Political glossary

A Member of Parliament is the person elected to represent a House of Commons constituency.

This is usually the first person users want to identify from a postcode.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

The House of Commons is the elected chamber where MPs debate, scrutinise government, and vote on legislation.

Most postcode and MP activity views will focus on Commons records first.

Source: How Parliament works

The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament. Its members examine legislation and scrutinise government.

Bills usually move through both Houses before they can become law.

Source: How Parliament works

A bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law, before it becomes an Act.

Policy promises often become real only when they appear in bills and votes.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A division is a formal recorded vote in Parliament, usually counted as ayes and noes.

Divisions are the official vote records behind many MP voting-history rows.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

To abstain is to not vote either for or against when a vote takes place.

A missing vote is not always the same as voting against something.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A select committee is a cross-party committee that examines a subject area, public body, or government department.

Committee work can show what MPs are investigating beyond headline votes.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A written question is a formal question from an MP or Lord that receives a written answer from government.

Written questions are useful evidence of what a representative is asking about.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A parliamentary session is a period of parliamentary time within a Parliament, usually including several sitting periods and recesses.

Sessions explain why the calendar has openings, recesses, bill carry-over points, and planned legislative programmes.

Source: Parliamentary sessions and sittings

A sitting is a daily meeting of either House of Parliament, or a meeting of a committee.

Sitting days are when debates, questions, votes, and committee work can appear in the public record.

Source: Parliamentary sessions and sittings

A recess is a break in a parliamentary session when neither the House of Commons nor the House of Lords meets for normal business.

Recess helps explain why fewer votes or debates may appear during certain weeks of the year.

Source: Parliamentary sessions and sittings

The Speaker chairs debates in the House of Commons, calls MPs to speak, and is expected to be politically impartial while in the chair.

Beginners hear the Speaker named often during debates and PMQs, but the Speaker is not speaking for a party in that role.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A backbencher is an MP or Lord who is not a government minister or opposition frontbench spokesperson.

Backbenchers can still speak, vote, sit on committees and raise constituency issues.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

Devolution means some powers are held by elected bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland instead of being decided only at Westminster.

It helps users understand why health, education or transport may be decided differently in different parts of the UK.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

Parliament is the UK's law-making body, made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Crown. It debates issues, examines the work of government and considers new laws.

Parliament is not the same as the Government: the Government proposes and runs things, while Parliament debates, scrutinises and decides on laws.

Source: How Parliament works

In Parliament, the Crown is the formal constitutional role of the monarch, which includes opening Parliament and giving Royal Assent so a bill agreed by both Houses can become an Act.

The Crown is one of the three parts of Parliament, but by convention the monarch acts on ministers' advice and stays out of party politics.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

An Act of Parliament is a law that has been passed by the House of Commons and the House of Lords and has received Royal Assent.

An Act shows that a proposal has become law, but some of its provisions may only take effect later through commencement.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

Commencement is the point at which the provisions of an Act come into force. This can happen on a set date, or later through commencement regulations, rather than automatically at Royal Assent.

It explains why a new Act does not always change everyday rules straight away, even after it has become law.

Source: legislation.gov.uk — Understanding legislation

A constituency is a geographic area that elects one MP to the House of Commons.

It tells you which local seat and MP a postcode belongs to.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A by-election is an election held in one constituency between general elections, usually because a seat becomes vacant.

By-elections can affect Parliament and often draw national attention.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

First Past the Post is the voting system used for UK general elections, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.

This explains why seat counts and vote share are not the same thing.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A hung Parliament happens when no single party has an overall majority in the House of Commons.

It helps users understand coalitions, confidence arrangements, and minority governments.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

Whips are party organisers who help coordinate how party members vote and attend Parliament.

Whipping helps explain why many MPs from the same party vote the same way.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A manifesto is a party's published set of commitments and priorities for an election.

Manifestos are one of the highest-value sources for explaining party positions.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

The Government is usually formed by the party, or parties, that can command support in the House of Commons and run government departments.

It explains why one party may be responsible for ministers, budgets and most bills while others scrutinise them.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

The Opposition is made up of MPs and parties that are not in government. The largest opposition party is called the Official Opposition.

Opposition parties do not run departments, but they question ministers, debate bills and offer alternatives.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

The Cabinet is the senior group of government ministers who lead major departments and help decide government policy.

Cabinet roles explain who is publicly responsible for areas such as health, education, home affairs and the Treasury.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

The Prime Minister is the head of the UK Government and appoints ministers to run government departments.

The Prime Minister is central to government decisions, but Parliament still debates, scrutinises and votes on laws.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

The Shadow Cabinet is a team from the Official Opposition that follows government departments and challenges ministers on those areas.

Shadow roles help users understand who is responding to the government from the main opposition party.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A coalition government is formed when two or more parties share government, usually because no single party has enough seats to govern alone.

Coalitions explain why parties may compromise on policies after an election.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

A minister is a member of the Government, usually an MP or a member of the House of Lords, who is given responsibility for a department or an area of policy.

Ministers lead the political side of government, but most MPs and members of the Lords are not ministers.

Source: GOV.UK — How government works

Prime Minister's Questions is a regular Commons session where MPs question the Prime Minister.

It is one of the most visible political traditions, but it is not the whole job.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

The King's Speech sets out the government's planned laws and priorities at the State Opening of Parliament.

It is a useful date for tracking what the government says it will try to do.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

Royal Assent is the formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act.

It marks the point where a bill becomes law.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

Black Rod is an officer of the House of Lords with ceremonial and administrative duties.

It helps separate parliamentary ceremony from decisions that change law.

Source: UK Parliament glossary

State Opening is the formal start of a parliamentary session, when the monarch's speech sets out the government's planned laws and priorities.

It is a recurring civic moment that can anchor explainers, timelines, and checks on proposed legislation.

Source: State Opening of Parliament