World
Fact-checked

At CulturalWorld, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

In Britain, what is an MP?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

In Britain, a Member of Parliament is known as an MP. Specifically, MPs are members of the House of Commons, the lower house in the British bicameral legislature system. They are democratically elected by residents of the districts which they represent, and once elected they serve a term of four to five years in Westminster, acting as legislators and representing the interests of the British people.

In order to serve as an MP, someone must be over 18 and a British citizen or a citizen of a Commonwealth nation. In addition, he or she must not be bankrupt or subject to certain legal actions. Certain people are excluded from running for the House of Commons because of their positions; current serving military, and certain Crown officials, for example, may not run for election. In addition, an MP must be mentally sound.

An MP is the common term for a member of the British Parliament's House of Commons.
An MP is the common term for a member of the British Parliament's House of Commons.

Someone who wants to run as an MP generally runs with the sponsorship of a specific political party, and is required to file paperwork indicating his or her intent to run. Political campaigns by MPs typically include advertising, public events, debates, and other schemes to get them in the public eye. Many MPs have some sort of experience in working with the law or in government, although this is not required.

Britain uses a bicameral legislative system.
Britain uses a bicameral legislative system.

The length of an MP's term in Parliament is generally around five years. By tradition, Parliament is dissolved by the monarch in cooperation with the Prime Minister for the purpose of holding an election to bring new Members of Parliament in. By British law, a parliament cannot sit for more than five years, so these dissolutions usually take place at five year intervals. When the House of Commons meets at the start of a new term, a speaker is elected to supervise their meetings, and he or she typically serves for the entire five year term.

The British legislature is extremely complex, and it has a number of interesting quirks. For example, an MP may not officially resign from the House of Commons, since he or she has agreed to serve a constituency. However, when an MP does need to leave office, he or she can engage in a legal fiction by applying for a position to serve the Crown which will exempt the MP from service in the House of Commons. Two Crown positions are typically used for this purpose: the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, and Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds. These positions are sinecures, meaning that the person in office need not do any work, but because they would create a conflict of interest with serving in Parliament, they effectively allow an MP to resign.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a CulturalWorld researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a CulturalWorld researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

BambooForest

I do think the article could be a bit clearer about what it means when Parliament dissolves- it also technically is a government that belongs to the monarch, but that is also mostly formality- the prime minister picks the main government leaders and then tells the queen, she has little real decision. Similarly, while parliament "dissolves" most of these people are able to run again, and do.

behaviourism

@donna61, it really isn't that different from the United States, though. While they change Parliament, it can often stay mostly the same; if the same party stays in power, they keep the same Prime Minister, and often the same MP will serve a district for multiple terms, much like the Senate and House of Representatives in the United States.

donna61

I read about this when I was doing research for a paper in a college class. We were comparing our government here in the United States to that of Britain's. I find it interesting that they turn over the Parliament every five years. I like that this gives the people new blood to help run the country.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • An MP is the common term for a member of the British Parliament's House of Commons.
      By: sborisov
      An MP is the common term for a member of the British Parliament's House of Commons.
    • Britain uses a bicameral legislative system.
      By: Ruslan Olinchuk
      Britain uses a bicameral legislative system.