Parliament

We went to visit Parliament a couple of weeks ago, but it was only today that I fully could appreciate what I had seen, and that is thanks to my British mass media professor. He explained the roles of Parliament while trying to show relation to how the BBC is regulated.

First and most interesting there is no written document stating laws like we have the Constitution. Another point that is vastly different is there is no real separation of powers and a system of checks and balances, instead the executive and legislature are closely connected. So what do they have that works for the UK? There are protocols, agreements and understandings which present more gray areas than clear areas through a system of ruling people.

On the top there is the Queen. She stands as a more symbolical statue than anything. No legislation is passed without her signature. Once  a year the Queen will dress in the most elegant robes and present the 'gracious speech of the throne' which states all that Parliament will do in the coming year.

the upper chamber is the House Of Lords. These men and women are appointed by a comittee controlled by the Prime Minister, and serve for life. They may not prevent legislation from passing but may revise it and suggest other laws.

the lower chamber is the House of Commons. This is 630 plus members that are elected much like our congressmen who sit based on population size. general election is every 5 years and the Prime Minister decides when this happens, it is not a fixed election.