Page 78 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

76  L ONDON AREA B Y AREA

1 Houses of Parliament

For over 500 years the Palace of Westminster has been the
seat of the two Houses of Parliament, called the Lords and
the Commons. The Commons is made up of elected Members
of Parliament (MPs) of different political parties; the party –
or coalition of parties – with the most MPs forms the Govern­
ment, and its leader becomes prime minister. MPs from
other parties make up the Opposition. Commons debates
can become heated and are imparti ally chaired by an MP
designated as Speaker. The Government formulates legislation
which must be agreed to in both Houses before becoming law. . Commons Chamber
From this perspective, the
Government sits on the left,
the Opposition on the right,
and the Speaker presides from
a chair between them.

The mock-Gothic building was
designed by Victorian architect
Sir Charles Barry. Victoria Tower,
on the left, contains over three
million parliamentary records,
including every Act of Parliament
passed since 1497.

Big Ben
The vast bell was hung
in 1858 and chimes on
the hour; four smaller
ones ring on the quarter Entrance to
hours (see p78). Westminster Hall

KEY
1 Peers are members of the House
of Lords. They come from many
walks of life and bring experience
and knowledge from a wide range . Westminster Hall
of professions. This is their lobby. One of the surviving parts
2 The Royal Gallery is used for of the original Palace of
quiet work by members of the Lords, Westminster dates from
and occasional special events. 1097; its hammerbeam
roof is 14th-century.

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