What is Parliament in the UK?

Answer 1

The upper house of parliament is called The House of Lords. It is also known as the House of Peers for ceremonial purposes.

Answer 2

It's actually quite complicated. Firstly there is loads of symbolism and rules.

For example, the Queen is actually in charge but , due to one revolution or another, selects (must select) a Prime Minister to rule on her behalf. She will always chose (mustalways chose) the leader of the political party with the most votes.

The UK is divided into about 650 constituencies. In a general election an individual votes for an MP (minister for parliament) for their constituency. The larger political parties all appoint a person to run for MP to each constituency so each person has a choice between many individuals. One representing such-and-such a party, one representing another, and another, and another as well as 'independents' who do not represent any party.

The total votes for each person is added up and the person with the most votes wins (even if they don't have the majority of votes, for example it is possible to win with only 30% of the votes so long as nobody else gets more than 30%)

The winner is given a 'seat' in the House of Commons.

The House of Commons is a room in the Palace of Westminster in London. It is where the MPs meet and debate issues, like whether or not to introduce a certain law, raise a certain tax or adopt a certain piece of legislation from the European Parliament.

The leader of the party with the most MPs becomes (or rather 'is chosen by the Queen to be') the Prime Minister

All decisions are voted on with each MP having one vote (MPs are expected to vote in the interests of their constituency). Once a decision has been come to it is sent on to the House of Lords. (That's another room in the same building but the people there are not elected, historically they would have inherited the right to appear in the House of Lords but, since 1999 Lords have been appointed by the Queen (under the 'advice' of the Prime Minister (who also takes 'advice')). The people elected are usually experts in a certain field like economics, business or social care.

It is reviewed by the House of Lords who may vote on the issue and then sent on to the Queen (The main purpose of the House of Lords is to prevent the MPs from doing anything stupid). Technically the decision is only a recommendation of action for the Queen to take but the Queen always (must always) agree. With her permission the decision can be taken into effect.

And that, in a nutshell, is how the UK parliament works.