What is the role of Parliament?
The main functions of the UK Parliament are to:
- Check and challenge the work of the Government (scrutiny)
- Make and change laws (legislation)
- Debate the important issues of the day (debating)
- Check and approve Government spending (budget/taxes)
One of Parliament's main roles is to examine and challenge the work of the government through questioning ministers, debating and committee work
A central role of Parliament is to make new laws as well as making changes to existing legislation
Both Houses of Parliament hold debates in which Members discuss government policy, proposed new laws and topical issues of the day
The Budget is presented to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer each year. MPs debate the proposals and scrutinise the Finance Bill which brings them into law
Parliamentary sovereignty is a principle of the UK constitution. It makes Parliament the supreme legal authority in the UK, which can create or end any law
Parliament is an essential part of UK politics and interacts on a daily basis with a number of important institutions