individual liberties and public duties related to delay legislation related to money by one month and religion and the Crown. In 1707 both Parliaments other legislation by two years. They can only veto of England and Scotland passed the Acts of Union, bills extending the life of Parliament. Although, bills uniting England and Scotland and giving birth to may originate from any House, important bills Great Britain, both Parliaments united and for the usually come from the Commons. first time 45 Scottish MPs sat at Westminster (Parliament, 2010). Post-war Parliament was not reformed very often. PM Harold Macmillan introduced Prime Minister’s As King George II, from the House of Hannover, Questions in 1961, where the entire House can lived outside the country, he appointed Robert inquire the Government on current affairs, a Walpole First Lord of the Treasury, he was in tradition that has been held weekly by all charge of His Majesty’s Government and thus, Governments ever since. Since then, the House of considered to be the first Prime Minister (PM). Commons has sought to be more open to the public, The position of Prime Minister has existed ever allowing strangers to enter the House as spectators since under the principle of “primus inter pares”, and broadcasting debates by radio and television first among equals; for this, the Prime Minister since 1990. Under the Blair Government and its has always been a member of either house of policy of devolution of powers, extensive Parliament and holds the office of the First Lord prerogatives were transferred to the Scottish of the Treasury as well. As it happened with Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scotland, the Act of Union of 1800 unified the National Assembly for Wales in 1999. That same Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland; 100 Irish year, the House of Lords Act gets Royal Assent, this MPs were sent to Westminster. In 1801, the first restricted the number of hereditary peers to 92 in Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain the House of Lords (Parliament, 2010). and Ireland met (Parliament, 2010). GOING BEYOND PAGE 5 2.2. The House of Lords 2.3. The Westminster System The House of Lords is the upper house of the The Westminster System (WS) is the government Parliament of the United Kingdom. As stated system ruling the United Kingdom and most of the before, it has lost power in relation to the Commonwealth of Nations’ member states. It gets Commons, but still, they can propose new laws its name from the tradition of government at and debate on proposed bills by the Commons. Westminster Palace, that is of course, the British They can still delay legislation and hold the Parliament (Public Service Commission of NSW, Government accountable. Even though the House 2013). Although the United Kingdom does not have of Lords still holds a significant role, the House of a written constitution, the group of laws and Commons can pass bills and can seek directly traditions have developed the system and have set Royal Assent without consulting the Lords. it as the structure of our government and political Although the Lords can attend Commons’ sessions, system. they cannot vote or speak. The Queen, who can sit and participate at the House of Lords cannot The Westminster System (WS) has the following enter the Commons’ Chamber. Members of the characteristics (Public Service Commission of NSW, Royal Family holding titles of dukes, marquesses, 2013) (they have been adapted to the United earls, viscounts, barons or baronets are entitled to Kingdom): sit at the House of Lords. a. A head of state. In the UK, Her Majesty (HM) Its members can either be part of party or be Queen Elizabeth II. As a constitutional monarch, HM crossbenchers, not officially joining a political the Queen holds limited political, but large party. As the House of Commons, the House of ceremonial powers. In other countries with the WS Lords has a Lord Speaker, elected among the the head of state might have the title of President, members of the House. Governor-General, etc. The House of Lords is made up of 785 peers that b.
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