| The UK Parliament is not only known for the routine | | | | give the Government flexibility to introduce other |
| work that it carries out everyday, but also for the | | | | legislation as necessary. |
| special events that attract coverage from much of | | | | Following the Speech, the Commons bow to the |
| the press, such as the State Opening of Parliament | | | | Queen again and return to their Chamber. The Queen |
| and Prime Minister's Question Time. | | | | leaves, the Royal Standard is taken down from the |
| In this article, we take a look at some of the most | | | | Victoria Tower and the Union Flag hoisted. |
| important of these occasions. | | | | Following the State Opening, each House meets |
| State Opening of Parliament | | | | separately to begin debating the contents of the |
| The State Opening of Parliament is an annual event | | | | speech; and a new session is under way. |
| usually held in November, marking the start of the | | | | Prime Minister's Question Time |
| parliamentary session. It is the main ceremonial event | | | | Prime Minister's Questions (or PMQs) in the House of |
| of the parliamentary year, attracting large crowds, | | | | Commons is an important aspect of parliamentary |
| both in person and watching on television. It has | | | | practice, where the Prime Minister spends 30 minutes |
| served as a symbolic reminder of the unity of | | | | every Wednesday answering questions from MPs. |
| Parliament's three constituent parts - the Sovereign, | | | | Issues and grievances can be raised, and information |
| the House of Lords and the House of Commons for | | | | can be sought about the Government's plans. |
| over 500 years. | | | | Subjects raised during Prime Minister's question time |
| Before this lavish and colourful ceremony begins, the | | | | vary widely and usually include the key issues of the |
| Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the | | | | day. |
| Palace of Westminster in order to prevent a repeat | | | | Opposition MPs will normally use this as an |
| of the Gunpowder Plot of November 1605. The | | | | opportunity to try and catch the prime minister out |
| cellars have been searched before the State Opening | | | | with an awkward question, whereas Government |
| ever since 1606; however, these days this is for the | | | | backbenchers will usually ask 'helpful' questions, |
| sake of form only. | | | | allowing the PM to tell the House about successful |
| The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace in a | | | | government policies. |
| horse-drawn coach escorted by the Household | | | | MPs are given the opportunity of asking a question |
| Cavalry, and processes to the Palace of | | | | by entering their names on the Order Paper. These |
| Westminster. The Royal Standard is flown from | | | | names are then shuffled to produce a random order |
| Victoria Tower, and gun salutes are fired by artillery | | | | in which they will be called by the Speaker of the |
| troops in Hyde Park and the Tower of London. The | | | | House of Commons. |
| Queen is met at the Sovereign's Entrance under the | | | | Prime Minister's question time begins with a question |
| Victoria Tower by the Earl Marshal and the Lord | | | | from an MP asking the PM to list his engagements for |
| Great Chamberlain, and escorted to the Robing | | | | the day. After the Prime Minister has responded, the |
| Room. | | | | MP may then raise an additional question; often one |
| Wearing the Imperial State Crown and Parliamentary | | | | of current political significance. |
| Robe, the Queen then leads the procession (made up | | | | The Leader of the Opposition then follows up on this |
| of parliamentary and government officers) through | | | | or another topic. He is allowed to ask six questions |
| the Royal Gallery towards the chamber of the House | | | | (usually asked in two groups of three), and the |
| of Lords. The Great Sword of State and the Cap of | | | | leader of the third largest party (currently the Liberal |
| Maintenance, symbols of Sovereign power and | | | | Democrats) is allowed to ask two. The Speaker will |
| authority, are carried in front of her. | | | | try to alternate between government and opposition |
| The ceremony is held in the Lords Chamber rather | | | | questioners. |
| than in the Commons Chamber due to an incident | | | | Prime Ministers are not normally given any advance |
| that happened in 1642. King Charles I entered the | | | | warning of the questions, and must be able to think |
| Commons Chamber and attempted to arrest five | | | | on their feet in order to respond. The way the PM |
| members, but the Speaker defied the King, and | | | | handles the questions is often seen as a key |
| refused to tell him where the members were hiding. | | | | indication of their overall performance. |
| Ever since that time, no monarch has entered the | | | | Prorogation |
| House of Commons. | | | | A parliamentary session may be ended in two ways: |
| When the Queen sits down, the Lord Great | | | | by the dissolving of Parliament when a General |
| Chamberlain signals to the Gentleman Usher of the | | | | Election is called, or by prorogation (adjournment). |
| Black Rod to summon the House of Commons. As | | | | Prorogation means that the Parliament is still |
| Black Rod reaches the Commons, the door to the | | | | constituted (i.e. all members remain as members), but |
| chamber is slammed in his face - symbolising the | | | | all bills and motions are expunged. |
| independence of the Lower House. | | | | Parliament is prorogued by the reading of an |
| Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his | | | | announcement in the House of Lords (with both |
| staff, and in reply to the challenge "Who is there?" | | | | Houses present) on behalf of the Queen. |
| answers "Black Rod". On gaining entry, he goes to | | | | This announcement sets out the major Bills that have |
| the Table, where he announces the Queen's | | | | been passed during that parliamentary session, and |
| summons to attend. At this point, it is usual for some | | | | any other measures that have been taken by the |
| of the senior Members of Parliament to heckle him, | | | | Government. |
| as an indication of the Commons' right to deliberate | | | | This brings the majority of parliamentary business to |
| independently of the Sovereign. | | | | an end; however, some Public Bills may be permitted |
| The Serjeant at Arms (carrying the Mace) leads the | | | | to be carried over to the next session. |
| procession to the Lords with Black Rod. The Prime | | | | The Layout of the House of Commons |
| Minister and Opposition Leader, MPs and Senior | | | | The layout of the House of Commons reflects the |
| Commons officials follow them. In another traditional | | | | nature of the party system. The debating chamber is |
| expression of disregard, MPs take their time when | | | | rectangular, with the seat of the Speaker at one |
| making the short trip between the two chambers, | | | | end, and at the other end a formal barrier, known as |
| and are generally rowdy during their approach. When | | | | the 'Bar'. |
| the Commons finally arrive at the Bar of the House | | | | Benches run the length of both sides of the chamber, |
| of Lords, they bow to the Queen, and remain at the | | | | with the Government and its supporters sitting to |
| Bar for the Speech. | | | | the right of the Speaker, and the Opposition and |
| The Lord Chancellor delivers the official copy of the | | | | members of the other parties seated to the left. |
| speech to Queen. This speech is known as the | | | | Leaders of the Government and the Opposition sit |
| Speech from the Throne or the Queen's Speech, and | | | | on the front benches, with their supporters - |
| is prepared the Government and approved by the | | | | 'backbenchers' - sitting behind them. |
| Cabinet. It contains an outline of the Government's | | | | There are only 437 seats in the Chamber for the |
| policies and proposed legislative programme for the | | | | 646 Members, and so Members who arrive late must |
| new parliamentary session. The final words of the | | | | stand near the entrance of the House. |
| speech - "Other measures will be laid before you" - | | | | |