The UK Parliament represents the people of the United Kingdom and makes decisions that affect us all. Everyone in the United Kingdom is represented by a Member of Parliament (MP). MPs sit in the House of Commons which, alongside the House of Lords and the Monarch, makes up the UK Parliament.
Find out how petitions to the UK Parliament work.This course explores the role of petitions to the UK Parliament.Find out how petitioning the UK Parliament works, the possible impacts and outcomes petitions can have and the range of themes and issues people petitioned Parliament about in 2015-17.Discuss what makes a petition successful, gain a greater understanding of the role of the Petitions Select Committee and explore case studies of petitions both historical and contemporary that have achieved change.This course is launched as part of a programme of events for UK Parliament Week 2017.This course is open to anyone with an interest in how the UK Parliament works and how they can get involved.
##This free online course will introduce you to the work and role of the UK Parliament. From setting the age at which we start school to deciding pension policy, the UK Parliament makes laws that impact our lives, our work and our wider society.Learn what Parliament is and doesYou will begin by looking at what Parliament is, how it is different from government and how it has changed and evolved over hundreds of years. You will find out about the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and discover how things work in the Chambers and beyond on a day-to-day basis.Learn how Parliament scrutinises governmentParliament is vital in scrutinising the work of government; on this course you’ll learn what this looks like in practice. You will consider the different tools MPs and members of the House of Lords use to check and challenge the work of government to ensure its decisions are transparent, efficient and fair. You will examine the purpose and role of different types of questions, discover some of the conventions of debate and explore the work of select committees.Learn how Parliament is evolvingTowards the end of the course, you will examine the process of law making and discover the journey of a Bill. You will also explore the range of opportunities open to citizens, which enable you to engage with and influence the UK Parliament.There are no special requirements for this course. This is an introductory course and is open to everyone who has an interest in developing their understanding of the UK Parliament.
Discover the importance of select committees for the UK ParliamentOn this course you will explore a vital element of UK Parliament: select committees - groups of people who monitor the work of government and investigate specific subjects in depth.You’ll explore how select committees have evolved and how members are selected today. By examining case studies, you will gain an understanding of the select committee process, learn how written evidence is gathered and consider what it’s like to be a witness. You will also discuss the influence select committees can have on policy making and reflect on factors that may affect the impact of their recommendations.This course is open to anyone with an interest in the UK Parliament. Academics, researchers, charities and specialist groups may also find it useful to gain a greater understanding of how they can contribute to inquiries and get involved with the work of Parliament.