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Parliament is constantly in the news and televised daily, but much of its work remains a mystery to outsiders and is sometimes perplexing even to its own members. Written by expert insiders,
How Parliament Works is a straightforward and readable analysis of one of the country's most complex - and often misunderstood - institutions.
List of contents
Introduction 1. Parliament: its home and origins 2. Who is in Parliament? 3. Running Parliament 4. Influences on Parliament 5. The parliamentary day and the organisation of business 6. Making the law 7. Parliament and the taxpayer 8. Debates 9. Calling to account: Questions 10. Calling to account: Select committees 11. Parliament and Europe 12. The future of Parliament Glossary of parliamentary terms Sources of information about Parliament
About the author
Nicolas Besly became a clerk in the House of Lords in 2002. He has worked in the Committee Office, Public Bill Office, Table Office and Journal Office. He became the first private secretary to a Lord Speaker and edited The Table, a journal on Commonwealth parliaments. He is currently the Registrar of Lords' Interests, advising on compliance with the House's code of conduct.
Tom Goldsmith became a clerk in the House of Commons in 1996. He has worked in the Public Bill Office, the Table Office and the Overseas Office. He headed the Governance Office and has served as Secretary to the House of Commons Commission, Clerk of Committees and Clerk of the Table Office. In 2023 he was appointed as the 52nd Clerk of the House of Commons. The Clerk is the chief procedural and constitutional adviser to the House, and as Head of the House Service leads 3,000 staff of the House of Commons.
Summary
Parliament is constantly in the news and televised daily, but much of its work remains a mystery to outsiders and is sometimes perplexing even to its own members. Written by expert insiders, How Parliament Works is a straightforward and readable analysis of one of the country’s most complex – and often misunderstood – institutions.
