House of Commons of the United Kingdom

House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Name	House of Commons
Legislature	Parliament of the United Kingdom
House type	Lower house
Body	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Foundation	1 January 1801
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Lindsay Hoyle
Election1	4 November 2019
Leader2 type	Leader of the House of Commons
Leader2	Penny Mordaunt
Election2	6 September 2022
Leader3 type	Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Leader3	Lucy Powell
Election3	5 September 2023
Members	650
Political groups1	His Majesty's Government, • Conservative (344), Official Opposition, • Labour (205), Other opposition, • Scottish National Party (43), • Liberal Democrats (14), • Democratic Unionist Party (8), • Sinn Féin (7), • Plaid Cymru (3), • Social Democratic and Labour Party (2), • Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (1), • Green Party of England and Wales (1), • Independent (11), • Speaker (1), • Deputy Speakers (3)
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 of the United Kingdom is the lower house and primary chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a democratically elected body consisting of 650 members known as Members of Parliament who are elected from single-member constituencies across the United Kingdom. The House of Commons holds ultimate legislative power, controlling supply and the government's budget, and is the dominant body in the Westminster system.

History

The modern House of Commons emerged from the Parliament of England and was formally constituted by the Acts of Union 1800, which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland. Its origins trace back to the Model Parliament of 1295 called by Edward I. Key historical developments include the English Civil War, which saw conflict between Charles I and Parliament, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which established parliamentary sovereignty. The Reform Act 1832 began a series of expansions to the franchise, with further major reforms like the Representation of the People Act 1918 granting votes to women over 30. The chamber was destroyed during The Blitz in World War II and rebuilt under the direction of architect Giles Gilbert Scott.

Role and functions

The principal roles of the House are to pass laws, scrutinise the work of the Government, and control public spending. It is the supreme legislative body, with the power to make laws on any matter, a principle tested in cases like R (Jackson) v Attorney General. The Commons holds the government's budget to account through debates on the Finance Act and holds select committees like the Public Accounts Committee to examine expenditure. It also provides the venue for Prime Minister's Questions, a weekly session where the Prime Minister faces scrutiny from the Leader of the Opposition and other MPs.

Composition and elections

The Commons is composed of 650 MPs, each elected from a geographical constituency using the First-past-the-post voting system. Elections are called at a maximum of every five years under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, though earlier elections can be triggered by a vote of no confidence or a two-thirds majority of the House. All MPs must swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown. Notable exclusions include members of the House of Lords and certain office-holders like judges. The Speaker, elected by MPs, presides over debates and maintains order.

Procedure and customs

Procedure is governed by standing orders and conventions, many of which are centuries old. Debates are presided over by the Speaker or a Deputy Speaker. The daily session begins with prayers. Voting is done by physically dividing into the Aye and No lobbies, a practice dating to the English Civil War. Traditions include addressing remarks through the Speaker and the prohibition of referring to other members by name. The layout of the chamber, with government and opposition benches facing each other, is designed for adversarial debate.

Relationship with the Government

The Government is drawn from and accountable to the House of Commons. By convention, the Prime Minister must be a member of the Commons and must retain its confidence. Most senior ministers, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary, are also MPs. The Government introduces most legislation, particularly money bills which must originate in the Commons. The Commons can dismiss a government by passing a motion of no confidence, as occurred in 1979 against James Callaghan's administration. Ministers are regularly questioned in the House by bodies like the Liaison Committee.

Relationship with the House of Lords

The House of Lords is the upper house and cannot delay or veto most financial legislation, as established by the Parliament Act 1911. The Parliament Act 1949 further limited the Lords' power to delay other public bills. The Lords acts as a revising chamber, suggesting amendments to Commons legislation, which the Commons may accept or reject. The principle of Commons financial privilege ensures the elected chamber's supremacy on taxation and spending. Conflicts between the houses, such as over the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, are typically resolved through negotiation, with the Commons having the final say.

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