Wikipedia: History of House of Commons

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The House of Commons is part of the legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Parliament, along with the Queen and the House of Lords. It consists of approximately 659 [Members of Parliament]? (MPs), each elected by citizens of an electoral consituency to represent that consituency in the House.

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In practice, as checks on the power of the House Of Commons are very limited, a party with a sizable and co-operative majority in the House has virtually unimpeded power to change government policies. The House of Lords, except in the specific case of a House of Commons trying to pass laws to perpetuate its own existence beyond a scheduled election, can only amend legislation and only defeat it by causing it to consume so much [parliamentary time]? by rejecting it twice so that it is abandoned.

In practice, as checks on the power of the House Of Commons are very limited, a party with a sizable and co-operative majority in the House has virtually unimpeded power to change government policies. There is a convention known as the [Salisbury convention]? according to which the House of Lords will not oppose any government legislation promised by its election manifesto. And in the case of legislation not covered by this convention, under the Parliament Acts 1911-1949 the House of Lords can only amend legislation and only defeat it by causing it to consume so much [parliamentary time]? by rejecting it twice so that it is abandoned; the sole exception is if the House of Commons were to try to postpone the next general election beyond five years.

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There are however increasing restrictions of the power of the House of Commons. Under the terms of the European Communities Act, [European Community law]? overrides any incompatible UK legislation. Although the House of Commons could in theory ammend or repeal the European Communities Act, in practice it would be inconcievable for it to do so. Parliamentary legislation that violates UK law can be challenged through both the UK national courts, and the [European Court of Justice]?.

There are however increasing restrictions on the power of the House of Commons. Under the terms of the European Communities Act, [European Community law]? overrides any incompatible UK legislation. Although the House of Commons could in theory ammend or repeal the European Communities Act, in practice it would be inconcievable for it to do so. Parliamentary legislation that violates UK law can be challenged through both the UK national courts, and the [European Court of Justice]?.

	Revision 12 . . (edit) November 30, 2001 9:34 pm by (logged).253.64.xxx
	Revision 11 . . November 2, 2001 9:40 pm by Simon J Kissane [mention Salisbury convention, Parliament Acts 1911-1949]
	Revision 10 . . November 2, 2001 9:30 pm by Aristotle [Wikied a bit more to support the expansion of the new information. When it becomes stable it might need to be re-written to take a more suitable tone. ]