How the UK Parliament works

Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Reviewed by the BritainTest editorial team

Parliament is where the UK's laws are made. It has two Houses: the elected House of Commons, whose members are MPs, and the appointed House of Lords, with the Commons the more powerful of the two. This guide explains the two Houses, the Speaker, how a bill becomes law, and the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Opposition. It is part of our government and law study notes.

Key facts

The two Houses

Parliament has two parts, called Houses. The House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs), who are elected by the public. There are 650 MPs, and each one represents an area called a constituency. The House of Lords is made up of members who are not elected, including life peers, some bishops of the Church of England, and some hereditary peers.

The Speaker

The Speaker chairs debates in the House of Commons and keeps order. The Speaker is politically neutral, and is chosen by other MPs.

How a law is made

A proposed law is called a bill. It is debated and voted on in both Houses, and the Lords can suggest changes and delay a bill, but the elected Commons has the final say. Once both Houses agree, the bill goes to the monarch for Royal Assent, after which it becomes an Act of Parliament, which is the law. Debates in Parliament are recorded in Hansard and are open to the public, in person or on television.

Prime Minister's Questions and holding government to account

One of Parliament's main jobs is to hold the government to account. Each week the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), where the Leader of the Opposition leads the challenge. MPs also debate government policy, scrutinise spending, and sit on committees that examine the work of departments. Members of the public can contact their local MP, or visit Parliament to watch debates.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet

The Prime Minister is the leader of the government, usually the leader of the party with the most MPs. The PM chooses senior ministers to run government departments, and together they form the Cabinet, for example the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary.

The Opposition and the Civil Service

The second-largest party is the Opposition. Its leader is the Leader of the Opposition, and it has a Shadow Cabinet that challenges the government. The work of government is carried out by the Civil Service, whose staff are politically neutral.

What to remember for the test

• Commons = elected MPs, each representing a constituency; Lords = appointed.
• The Commons is the more powerful House.
• The Speaker keeps order in the Commons and is politically neutral.
• A bill becomes an Act of Parliament after Royal Assent.
• The Prime Minister leads the government; the Cabinet are senior ministers.

Practise this topic

Test yourself on Parliament in the real format, then reread anything you miss. Next comes elections and how to vote.