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members of the government nor leading members of the main opposition party. They represent their constituents and their area and hold the executive to account by tabling questions.

The Whips

The Whips are MPs who help organise the business of government and ensure their party's MPs are available on important motions and legislation. Each week of Parliament MPs receive a document from the Whip's Office detailing government business. Important votes are underlined once, twice or three times (three line whip) to show their importance to the government.

The Legislative Process

The majority of laws are introduced as Government (Public) Bills in the House of Commons. The process for passing a Bill is thus:

First Reading - a clerk will read out the Bill title which is then a White Paper is published to be read by the MPs.
Second Reading - the Bill is introduced by a relevant minister and is debated in the House.
Committee Stage - a committee is chosen to represent the whole House reflecting the balance of MPs in the House to discuss the Bill.
Report stage - the committee reports back to the House and suggests amendments.
Third reading - the House debates the final version and then votes whether to accept it or not.

The process is then repeated in the Upper House and after both Houses have passed a Bill it is given Royal Assent and becomes law on a specified date.
Select Committees

These were set up to enable parliamentarians from outside the executive the opportunity to examine the activities of a department or a particular aspect of government business. Proceedings are almost always open to the press and public. Select committee members can vote with their conscience and do not have to follow the party line.

House of Lords

The House of Lords comprises of hereditary peers, life peers and a number of Law Lords and Spiritual Lords such as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Upper House provides a constitutional check and can reform legislature from the House of Commons and also acts as the final and highest court of appeal in the UK in both civil and criminal cases.

Governing the economy

The Chancellor of the Exchequer makes a budget speak every year where he outlines the government's financial plans which can be voted on before the new tax year starts in April. The government's spending and taxation plans are formulated into a Finance Bill which has to be debated and voted on like any other expect that the House of Lords cannot block it.

Taxation is divided into two categories:

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