House of Commons

House of Commons
Name	House of Commons
House type	Lower house
Body	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Lindsay Hoyle
Leader2 type	Leader
Leader2	Penny Mordaunt
Leader3 type	Shadow Leader
Leader3	Lucy Powell
Members	650
Political groups1	His Majesty's Government, • Conservative (344), Official Opposition, • Labour (205), Other opposition, • Scottish National Party (44), • Liberal Democrats (14), • Democratic Unionist Party (8), • Sinn Féin (7), • Plaid Cymru (3), • Green (1), • Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (1), • Speaker (1), • Independent (22)
Voting system1	First-past-the-post voting
Last election1	12 December 2019
Meeting place	House of Commons chamber, Palace of Westminster, City of Westminster, London, England
Website	https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/

House of Commons. The House of Commons is the democratically elected lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, responsible for making laws and scrutinising the work of the government. Its members, known as Members of Parliament or MPs, are elected from single-member constituencies across the United Kingdom in general elections. As the primary legislative chamber, it holds significant power over taxation, public spending, and national policy.

History and origins

The institution traces its origins to the 13th century, evolving from the Model Parliament summoned by King Edward I in 1295, which included representatives from the shires and boroughs. Its power grew significantly following the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution, which culminated in the landmark Bill of Rights 1689 asserting parliamentary authority over the monarchy. The Reform Act 1832 began a series of changes that expanded the franchise, a process continued by the Representation of the People Act 1918 and the Parliament Act 1911, which curtailed the power of the House of Lords. The modern composition was largely settled after the Acts of Union 1800 with Ireland and subsequent legislation regarding Northern Ireland and devolution.

Composition and membership

The chamber is composed of 650 MPs, each elected from a geographical constituency using the first-past-the-post system during a general election. Eligibility for membership is governed by the Representation of the People Act 1981, with candidates typically representing major parties like the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, or the Scottish National Party. The presiding officer is the Speaker, an MP elected by their peers to chair debates impartially, a role currently held by Lindsay Hoyle. The executive branch within the chamber is led by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, who are drawn from its members.

Powers and functions

It possesses supreme legislative power, with the authority to pass laws on any matter, a principle known as parliamentary sovereignty. Its most critical power is financial privilege, controlling public expenditure and taxation as outlined in the Bill of Rights 1689. The chamber ensures accountability through mechanisms like Prime Minister's Questions, select committees such as the Public Accounts Committee, and the ability to pass a motion of no confidence in the government, as famously occurred in 1979 against James Callaghan. It also has the sole right to consider Money Bills, as established by the Parliament Act 1911.

Procedure and daily business

Sessions follow a structured agenda set by the government through the Leader of the House of Commons, beginning with prayers and routine business. Debates on proposed legislation, known as Bills, proceed through stages including the first reading, second reading, committee stage, and third reading. Proceedings are governed by standing orders and guided by precedents compiled in Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice. Key weekly events include Prime Minister's Questions, where the Prime Minister faces interrogation from MPs and the Leader of the Opposition.

Relationship with other institutions

It is the dominant component of the bicameral Parliament of the United Kingdom, with the unelected House of Lords acting as a revising chamber; the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 allow legislation to be passed without the Lords' consent. The government, headed by the Prime Minister, is drawn from and remains accountable to it. While the monarch gives Royal Assent to bills, this is a ceremonial formality. Its relationship with devolved legislatures like the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd is defined by the Scotland Act 1998 and the Government of Wales Act 2006, and it interacts with international bodies like the European Court of Human Rights.

Notable traditions and customs

The chamber is renowned for its adversarial layout, with government and opposition benches facing each other, a design originating from the original chapel. Debates are conducted with strict formality, addressing remarks through the Speaker and referring to fellow members by their constituency title. Ceremonial events include the State Opening of Parliament, where the monarch delivers the King's Speech from the throne in the Lords. Unique customs include the division process where members vote by physically walking through the 'Aye' and 'No' lobbies, and the ritual searching of the cellars by the Yeomen of the Guard before the State Opening, recalling the Gunpowder Plot.

Category:House of Commons of the United Kingdom Category:National lower houses Category:Parliament of the United Kingdom