ABSTRACT
The United Kingdom Parliament is made up of three components: the Crown, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Parliament is the highest law-making body within the UK (see Chapter 5). In addition to its law-making role, Parliament also scrutinises government administration and
The Crown
The role of the Crown nowadays is formal. The Queen attends the State Opening of Parliament, which takes place each autumn, signifying the start of the new parliamentary year, and her agreement must be sought and given to a request by a Prime Minister to dissolve Parliament in order that a general election may be held. When a proposal for legislation has passed its parliamentary stages, it must be approved by the Crown through the Royal Assent.
