ABSTRACT
Parliament is bicameral, that is to say there are two chambers, each exercising a legislative role – although not having equal powers – and each playing a part in ensuring the accountability of the government. By way of introduction, it should be noted that membership of the House of Lords is not secured by election and is accordingly not accountable in any direct sense to the electorate. The House of Commons is directly elected, and a parliamentary term is limited under the Parliament Act 1911 to a maximum of five years. In practice, the average life of a parliament is between three and four years. The House is made up of the majority party: the political party which secures the highest number of seats at the election, which will form the government. The head of that party will be invited by the Queen to take office as Prime Minister. In turn, it is for the Prime Minister to select his or her Cabinet. The opposition parties7 comprise the remainder of the now 659 Members of Parliament.8 The official Opposition is the party which represents the second largest party in terms of elected members. In principle, the role of the official Opposition is to act as a government in waiting, ready at any time to take office should the government seek a dissolution of parliament.9
