House of Commons of the United Kingdom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids House of Commonsof the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
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| 58th UK Parliament | |
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Flag of the House of Commons
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| Type | |
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| Leadership | |
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Lindsay Hoyle
Since 4 November 2019 |
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Chairman of Ways and Means
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Eleanor Laing, Conservative
Since 8 January 2020 |
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Leader of the House
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Mark Spencer, Conservative
Since 8 February 2022 |
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Government Chief Whip
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Chris Heaton-Harris, Conservative
Since 8 February 2022 |
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Thangam Debbonaire, Labour
Since 9 May 2021 |
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 650 |
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Political groups
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Length of term
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Up to 5 years |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
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Last election
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12 December 2019 |
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Next election
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No later than 24 January 2025 |
| Redistricting | Recommendations by the boundary commissions; confirmation by Queen-in-Council. |
| Meeting place | |
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| House of Commons chamber Palace of Westminster City of Westminster London, England United Kingdom |
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The House of Commons is a very important part of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is like the main meeting place where elected representatives, called Members of Parliament (MPs), make decisions for the country. They meet in the famous Palace of Westminster in London, just like the House of Lords, which is the other part of Parliament.
There are 650 MPs in the House of Commons. People in different areas of the UK, called constituencies, vote for their MP. The person who gets the most votes in each area wins. MPs keep their jobs until Parliament is dissolved, which usually happens before a new election.
The idea of the House of Commons started a long, long time ago, in the 1200s and 1300s. It became the House of Commons of Great Britain in 1707 when Scotland joined with England and Wales. Then, in 1800, Ireland joined, and it became the House of Commons of Great Britain and Ireland. After Ireland became independent in 1922, it got its current name: the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The House of Commons is very powerful. The House of Lords can only delay new laws, not stop them completely. The government, led by the Prime Minister, must have the support of most MPs in the House of Commons to stay in power.
How MPs are Chosen
Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by people across the UK. Each MP represents a specific area, called a constituency. The election system used is called "first-past-the-post." This means the candidate who gets the most votes in their area wins the seat.
Once elected, an MP usually holds their seat for up to five years. After this time, or sometimes sooner, Parliament is dissolved. This means all MPs lose their seats, and a new general election is held to choose new representatives.
A Look at History
The House of Commons has a long and interesting history. It began to take shape in the 13th and 14th centuries. Back then, it was a group of people who represented towns and shires. They met to discuss taxes and laws with the King.
Over hundreds of years, the power of the House of Commons grew. By the 20th century, it became the most important part of Parliament. The House of Lords, which used to have equal power, now mostly advises and reviews laws. This change made the House of Commons the main place where laws are made and governments are formed.
Election Results Since 1945
This table shows how many seats the main political parties have won in general elections since 1945. The party with the most seats usually forms the government.
| Year | Conservative | Labour | Liberal & SDP | SNP | Others |
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| 1945 | 197 | 393 | 12 | 0 | 38 |
| 1950 | 298 | 315 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| 1951 | 321 | 295 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 1955 | Winston Churchill resigns and Anthony Eden becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 1955 | 345 | 277 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| 1957 | Anthony Eden resigns and Harold Macmillan becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 1959 | 365 | 258 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | Harold Macmillan resigns and Alec Douglas-Home becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 1964 | 304 | 317 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | 253 | 364 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970 | 330 | 288 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 1974 | 297 | 301 | 14 | 7 | 16 |
| 1974 | 277 | 319 | 13 | 11 | 15 |
| 1976 | Harold Wilson resigns and James Callaghan becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 1979 | 339 | 269 | 11 | 2 | 14 |
| 1983 | 397 | 209 | 23 | 2 | 19 |
| 1987 | 376 | 229 | 22 | 3 | 21 |
| 1988 | The Liberal and SDP parties merge and Form The Liberal Democrats | ||||
| Year | Conservative | Labour | Lib Dems | SNP | Others |
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| 1990 | Margaret Thatcher resigns and John Major becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 1992 | 336 | 271 | 20 | 3 | 21 |
| 1997 | 165 | 418 | 46 | 6 | 24 |
| 2001 | 166 | 413 | 52 | 5 | 23 |
| 2005 | 198 | 355 | 62 | 4 | 23 |
| 2007 | Tony Blair resigns and Gordon Brown Becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 2010 | 306 | 258 | 57 | 6 | 23 |
| 2015 | 330 | 232 | 8 | 56 | 24 |
| 2016 | David Cameron resigns and Theresa May becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 2017 | 317 | 262 | 12 | 35 | 24 |
| 2019 | Theresa May resigns and Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister | ||||
| 2019 | 365 | 202 | 11 | 47 | 24 |
Images for kids
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William Pitt the Younger addressing the Commons on the outbreak of the war with France (1793); painting by Anton Hickel.
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The House of Commons in the early 19th century by Augustus Pugin and Thomas Rowlandson.
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The old Chamber of the House of Commons built by Sir Charles Barry was destroyed by German bombs during the Second World War. The essential features of Barry's design were preserved when the chamber was rebuilt.
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The modern chamber, which opened following post-war reconstruction in 1950.
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The old House of Commons chamber, showing dark veneer on the wood, which was purposely made much brighter in the new chamber.
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The Speaker presides over debates in the House of Commons, as depicted in the above print commemorating the destruction of the Commons Chamber by fire in 1834.
See also
In Spanish: Cámara de los Comunes del Reino Unido para niños
