Hansard SocietyWorking to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the UK and around the world.LatestresearchAudit of Political EngagementNow in its 14th year, each Audit measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain about politics and the political process. W… blogAudit 14 key findings (video)Explore the key findings from the 14th annual Audit of Political Engagement in this short video and learn about the state of public attitudes towards politics in 2017… blogParliamentary democracy or referendums? Public attitudes to decision-makingAfter four referendums in six years – two UK-wide and one each in Scotland and Wales – our latest annual Audit of Political Engagement shows that the public exhibit declining support for more of t… blogTaking back control? Initial thoughts on the Great Repeal Bill White PaperIn the newly published White Paper, the government makes much of the theme ‘taking back control’. But the paper’s content does little to alleviate the fear that it is the executive, not Parliament… eventsLaunch of the Audit of Political Engagement 14: the 2017 reportJoin the authors of the 2017 Audit of Political Engagement as they present their findings alongside a panel of leading commentators, and explore how one of the most consequential acts of democrati… researchBrexit and ParliamentBrexit could strengthen Parliament or weaken it. This applies to its standing in relation to both the government and the public. Given the promise that leaving the EU means ‘taking back control’, … PrevNextOur workresearchAudit of Political EngagementNow in its 14th year, each Audit measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain about politics and the political process. W… researchBrexit and ParliamentBrexit could strengthen Parliament or weaken it. This applies to its standing in relation to both the government and the public. Given the promise that leaving the EU means ‘taking back control’, … researchWestminster LensThis data project enhances the provision of information and analysis about the scrutiny of primary and secondary legislation by the Westminster Parliament. It draws on our unique Statutory Instrum… researchParliaments, Public Engagement and Poverty ReductionThis research in Bangladesh and Ethiopia explores what role parliamentary public engagement plays in tackling poverty reduction, through the work of MPs as both legislators and constituency repres… researchFuture Parliament: Restoration and Reform of the Palace of Westminster The proposed multi-billion pound refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster presents a rare one-in-150 year opportunity to reform the leading institution of our democracy… researchDelegated LegislationMost of the UK’s general public law is made not through Acts of Parliament but through delegated legislation. It is crucial to the effective operation of government and affects millions of people … researchA Year in the Life: From Member of Public to Member of ParliamentWhat is it like to be a newly elected Member of Parliament? This comparative research study of the first year experience of newly elected legislators in four different institutions tells the story… PrevNextEventseventsLaunch of the Audit of Political Engagement 14: the 2017 reportJoin the authors of the 2017 Audit of Political Engagement as they present their findings alongside a panel of leading commentators, and explore how one of the most consequential acts of democrati… eventsFuture Parliament: Hacking the Legislative Process // Capacity, Scrutiny, EngagementFrom finance to healthcare, technology has transformed the way we live, work and play, with innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Can it also have a role in how we make o… eventsIt's Brexit... So What Now for Parliament?What does the decision to leave the EU mean for Parliament? What role will MPs and Peers want in relation to the exit negotiations and what will it mean for the legislative and scrutiny process?… eventsLord Speaker Hustings 2016On 25 May the Hansard Society hosted the hustings for the Lord Speaker in the Robing Room in the House of Lords… eventsLaunch of the 2016 Audit of Political EngagementThe authors of the 2016 Audit of Political Engagement present their findings and discuss how public attitudes towards politics, Parliament and MPs have changed over the past year with a panel of e… eventsMaking sense of May 7: the 2015 election and the future of British politicsOn 8 September we invited Professor John Curtice and other leading analysts to dissect the implications of the 2015 general election at the launch of the first major book on the campaign and its o… eventsTTIP: beneficial to our economy or a threat to our democracy?This TTIP Summit explored the biggest free trade negotiations in history and their implications for the future of people in Yorkshire and across the country… PrevNextBlogblogAudit 14 key findings (video)Explore the key findings from the 14th annual Audit of Political Engagement in this short video and learn about the state of public attitudes towards politics in 2017… blogParliamentary democracy or referendums? Public attitudes to decision-makingAfter four referendums in six years – two UK-wide and one each in Scotland and Wales – our latest annual Audit of Political Engagement shows that the public exhibit declining support for more of t… blogTaking back control? Initial thoughts on the Great Repeal Bill White PaperIn the newly published White Paper, the government makes much of the theme ‘taking back control’. But the paper’s content does little to alleviate the fear that it is the executive, not Parliament… blogGovernment squandered public education opportunity with dismissive response to anti-Trump state visit e-petitionLast week the government had the opportunity to engage directly with 1.8 million citizens. Presented with a communication opportunity on this scale, more thought and effort should have been applie… blog'Bonfire of the quangos' legislation fizzles outThe forthcoming Great Repeal Bill will be the most prominent piece of enabling legislation[^1] since the controversial Public Bodies Act 2011… blogParliaments around the world: what can architecture teach us about democracy?In a recent study of the plenary halls of every UN member-state legislature, Amsterdam-based architectural firm XML analysed the relationships between space, decision-making and democracy, explori… blogTrump, state visits and Parliament: precedent and processHistorically, it would be more unusual for US President Trump to have a state visit, or make an address in Westminster Hall, than not. The furore surrounding President Trump’s executive order on i… blogWhy Parliament needs a 'good Brexit'There are two scenarios for the way in which Parliament’s handling of Brexit affects its position in the UK’s democratic system – one in which Brexit strengthens the executive, and one in which Pa… blogCulture, design and filter bubbles: looking back at #FutureParliamentTo mark Parliament Week – a programme of activities connecting people across the UK with the Westminster Parliament – the Hansard Society hosted a half-day event to look at the problems with the l… blog"You can look, but don't touch!" Making the legislative process more accessibleCan technology help change the culture and practice of parliamentary politics, particularly around the legislative process?… PrevNext
