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FIND YOUR WAY... Almost everywhere we look and in every choice we make Parliament has played a role, from the laws that govern our day-to-day lives to the public services we use and the role of the UK in the global community. CONTENTS This guide takes you to the heart of Parliament and helps you find your way through the history, people and processes. You can also find out how to get Highlights Page 2 involved and make your voice heard. History Page 4 Whether you are studying for a qualification or simply Democracy Page 6 looking for more information about politics and The Constitution Page 8 Parliament, this guide is for you. The EU Page 10 Look out for the topics and icons that suit you and the Parliament Page 12 House of Commons Page 14 next steps you can take to find out more. House of Lords Page 16 Legislation Page 18 KEY Elections and Voting Page 20 Political Parties Page 24 Pressure Groups Page 26 Get Involved Page 28 THE JARGON TALKING POINT TEn… DID YOU KNOW? NEXT STEPS Definitions of key Debate and Ten facts Facts, statistics Where to go to words and phrases discussion points not to miss and quotations find out more WESTMINSTER HALL History, page 4: Follow the history of Parliament, from its medieval origins through to votes for women and HIGHLIGHTS up to the present day. CENTRAL LOBBY Lobbying, page 26: Find out Westmin ster Hall how pressure groups have their say in the political process and what you can do House of Commons to get your own voice heard. chamber S S T T Central Lobby HIGHLIGH SOVEREIGN’S HIGHLIGH ENTRANCE 2 HOUSE OF COMMONS 3 House of Lords chamber House of Commons, page 14: What happens in the chamber, what do MPs do, and who do they represent? Royal Gallery HOUSE OF LORDS House of Lords, page 16: Who are the Members of ROYAL GALLERY the House of Lords The Monarch, page 12: and how does their How does the role of work impact on the the monarch fit into decisions made in Parliament? Parliament? 1836 THE NEW PALACE 1999 1689 HOUSE OF LORDS Act HISTORY Charles Barry wins the competition to The history of Parliament goes back nearly 1,000 years and there are many design Parliament’s new home after the fire fascinating dates to pick from, so here are just a few to get you started. BILL OF RIGHTS in 1834. Augustus Welby Pugin takes the Passing of the House You can delve deeper into the past by visiting the Next Steps links online. role of interior designer, creating everything of Lords Act changes the membership, In the Glorious from fireplaces and furniture to inkwells. reducing the number Revolution of 1688–89, of hereditary Peers James II flees England 1099 to 92 and setting up and Parliament offers a new panel to select the crown to William III 1897–1928 WESTMINSTER HALL 1605 independent Members. 1295 and Mary II. Parliament THE GUNPOWDER PLOT passes legislation setting VOTES FOR WOMEN Westminster Hall is out exactly what is commissioned by King MODEL PARLIAMENT expected of an English The National Union of Women’s William II and completed Guy Fawkes is caught monarch. The Bill of Suffrage Societies is formed in in 1099. The hall is the The first recognised Parliament is trying to blow up Rights helps to establish 1897, gathering together different only part of the old made up of nobles, bishops and Parliament. the constitutional groups campaigning for the right Palace of Westminster still two representatives for each monarchy and political to vote. The Representation of standing today. county and town – the model order which we still the People Act 1918 gives votes to for future Parliaments. have today. women – with certain conditions. ORY ORY T The Equal Franchise Act 1928 T IS IS H finally gives women the same H voting rights as men. 4 5 King John agrees to a Great Referendums on devolution are held, and King Charles I is executed in 1649. Ignatius Sancho Charter of Freedoms (“Magna results across the board lead to separate In 1653, Oliver Cromwell becomes (1729–80) makes Carta Libertatum” in Latin). devolved legislatures being established Lord Protector and establishes history as the This limits the king’s power – the Scottish Parliament and the National the Nominated Assembly, which first black voter over the Church and nobility. Assembly for Wales. The Northern Ireland introduces civil marriages and the on record. He also Assembly is established in 1998 following registration of births, marriages writes accounts of political events, referendums on the peace process in both and deaths. campaigns against the slave trade MAGNA CARTA Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. and gives advice to MPs at his grocery shop in Westminster. The House of OLIVER CROMWELL Commons finds a DEVOLUTION REFERENDUMS 1215 permanent home THE FIRST BLACK VOTER in old St Stephen’s Chapel. 