📚 The main functions of parliament | 议会的主要职能
In the UK, Parliament is the supreme legislative body, consisting of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch. Its main functions shape how laws are made, how government is held to account and how citizens are represented. Understanding these functions is essential for any A-Level Government and Politics student, especially when studying the Edexcel specification.
在英国，议会是最高立法机构，由下议院、上议院和君主组成。它的主要职能决定了法律如何制定、政府如何受到问责以及公民如何获得代表。理解这些职能对于任何学习 A-Level 政府与政治的学生都至关重要，尤其是在学习 Edexcel 考试大纲时。
1. What is Parliament? | 议会是什么
Parliament is the central institution of the UK political system. It is bicameral, meaning it has two chambers: the elected House of Commons and the largely appointed House of Lords. The monarch’s role is now largely ceremonial, giving royal assent to legislation but not actively debating or blocking bills.
议会是英国政治体系的核心机构。它实行两院制，即由选举产生的下议院和主要经任命产生的上议院。君主的角色如今主要是礼仪性的，负责御准立法，但不会积极参与辩论或否决法案。
The House of Commons is composed of 650 Members of Parliament (MPs), each elected from a single-member constituency. The House of Lords includes life peers, hereditary peers and bishops. The Commons is the dominant chamber because it is democratically elected and controls the government’s mandate.
下议院由 650 名议员组成，每名议员从单选区选举产生。上议院包括终身贵族、世袭贵族和主教。下议院是主导性议院，因为它由民主选举产生并掌控着政府的执政授权。
2. Legislation | 立法职能
Parliament’s most visible function is to pass laws. A bill must go through several stages in both Houses before receiving royal assent. Most bills are public bills introduced by the government, but private members’ bills, private bills and hybrid bills also exist.
议会最明显的职能是通过法律。一项法案在获得御准之前必须在两院经过多个阶段。大多数法案是政府提出的公法案，但也存在私人议员法案、私法案和混合法案。
The legislative process includes first reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading. The House of Lords can amend and delay bills, but the Commons ultimately prevails under the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, which allow the Commons to pass a bill without Lords approval after a delay of one year.
立法程序包括一读、二读、委员会阶段、报告阶段和三读。上议院可以修改和拖延法案，但根据 1911 年和 1949 年《议会法》，下议院最终占据主导地位，该法允许下议院在拖延一年后无需上议院同意即可通过法案。
- Public bills — 公法案
- Private members’ bills — 私人议员法案
- Private bills — 私法案
- Hybrid bills — 混合法案
3. Scrutiny of the executive | 对行政机关的审查
Parliament holds the government to account through questions, select committees and debates. MPs and peers can question ministers, examine policy and demand evidence. This scrutiny helps to prevent executive dominance and exposes policy weaknesses.
议会通过质询、特别委员会和辩论对政府进行问责。议员和贵族可以质询大臣、审查政策并要求提供证据。这种审查有助于防止行政权力过度集中，并暴露政策弱点。
Key scrutiny mechanisms include Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), departmental select committees, urgent questions and opposition day debates. Select committees are particularly influential because they can summon ministers, civil servants and external experts to give evidence under oath.
关键的审查机制包括首相问答、部门特别委员会、紧急质询和反对党日辩论。特别委员会尤其具有影响力，因为它们可以传唤大臣、公务员和外部专家在宣誓后作证。
- Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) — 首相问答
- Departmental select committees — 部门特别委员会
- Urgent questions — 紧急质询
- Opposition day debates — 反对党日辩论
4. Representation | 代表职能
MPs are elected to represent constituency interests and wider national concerns. The trustee model and delegate model describe different approaches to representation. A trustee uses their own judgement, while a delegate follows the views of their constituents.
议员经选举产生，代表选区利益和更广泛的国家关切。受托模式和委托模式描述了代表的不同方式。受托人依据自己的判断行事，而委托人则遵循选民的意愿。
In practice, most MPs combine these models. They hold constituency surgeries, respond to correspondence and raise local issues in Parliament, but they also vote according to their party whip and personal judgement on national matters.
在实践中，大多数议员结合了这两种模式。他们举办选区接待会、回复信件并在议会提出本地问题，但在国家事务上也会根据政党督导和个人判断进行投票。
5. Providing government | 组建政府
By convention, the government is drawn from Parliament. The Prime Minister is normally the leader of the party with a Commons majority, and most ministers sit in Parliament. This ensures that the executive is accountable to the legislature.
