The Life in the UK test always asks several questions about how Parliament is structured. The good news is that the answers are stable: the same names, numbers and procedures have been examinable for years. Memorise the headline figures in this article and you will recognise every Parliament question on the day.
The two Houses of Parliament
Parliament has two chambers. The House of Commons contains 650 elected Members of Parliament (MPs), each representing a constituency. The House of Lords is made up of around 800 unelected members — life peers appointed by the monarch on the Prime Minister's recommendation, plus a smaller number of hereditary peers and Church of England bishops known as the Lords Spiritual.
Both chambers debate proposed laws (called bills) and scrutinise the work of government. The Commons has the final say on most matters, especially money bills. The Lords can revise and delay legislation but rarely blocks the elected chamber.
Further reading: a related editorial guide on this topic opens in a new window for additional context.
The Speaker
The Speaker of the House of Commons chairs debates, calls members to speak and keeps order. The Speaker is politically neutral and does not vote except to break a tie. The current Speaker is elected by MPs at the start of each Parliament.
Prime Minister's Questions
Every Wednesday at noon when Parliament is sitting, the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs for half an hour in the Commons. PMQs is broadcast live and is one of the most-watched parts of the parliamentary week. The Leader of the Opposition is given six questions; backbench MPs are picked at random from a shuffle.
How a bill becomes an Act
- First Reading — the bill's title is read out; no debate.
- Second Reading — MPs debate the principles of the bill.
- Committee Stage — line-by-line scrutiny by a small group of MPs.
- Report Stage — the amended bill returns to the chamber.
- Third Reading — final debate before the bill is sent to the Lords.
- House of Lords — repeats most stages and may suggest amendments.
- Royal Assent — the monarch formally approves the bill, which then becomes an Act of Parliament.
You may be asked which stages happen in which chamber, or who gives Royal Assent. Royal Assent is granted by the monarch (currently King Charles III) but has not been refused since 1707.
Devolved parliaments
Since 1999 some powers have been devolved from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff and the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast. They legislate on matters such as education, health and local transport. Foreign affairs, defence, immigration and most taxation remain reserved to the UK Parliament.
Keep going
- Read the full study notes for Government & Law.
- Try a practice test on this chapter.
- Sit a full 24-question timed mock.
- Browse our complete topic explainer library.