October 22nd, 2011 - Houses of Parlimanet

Today was a more in depth view of Parliament - which is why I held off explaining about it in earlier posts!  

Here is the entrance hall - which is the only area of the building photography is allowed in. Nelson Mandella stood in this room to address parliament - there is a plaque on the staircase that commemorates his speech. Also - all the kings and queens who have been apart of Parliament since it began have plaques on the floor.

Parliament was formed in England after the Barons wrote several Magna Cartas demanding for the powerful roles of the King to be altered. After the Monarchy was forced into signing the documents the House of Lords was formed informally and consisted of the highest ranking Lords that the King surrounded himself with. The House of Lords did not have a permanent meeting place until Westminster Palace was built - beginning with the Abbey. The first meetings of the House of Lords were impromptu and required those who were members to travel to whichever palace the King was residing in at the time the meeting was called.

Seats in the House of Lords used to be deferred by name. You became a member of the House of Lords by inheriting the seat from your father. Today - there are only about one third (or less) of the seats in the House of Lords are giving by right - the others are elected into their seats. 

It is important to note that  - for a long time - only the King and the Lords decided on taxes, laws, and manifestos. There was no House of  Commons in the earliest days of Parliament. However, after much revolt and - later- organized rallying the House of Commons was started and the power split between the King, The Lords, and The People.

When Parliament was first built The House of Commons did not have a chamber. The Commons did not receive a chamber until they could prove they could be civilized. The House of Commons - for a long time- convened in the Charter House at Westminster Abbey. After the first Parliament building was constructed - the Commons met in a Chapel - which still exists today - at least the below original below round sanctuary does - until the great fire.  It was largly thanks to the fire that the existing Parliament building was constructed. 

The building that stands today is roughly three time the size of the original parliament building. The design is a mixture of Classical and Gothic revival.  Parliament was designed to be symmetrical and the House of Lords and House of Commons are on either side of a long gallery and the Throne of the Monarchy and Leaders Chair in the House of Commons can be seen when looking down the gallery from opposite sides. 

The House of Lords was moved - from its original position - which now functions as the reception room for the House of Lords - because of the Gun Powder Plot. The rooms below the ground floor of Parliament are now sealed off . 

The tour of Parliament is definitely worth it. There is beautiful gilding, decoration, and tapestry throughout the House of Lords as well as more elegant and less flamboyant decoration in the House of Commons. There is also amazing statuary in the ante-chambers of each house - either in full form or bust form - of the Prime Ministers and honorary members of each house.

Outside the House of Commons are two full body statues commemorating Margaret Thatcher - whose statue was comissioned to commemorate her being Britian's first female Prime Minister- and of course Winston Churchill who saw London through World War II and the Blitz.

The tour also takes you through the Queens' private rooms. There are beautiful portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as well as friezes, tapestries, recreations of portraits, and beautiful artistry on the walls and ceilings. 

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

To symbolize the roles of power in Parliament - the opening ceremony (now taking place every Spring (instead of in November)) occurs. The Queen - along with her affects goes to Parliament and the House of Lords.  Once the assembly is present she sends a messenger down the gallery to the House of Commons.

The Commons leave one door open - but when they see the messenger coming they slam the door in his face. Then - the messenger wraps on the door and a member of the House of Commons opens a hatch. When he sees there is no army he amiably opens the doors. 

This ritual is done to symbolize when Charles I - the only monarch in history to do so - marched down the gallery with a band of soldiers and attempted to arrest a member of the House of Commons for not agreeing to the law he wanted passed.  Preceding him and after no other Monarch has left the seat in the House of Lords  instead sending a messenger . 

BILL TO LAW

1. First Reading: the name of the bill is read in both houses.

2. Second Reading: the bill is read by both houses.

3. Debate: The bill is read in detail and debated - suggestions are made for alteration. 

4. Repeat  1-2.

5.  Vote - if one house says 'No' the bill  recycles and goes through the process again.

Keep in mind that I have put the steps into 5, when really steps 1 and 2 are completed separately by both Houses - meaning that First the House of Commons goes through the process and then the House of Lords.  Once both houses vote the bill in the Queen must sign it into law.

It is definitely worth a visit for those interested in politics, laws, and architecture. 

~ H.C.