1653 1997 THE COMMONS CHAMBER 1780 Discover the whole fascinating story of Parliament with the Houses of History interactive online timeline: www.parliament.uk/housesofhistory 1547 And for more insight into the political, social and cultural history of Parliament visit: www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage THE ORIGINS OF UK Democracy What would the UK be like if we didn’t live in a democracy? What are the strengths and DATES weaknesses of the UK system of democracy? 1215: In England, the 1832: The first changes DEMOCRACY What other options are there first step towards forging were made to the voting Get started and where are they in place 1 6 a democracy came in 1215 system in 400 years. The right now? The way we are governed involves decisions about society and how we live with Magna Carta, which Reform Act 1832 made our lives. In the UK, we live in a democracy, with elected representatives limited the king’s power over representation and the the Church and nobility. franchise fairer and simpler. who make decisions on our behalf, so the power is ultimately in the hands It reworked constituency of the people. 1265: Simon de boundaries and meant that 2 Montfort led a rebellion one in seven men could against Henry III – and vote. Further electoral In detail Types of democracy: briefly captured him. He reform followed in 1867 In a democracy, the government’s power is Representative Democracy then called a Parliament for and 1884. dependent upon the consent of the governed support and consultation. In a representative democracy, the citizens For the first time, 1889: Thomas Hansard population. Abraham Lincoln described choose representatives to make decisions on representatives of towns 7 began publishing democracy as ‘government of the people, by their behalf. Representative democracies can and counties across England transcripts of parliamentary the people, for the people’. The word has its be found in many parts of the world, including were consulted along debates in 1812. In 1889, Y origins in two Greek terms – demos (people) with the great barons. the Commons began to pay Y C the UK, Germany, Greece, South Africa, Taiwan, C and kratia (rule by) and translates as ‘rule by for Hansard to be produced RA the USA, Canada and Australia. 1430: The 40-Shilling RA C the people’. as a permanent record of C Franchise was MO 3 proceedings. For more than MO E established to determine E D Direct Democracy 100 years, all debates have D who had the right to vote In a direct democracy, the citizens assemble Watch ‘Democracy? You been printed – and now – this remained unchanged also put online – by the to make decisions for themselves, rather than Decide’ online with author 6 and journalist Danny Wallace for the next 400 years. It following morning. 7 electing representatives to make decisions on meant that everyone who their behalf. This type of democracy began in taking a light-hearted owned or rented land with 1918: The ancient Athens, where male Athenian citizens look at governance in the an income of 40 shillings or 8 Representation of the had the chance to debate and decide issues of UK: www.parliament.uk/ more per year could vote in People Act 1918 made public importance. Examples of modern direct democracyyoudecide county elections. radical changes to the electoral system – and gave democracy are the Swiss cantons and some 1512: Henry VIII BBC Democracy Live – votes to women over the The three main US states. abandoned the Palace age of 30 and all men over search, find and watch the 4 principles in of Westminster as a home the age of 21. politics that interests you in favour of the nearby modern democracy: including recorded lectures, Palace of Whitehall and so 1928: The Equal interviews and information: the Palace of Westminster 9 Franchise Act 1928 1. All citizens have the right Politics: the activities and affairs www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive became the permanent finally meant both men and to stand as candidates in home of Parliament. women over 21 years old of a government or state. local, regional and central could vote. Watch live and archived government elections, Dictatorship: a form of 1689: The Bill of Rights coverage of UK parliamentary was created, limiting the 1969: The age at where there is free competition between government in which one person 5 proceedings from the last 12 powers of the monarch which men and women political parties. (dictator) or small group exercises 10 months: www.parliamentlive. and setting out the rights could vote was lowered from absolute power. 2. It is the duty of citizens to actively participate tv/Main/Archive.aspx of Parliament.
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