The Structure, Composition and Functions of Parliament
Parliament is the UK's legislature: a bicameral (two-chamber) body made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and, formally, the monarch.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn the numbers and composition facts precisely (650 MPs, up to 92 hereditary peers, 26 bishops, life peers) since factual recall questions on Parliament's structure are common.
- Learn the difference between a frontbencher (minister or shadow minister) and a backbencher, and what the 'payroll vote' means for party discipline.
- Learn Parliament's core functions (legislation, scrutiny, representation, deliberation, recruitment of government, legitimation) with one example of each, so you are not left describing only law-making.
- For a question comparing the Commons and the Lords, or weighing one function against another, plan three genuinely two-sided paragraphs, each with a point and a linked counterpoint.
- Give each paragraph a clear judgement before moving on; a paragraph asserting only that the Commons, or a single function, 'matters most' with no counter-argument is capped in the middle band.
- Build a thesis-led introduction and a conclusion that weighs the three judgements to give an overall, supported answer.
- Both Edexcel's 30-mark and AQA's 25-mark extended essay questions reward this same two-sided, judgement-per-paragraph structure, just across a different number of mark bands.
Worked example
'The House of Commons and House of Lords are equally important parts of the UK Parliament.' Evaluate this statement. Plan the essay: a thesis, three two-sided paragraphs and a conclusion.
- Underline the claim: are the two Houses equally important, not simply 'is Parliament important'.
- Choose three areas that let both sides be argued: (1) democratic legitimacy, (2) legislative power, (3) scrutiny function.
- Paragraph 1 (legitimacy): the Commons is elected by the whole country and can claim a direct democratic mandate the Lords lacks, weighed against the counterpoint that the Lords' appointed, expertise-based membership performs a different, complementary role, then a judgement.
- Paragraph 2 (legislative power): the Commons alone can pass money bills without Lords consent under the Parliament Act 1911, and the Parliament Act 1949 limits Lords delay on most other bills, weighed against the counterpoint that the Lords can still defeat secondary legislation outright and force the Commons to reconsider bills through ping-pong, then a judgement.
- Paragraph 3 (scrutiny): the Commons holds government directly accountable through confidence, PMQs and select committees, weighed against the counterpoint that the Lords, with no re-election pressure, often does more detailed, unhurried line-by-line scrutiny of legislation, then a judgement.
- Write a thesis stating whether 'equally important' is accurate, and a conclusion that weighs the three judgements together.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1How many MPs currently sit in the House of Commons?Show answer
Answer: 650, each elected from a single constituency by First Past the Post.
Q2Name the two main categories of member in the House of Lords.Show answer
Answer: Life peers (appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958) and the remaining hereditary peers (up to 92, retained by the House of Lords Act 1999); the Lords Spiritual (26 bishops) form a further, smaller category.
Q3What is the role of the Speaker in the House of Commons?Show answer
Answer: To chair debates, keep order, decide who may speak, and act with strict political neutrality once elected, only using a casting vote in the rare event of a tie, and then by convention to preserve the status quo.
Q4Give one function of Parliament other than making law.Show answer
Answer: Scrutinising the executive, or representing constituents, or providing the personnel for government, or granting legitimacy to government actions.
Q5What is meant by the 'payroll vote'?Show answer
Answer: The group of MPs who are government ministers or their parliamentary private secretaries, and who are expected to support the government in votes or resign their post.
Q6Explain the difference between a backbencher and a frontbencher.Show answer
Answer: Frontbenchers hold a government or opposition post (ministers or shadow ministers) and sit on the front benches of the Chamber; backbenchers hold no such post and sit behind them, giving them more freedom to criticise their own party.
Q7What does 'Crown-in-Parliament' mean?Show answer
Answer: That, formally, legislation is made by the combination of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch (who grants royal assent), even though in practice the monarch's role is now a formality.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a A Level Politics exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Explain TWO functions of the UK Parliament, other than making legislation.
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 8 available
'The unelected composition of the House of Lords means it cannot be considered a legitimate part of the UK Parliament.' Evaluate this statement.
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 30 available
See real A Level Politics past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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