British Parliament
Definition
The supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, composed of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Analogy
Think of British Parliament as a school's student council, where representatives (MPs) from different classes (constituencies) come together to make decisions that affect the whole school (the country). Just like how some members are elected by students (House of Commons), others are appointed or inherit their positions (House of Lords).
Related terms
House of Commons: The lower house in the UK parliament where members are elected by public vote.
House of Lords: The upper house in the UK parliament consisting mainly of life peers, bishops and archbishops.
Prime Minister: The head of government in the UK who is typically the leader of the political party with majority seats in House of Commons.
"British Parliament" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Practice Questions (8)
- Which is a long-term outcome from abolitionist William Wilberforce's speeches to the British Parliament?
- How did the British Parliament contribute to nation-building during this period?
- Which law passed by British Parliament marked significant progress towards child labor reform in the 19th century?
- Which 19th century reform gave the British Parliament more representation to the growing urban and industrial areas?
- What major shift occurred in the British Parliament with the 1832 Reform Act?
- Which 18th-century act of the British Parliament led to significant protests in the American colonies?
- What legislation was passed by British Parliament in response to Irish demands for independence?
- Which law passed by British Parliament led to major political changes in the late nineteenth century?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.