Welcome to the Hansard Society

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan, political research and education charity.

We aim to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics. At the heart of our work is the principle that civic society is most effective when its citizens are connected with the institutions and individuals who represent them in the democratic process. There has never been more urgency for Parliament to engage with the public.

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  • Should Lobbying Be Transparent?

    18:30, Wednesday 29 February
    Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster


  • Parliamentary Public Engagement - how's Westminster doing?

    UK Parliament compares well with legislatures around the world but can still learn from good practice elsewhere 

    A new report from the Hansard Society, Parliaments and Public Engagement: Innovation and Good Practice from Around the World, published today, reveals that the Westminster Parliament is one of the more innovative parliamentary institutions when it comes to engaging the public with its work but that there is still much it can learn from good practice in other countries. 

  • Westminster World Heritage Site and Parliament Square a national disgrace

    New vision which puts citizen and visitor at its heart is needed says new report from the Hansard Society

    A new report from the Hansard Society - A Place for People – Proposals for Enhancing Visitor Engagement with Parliament’s Environs - exploring how better use can be made of the Westminster World Heritage Site and Parliament Square concludes that rather than a place of national pride this landmark area is a national disgrace.






  • Lord Norton on the importance of Citizenship in schools

    Lord Norton Lord Norton, Professor of Government in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Hull and member of the Hansard Society's Advisory Council has written a staunch defence of Citizenship's place in the National Curriculum for Democratic Life:

    When I visit schools as part of the House of Lords ‘Peers in Schools’ programme, I begin by explaining why Parliament matters. Parliament matters because politics matter. We exist within a society where we are bound by rules. Politics constitute the means by which those rules are debated and agreed. Rules that are to have legal force – that constitute the law – are agreed by Parliament. Acts of Parliament are enforced by the courts, police and by other public agencies. Parliament is thus a central part of our constitutional arrangements. Government may wish to pursue a particular policy – that is, apply a particular rule – but that policy will not be enforceable until approved by Parliament.

  • Hansard Scholars Programme (Undergraduates)

    Are you an undergraduate interested in politics and current affairs? Would you enjoy studying and interning in the UK, at the heart of the parliamentary process, alongside key decision-makers and opinion-formers from Parliament, Government, campaign organisations, think tanks, lobbying groups, and the media? Would you enjoy a semester living in one of the most vibrant, exciting, and politically important cities in the world? Click this link to find out more!








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HeadsUp is an online debating space for 11-18 year-olds, to enable young people to discuss their views on political issues with their peers and influential decision-makers. It aims to build levels of political awareness and participation so that young people can play an effective role in the democratic processes affecting their lives. HeadsUp is also a space that politicians and political parties can use to consult with young people and find out their ideas, experiences and opinions.

The HeadsUp topic debates for 2011-2012 have now been decided and they include:

The Media (Nov 21-Dec 9, 2011)

The Family (March 5-23, 2012)

You and Society (April 30 -May 18, 2012)

Olympic and Paralympic Games (June 18 -July 6,  2012)

 

Citizenship Education

Citizenship Education >

Connecting young people with democracy

Digital Democracy

Digital Democracy >

Exploring the social and political impacts of digital media

Parliament and Government

Parliament & Government >

Research and ideas on Parliament and politics

Study and Scholars

Study & Scholars >

Learning about British politics from the inside

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