按照惯例，政府产生于议会。首相通常是下议院多数党的领袖，大多数大臣也来自议会。这确保了行政机关对立法机关负责。
After a general election, the monarch invites the leader of the largest party to form a government. If no party has an overall majority, a hung parliament may lead to a coalition government or a minority government supported by confidence and supply agreements.
大选后，君主邀请最大政党领袖组建政府。如果没有政党获得绝对多数，悬浮议会可能导致联合政府或通过信任与供应协议维持的少数政府。
6. Financial control | 财政控制
Parliament must authorise taxation and public spending. The Budget and estimates are debated and approved by the Commons, giving Parliament control over the public purse. This is one of the oldest functions of Parliament, dating back to the principle of no taxation without representation.
议会必须批准税收和公共开支。预算和支出估算由下议院辩论并批准，使议会掌控公共财政。这是议会最古老的职能之一，可追溯到“无代表不纳税”的原则。
The Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office scrutinise government spending. The Commons alone has the power to approve financial measures; the Lords cannot block money bills.
公共账目委员会和国家审计署负责审查政府开支。只有下议院有权批准财政措施；上议院不能否决财政法案。
7. Debate and public accountability | 辩论与公共问责
Parliament provides a national forum for debate. Major issues are discussed publicly, and this helps to educate the public and expose different viewpoints. Debates in the Commons and Lords are broadcast and reported, influencing public opinion.
议会提供了一个全国性的辩论平台。重大问题得到公开讨论，这有助于教育公众并展示不同观点。下议院和上议院的辩论通过广播和媒体报道，影响公众舆论。
Westminster Hall debates and adjournment debates allow MPs to discuss specific issues that may not receive government time. These debates improve transparency and allow backbenchers to raise concerns directly with ministers.
威斯敏斯特厅辩论和休会辩论使议员能够讨论那些可能得不到政府时间的具体问题。这些辩论提高了透明度，并让后座议员能够直接向大臣提出关切。
8. Redress of grievances | 申诉处理
Citizens can raise concerns through their MP. Parliament offers mechanisms such as petitions, adjournment debates and the Parliamentary Ombudsman to address individual grievances. This function links Parliament directly to the needs of ordinary people.
公民可以通过自己的议员提出关切。议会提供请愿、休会辩论和议会监察专员等机制来处理个人申诉。这一职能将议会与普通民众的需求直接联系起来。
MPs regularly hold constituency surgeries where residents can present problems such as housing, immigration or benefits issues. The MP can then write to ministers, ask oral or written questions, or raise the matter in an adjournment debate.
议员定期举行政区接待会，居民可以在会上提出住房、移民或福利等问题。随后议员可以致函大臣、提出口头或书面质询，或在休会辩论中提出该事项。
9. Legitimation | 合法化职能
By approving legislation and government actions, Parliament grants democratic legitimacy. This function is essential in a representative democracy because it links the government to the consent of the governed.
通过批准立法和政府行为，议会赋予其民主合法性。这一职能在代议制民主中至关重要，因为它将政府与被统治者的同意联系起来。
Laws passed by Parliament are seen as legitimate because the House of Commons is elected. Even though the House of Lords is unelected, its revising role operates within limits set by the elected chamber, so ultimate authority rests with the people’s representatives.
议会通过的法律被视为合法，因为下议院是由选举产生的。尽管上议院不是选举产生的，但其审查作用在民选议院设定的范围内进行，因此最终权力属于人民代表。
10. Recruitment and ministerial training | 人才招募与部长培养
Parliament acts as a recruiting ground for future ministers. Serving in the Commons or Lords gives politicians experience in debate, scrutiny and policy-making. Many ministers first serve as backbenchers or junior members before promotion.
议会是未来大臣的选拔基地。在下议院或上议院任职使政治人物获得辩论、审查和政策制定方面的经验。许多大臣在晋升前都曾担任后座议员或初级成员。
This function ensures that ministers understand parliamentary procedure and are accustomed to defending policy under pressure. It also provides a pool of talent from which the Prime Minister can choose cabinet members.
这一职能确保大臣熟悉议会程序，并习惯于在压力下为政策辩护。它还为首相提供了一个人才库，供其挑选内阁成员。
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