Parliament is where laws are discussed, debated and made. The Houses of Parliament are in Westminster. There are two chambers in Parliament – the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Members of the House of Lords (also known as peers) are not elected. The job of the House of Lords is to check that any new laws made are fair. All new laws must be agreed by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Some people feel this is unfair because the people in the House of Lords are not elected. However the House of Lords cannot stop a new law from happening – they can only delay it and ask the House of Commons to re-consider it.

The House of Commons is the more important of Parliaments two chambers. Members of the House of Commons are known as MP’s, and there are currently 646 of them. This is the place where the MP’s you elect in Haringey will discuss and debate national issues including immigration, education, the health service and crime. The MP’s you elect have the power to vote in the House of Commons on changes to current laws, abolishing laws and making new ones. They debate important national issues, and comment on what the government is doing.

The Cabinet is made up of about 20 of the most important government ministers. The Prime minister appoints members of the Cabinet, and puts them in charge of Departments, including transport, health, police and education. The Cabinet includes the Chancellor of the Exchequer (who is responsible for the economy), the home secretary (who is responsible for law, order and immigration). The Cabinet usually meets with the Prime Minister once a week.