Home
>
You can help
>
Campaign with us
>
Campaigns Handbook
>
Step 3: Identify and influence your target
>
Targets - how the system works
My Breakthrough
The UK Parliament
There are two chambers, or ‘houses’, in Parliament. The House of Commons, made up of MPs, and the House of Lords, made up of Lords (also known as peers).
Every constituency in the UK elects an MP to sit in the House of Commons, which, along with the House of Lords, spends most of its time debating new laws and looking at the work of the Government. The political party with the most MPs forms the Government, and the leader of that party and of the Government is the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister chooses ministers to work closely with him in the Cabinet, the highest decision-making body of Government. The Cabinet makes and controls government policy and oversees the work of government departments, including the Department of Health. Members of the Cabinet are usually elected MPs but can also be peers from the House of Lords. Most members of the Cabinet are the head of a particular government department (the Secretary of State for Health, for example) and are responsible for the work of that department.
For more information about the UK Parliament visit www.parliament.uk.
The Prime Minister chooses ministers to work closely with him in the Cabinet, the highest decision-making body of Government. The Cabinet makes and controls government policy and oversees the work of government departments, including the Department of Health. Members of the Cabinet are usually elected MPs but can also be peers from the House of Lords. Most members of the Cabinet are the head of a particular government department (the Secretary of State for Health, for example) and are responsible for the work of that department.
Your influence
- Target the Prime Minister or Secretary of State for Health by contacting your MP – a useful ‘route of influence’. Ask him/her to support your breast cancer campaign using the Parliamentary mechanisms available to them. These include:
- Asking Parliamentary Questions.
- Speaking in a health debate about your campaign.
For more information about the UK Parliament visit www.parliament.uk.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
If you're campaigning in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland there are different structures.
