The House of Commons is the elected chamber of the UK Parliament and the centre of British democratic life. It is where laws are made, governments are formed, and national debates take place.
Composition
The House of Commons has **650 Members of Parliament (MPs)**: - Each MP represents a **constituency** (a local area) - MPs are elected in **general elections** - Any British, Irish, or Commonwealth citizen over 18 can stand for election
Functions
The Commons has several vital functions:
Making Laws - Introduces and debates bills - Votes on legislation - Has primacy over the House of Lords
Controlling Finance - Only the Commons can authorise taxation - Approves government spending - Scrutinises the budget
Holding Government to Account - **Prime Minister's Questions** (PMQs) every Wednesday - Select Committees investigate government departments - Debates and votes on government policy
Forming Government - The Prime Minister must command a majority in the Commons - Votes of no confidence can bring down a government
How It Works
- The **Speaker** chairs debates and maintains order
- MPs sit on benches facing each other (government vs opposition)
- Voting is by walking through lobbies ("Aye" or "No")
- Most business is set by the government, but opposition and backbench MPs have designated days
Important Traditions
- The Speaker calls "Order, Order!" to start proceedings
- MPs address each other as "The Honourable Member for..."
- The mace (a ceremonial object) must be present for business to be conducted