Group2 assignment

Group member--Yuki, Rosa, Chris and Eric
The purpose of assignment includes three parts. Initially, the assignment will introduce the brief overview of the House of Commons and Lords. Moreover, it will explain the role of the Monarch. Last one is 'Royal state Opening of Parliament'.

Now we will illustrate that Parliament is a basic part of UK politics. Its main roles include below three aspects: Firstly, examining and challenging the work of the government (scrutiny). Secondly, debating and passing all laws (legislation). Thirldly, enabling the government to raise taxes.

Furthermore, the House of Commons is made up of 646 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by voters. MPs should represent the views of the people in their constituency (local area) in Parliament. The House of Commons makes laws and carefully checks what the Government is doing. However, the House of Lords (also known as House of Peers for ceremonial purposes) is the upper houseof the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". Membership of the House of Lords was once a right of birth to hereditary peers, but following a series of reforms these now only form a portion of the membership. As of October 2009 the House of Lords has 724 members, 78 more than the 646-seat House of Commons. The House of Lords, like the House of Commons, assembles in the Palace of Westminster.

Moreover, in this country we have a hereditary monarch which means that the title is passed through the family. The monarch used to have a lot more power than they do now. Whenever a new Bill is passed (new law made), the Queen has to agree to it, but this is really a formality and the last time a monarch refused to agree to it was in 1707.

Finally, the essay explains the 'Royal State Opening of Parliament'. The State Opening of Parliament marks the beginning of the parliamentary session. Its main purpose is for the monarch formally to open Parliament and, in the Queen's Speech, deliver an outline of the Government's proposed policies, legislation for the coming session and a review of the last session.