A parliament is the legislature in a political system. It has three main functions: representing the electorate, making laws and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. A modern parliament is usually a unicameral, although there are some bicameral systems. Parliaments may have a monarch or not, and they can be based on noble birth, property qualifications or universal suffrage. Most parliaments are located in countries that have a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, although some are found in presidential systems.
Many new MPs describe the initial weeks of their term as ‘shell-shocking’, with a steep learning curve and an enormous workload. It takes stamina to cope with this and a good sense of humour.
The way a Parliament operates is dictated by a country’s constitutional and legal framework, which sets out the powers it has and how they are exercised. In most parliaments, committees are the principal means of scrutiny and accountability. Select committees usually mirror the work of government departments and focus on specific policy areas, questioning ministers and generating reports. Following recent reforms, these committees are now more independent and prominent.
Individual Members can also exert influence through private means, such as calling or writing to Ministers or senior officials about particular policy concerns. Attempts to generate public support for alternative policy options are another way in which MPs can try to influence policymakers. However, it is very rare for Government Members to break party ranks and vote against the government and Opposition parties tend to frown on MPs publicly championing a different position.