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The
Commons is
publicly elected. The party with the largest number of members in the
Commons forms the government. Members of the Commons (MPs)
debate the big political issues of the day and proposals for new
laws.
It
is one of the key places where government ministers, like the Prime
Minister and the Chancellor, and the principal figures of the main
political parties, work. The
Commons alone is responsible for making decisions on financial Bills,
such as proposed new taxes. The Lords can consider these Bills but
cannot block or amend them.
The
Lords are mostly appointed
by the Queen, a fixed number are elected internally and a limited
number of Church of England archbishops and bishops sit in the House
of Lords. 
The
Lords acts as a revising chamber for legislation and its work
complements the business of the Commons. The House of Lords is also
the highest court in the land: the supreme court of appeal. A group of
salaried, full-time judges known as Law Lords carries out this
judicial work
Debates
Both
Houses hold debates in which Members discuss government policy,
proposed new laws and current issues. Debates are designed to assist
MPs and Lords to reach an informed decision on a subject. Votes are
often held to conclude a debate, which may involve then passing or
rejecting a proposed new law (legislation) or simply registering their
opinion on a subject. All debates are recorded in a publication called
'Hansard'.
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