正在編輯用戶:Politics Notes on the UK Parliament （章節）

== Commons: structure and members ==
A democratically elected chamber of 650 MPs

each MP is elected in a single-member constituency by the FPTP electoral system

the number of MPS is not fixed and can change following reviews od parliamentary constituencies

Frontbenchers: Ministers and shadow ministers

Backbenchers: MPs with no ministerial or shadow ministerial posts

=== Parliamentary Privilege ===
The legal immunity enjoyed by members of parliament, particularly their right to free speech in parliament.

'''Freedom of Speech''': Members of both houses are free to raise any issue in parliament without fear of prosecution.

MPs have revealed information that is subject to court injunctions

Exclusive Cognisance: The right of each house to regulate its own internal affairs without interference from outside bodies

=== Key Office Holders ===
'''''Whips'''''

* a) A party official responsible for ensuring that MPs turn up to parliamentary votes and follow party instructions on how to vote;
* b) An instruction to vote that is issued to MPs by political parties

Whips (a) have 3 main roles:

* Ensuring that MPs attend parliamentary divisions (votes) and approving the absence of MPs when their vote will not be required
* Issuing instructions on how MPs should vote
* Enforcing discipline within the parliamentary party

'''''Speaker of the Commons'''''

presides over debates in the chamber

selecting MPs to speal

maintain order

may temporarily suspend MPs who break parliamentary rules

elected by MPs in a secret ballot

must stand down from the post at a general election but is normally re-elected at the start of the next parliament

once chosen, the speaker gives up their party affiliation and is non-partisan

the speaker does not vote unless there is a tie

in which case they do not use it to deliver a final decision