researchAudit of Political EngagementNow in its 14th year, each Audit measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain about politics and the political process. W…
blogAudit 14 key findings (video)Explore the key findings from the 14th annual Audit of Political Engagement in this short video and learn about the state of public attitudes towards politics in 2017…
blogParliamentary democracy or referendums? Public attitudes to decision-makingAfter four referendums in six years – two UK-wide and one each in Scotland and Wales – our latest annual Audit of Political Engagement shows that the public exhibit declining support for more of t…
blogTaking back control? Initial thoughts on the Great Repeal Bill White PaperIn the newly published White Paper, the government makes much of the theme ‘taking back control’. But the paper’s content does little to alleviate the fear that it is the executive, not Parliament…
eventsLaunch of the Audit of Political Engagement 14: the 2017 reportJoin the authors of the 2017 Audit of Political Engagement as they present their findings alongside a panel of leading commentators, and explore how one of the most consequential acts of democrati…
researchBrexit and ParliamentBrexit could strengthen Parliament or weaken it. This applies to its standing in relation to both the government and the public. Given the promise that leaving the EU means ‘taking back control’, …
researchAudit of Political EngagementNow in its 14th year, each Audit measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain about politics and the political process. W…
researchBrexit and ParliamentBrexit could strengthen Parliament or weaken it. This applies to its standing in relation to both the government and the public. Given the promise that leaving the EU means ‘taking back control’, …
researchWestminster LensThis data project enhances the provision of information and analysis about the scrutiny of primary and secondary legislation by the Westminster Parliament. It draws on our unique Statutory Instrum…
researchParliaments, Public Engagement and Poverty ReductionThis research in Bangladesh and Ethiopia explores what role parliamentary public engagement plays in tackling poverty reduction, through the work of MPs as both legislators and constituency repres…
researchFuture Parliament: Restoration and Reform of the Palace of Westminster The proposed multi-billion pound refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster presents a rare one-in-150 year opportunity to reform the leading institution of our democracy…
researchDelegated LegislationMost of the UK’s general public law is made not through Acts of Parliament but through delegated legislation. It is crucial to the effective operation of government and affects millions of people …
researchA Year in the Life: From Member of Public to Member of ParliamentWhat is it like to be a newly elected Member of Parliament? This comparative research study of the first year experience of newly elected legislators in four different institutions tells the story…
eventsLaunch of the Audit of Political Engagement 14: the 2017 reportJoin the authors of the 2017 Audit of Political Engagement as they present their findings alongside a panel of leading commentators, and explore how one of the most consequential acts of democrati…
eventsFuture Parliament: Hacking the Legislative Process // Capacity, Scrutiny, EngagementFrom finance to healthcare, technology has transformed the way we live, work and play, with innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Can it also have a role in how we make o…
eventsIt's Brexit... So What Now for Parliament?What does the decision to leave the EU mean for Parliament? What role will MPs and Peers want in relation to the exit negotiations and what will it mean for the legislative and scrutiny process?…
eventsLord Speaker Hustings 2016On 25 May the Hansard Society hosted the hustings for the Lord Speaker in the Robing Room in the House of Lords…
eventsLaunch of the 2016 Audit of Political EngagementThe authors of the 2016 Audit of Political Engagement present their findings and discuss how public attitudes towards politics, Parliament and MPs have changed over the past year with a panel of e…
eventsMaking sense of May 7: the 2015 election and the future of British politicsOn 8 September we invited Professor John Curtice and other leading analysts to dissect the implications of the 2015 general election at the launch of the first major book on the campaign and its o…
eventsTTIP: beneficial to our economy or a threat to our democracy?This TTIP Summit explored the biggest free trade negotiations in history and their implications for the future of people in Yorkshire and across the country…
blogAudit 14 key findings (video)Explore the key findings from the 14th annual Audit of Political Engagement in this short video and learn about the state of public attitudes towards politics in 2017…
blogParliamentary democracy or referendums? Public attitudes to decision-makingAfter four referendums in six years – two UK-wide and one each in Scotland and Wales – our latest annual Audit of Political Engagement shows that the public exhibit declining support for more of t…
blogTaking back control? Initial thoughts on the Great Repeal Bill White PaperIn the newly published White Paper, the government makes much of the theme ‘taking back control’. But the paper’s content does little to alleviate the fear that it is the executive, not Parliament…
blogGovernment squandered public education opportunity with dismissive response to anti-Trump state visit e-petitionLast week the government had the opportunity to engage directly with 1.8 million citizens. Presented with a communication opportunity on this scale, more thought and effort should have been applie…
blog'Bonfire of the quangos' legislation fizzles outThe forthcoming Great Repeal Bill will be the most prominent piece of enabling legislation[^1] since the controversial Public Bodies Act 2011…
blogParliaments around the world: what can architecture teach us about democracy?In a recent study of the plenary halls of every UN member-state legislature, Amsterdam-based architectural firm XML analysed the relationships between space, decision-making and democracy, explori…
blogTrump, state visits and Parliament: precedent and processHistorically, it would be more unusual for US President Trump to have a state visit, or make an address in Westminster Hall, than not. The furore surrounding President Trump’s executive order on i…
blogWhy Parliament needs a 'good Brexit'There are two scenarios for the way in which Parliament’s handling of Brexit affects its position in the UK’s democratic system – one in which Brexit strengthens the executive, and one in which Pa…
blogCulture, design and filter bubbles: looking back at #FutureParliamentTo mark Parliament Week – a programme of activities connecting people across the UK with the Westminster Parliament – the Hansard Society hosted a half-day event to look at the problems with the l…
blog"You can look, but don't touch!" Making the legislative process more accessibleCan technology help change the culture and practice of parliamentary politics, particularly around the legislative process?…
