Hansard SocietyWorking to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the UK and around the world.Latestblog / 08 Sep, 17Who is in charge of the Palace of Westminster? Big Ben and parliamentary governanceThe summer’s row over the temporary silencing of Big Ben highlights confused and opaque decision-making structures governing the Palace of Westminster. This bodes ill…blog / 05 Sep, 17A Parliamentary Scrutiny Solution For The EU (Withdrawal) BillThe government has said that the ‘principal objective of leaving the EU is for Parliament to take back control of UK laws and policies’. The European Union (Withdrawa…resourcesTaking Back Control for Brexit and Beyond: Delegated Legislation, Parliamentary Scrutiny and the European Union (Withdrawal) BillAs drafted, the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will strengthen the hand of the executive, not Parliament, because of its provisions for delegated powers and their s…blog / 03 Sep, 17A summer without select committees - and why it must never happen againThe House of Commons returns on 5 September still without its select committees. By failing to get its select committees back up and running for so long after the gen…public event / 12 Sep, 17The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: Principles, Powers and ParliamentsThe day after the EU (Withdrawal) Bill is due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons and shortly before the Bill enters its committee stage for detaile…blog / 18 Jul, 17The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – initial reflections on the Bill’s delegated powers and delegated legislationThe powers set out in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (formerly known as the ‘Great Repeal Bill’) are some of the broadest constitutionally important provisions ever seen in…blog / 21 Jun, 17The State Opening of Parliament: history, tradition and what to expectThe State Opening of Parliament is one of the most anticipated events of the parliamentary year. Beamed to television and radio networks around the world, it has beco…resourcesA Numbers Game: Parliament and Minority GovernmentWith the country facing a hung Parliament how will a government be formed and then sustained in office? Plotting a roadmap through the constitutional issues, this pap…resourcesBack to Business: Procedure at the start of a new ParliamentExhausted by weeks of campaigning, the 650 successful MPs elected on 8 June will have just five days to rest and recharge their batteries before the new Parliament be…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 politic…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…researchWestminster Lens: Parliamentary DataThis data project enhances the provision of information and analysis about the scrutiny of primary and secondary legislation by the Westminster Parliament. It draws o…researchParliaments, Public Engagement and Poverty ReductionIn Bangladesh and Ethiopia progress has been made towards development goals even though parliamentary scrutiny is weak and political opposition constrained. This rese…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 democ…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 a…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 differen…PrevNextJoin our newsletterGet the latest updates on our research, services and events, together with expert comment and analysis, delivered to your inbox each month.Blogblog / 08 Sep, 17Who is in charge of the Palace of Westminster? Big Ben and parliamentary governanceThe summer’s row over the temporary silencing of Big Ben highlights confused and opaque decision-making structures governing the Palace of Westminster. This bodes ill…blog / 05 Sep, 17A Parliamentary Scrutiny Solution For The EU (Withdrawal) BillThe government has said that the ‘principal objective of leaving the EU is for Parliament to take back control of UK laws and policies’. The European Union (Withdrawa…blog / 03 Sep, 17A summer without select committees - and why it must never happen againThe House of Commons returns on 5 September still without its select committees. By failing to get its select committees back up and running for so long after the gen…blog / 18 Jul, 17The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – initial reflections on the Bill’s delegated powers and delegated legislationThe powers set out in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (formerly known as the ‘Great Repeal Bill’) are some of the broadest constitutionally important provisions ever seen in…blog / 21 Jun, 17The State Opening of Parliament: history, tradition and what to expectThe State Opening of Parliament is one of the most anticipated events of the parliamentary year. Beamed to television and radio networks around the world, it has beco…blog / 08 Jun, 17The Mock Elections 2017 national results are in!Results in at the national Mock Election headquarters show that the Labour Party has won the school election campaign across the country by a comfortable majority…blog / 06 Jun, 17Why schools play such an important role in creating strong and stable democraciesIn the run-up to the 2017 election, the issue of youth voting has once again returned to the fore in public debate, much as it did in 2015. Although there was an incr…blog / 05 Jun, 17Lessons for new select committees from the BHS inquiryWhen select committees in the new House of Commons look for a successful past inquiry from which to learn, they may well think of the inquiry into Sir Philip Green an…blog / 26 May, 17Deal or no deal? A parliamentary Brexit vote and the two-level gameTheir manifestos have confirmed that Labour rejects a ‘no deal’ Brexit, while the Conservatives believe ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’. This difference has impli…PrevNextEventspublic event / 12 Sep, 17The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: Principles, Powers and ParliamentsThe day after the EU (Withdrawal) Bill is due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons and shortly before the Bill enters its committee stage for detaile…public event / 26 Apr, 17Launch 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 c…public event / 14 Nov, 16Future 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 als…public event / 18 Jul, 16It'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 legis…public event / 25 May, 16Lord Speaker Hustings 2016On 25 May the Hansard Society hosted the hustings for the Lord Speaker in the Robing Room in the House of Lords…public event / 14 Apr, 16Launch 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 t…public event / 08 Sep, 16Making 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…public event / 27 Mar, 15TTIP: 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…PrevNext
blog / 08 Sep, 17Who is in charge of the Palace of Westminster? Big Ben and parliamentary governanceThe summer’s row over the temporary silencing of Big Ben highlights confused and opaque decision-making structures governing the Palace of Westminster. This bodes ill…
blog / 05 Sep, 17A Parliamentary Scrutiny Solution For The EU (Withdrawal) BillThe government has said that the ‘principal objective of leaving the EU is for Parliament to take back control of UK laws and policies’. The European Union (Withdrawa…
resourcesTaking Back Control for Brexit and Beyond: Delegated Legislation, Parliamentary Scrutiny and the European Union (Withdrawal) BillAs drafted, the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will strengthen the hand of the executive, not Parliament, because of its provisions for delegated powers and their s…
blog / 03 Sep, 17A summer without select committees - and why it must never happen againThe House of Commons returns on 5 September still without its select committees. By failing to get its select committees back up and running for so long after the gen…
public event / 12 Sep, 17The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: Principles, Powers and ParliamentsThe day after the EU (Withdrawal) Bill is due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons and shortly before the Bill enters its committee stage for detaile…
blog / 18 Jul, 17The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – initial reflections on the Bill’s delegated powers and delegated legislationThe powers set out in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (formerly known as the ‘Great Repeal Bill’) are some of the broadest constitutionally important provisions ever seen in…
blog / 21 Jun, 17The State Opening of Parliament: history, tradition and what to expectThe State Opening of Parliament is one of the most anticipated events of the parliamentary year. Beamed to television and radio networks around the world, it has beco…
resourcesA Numbers Game: Parliament and Minority GovernmentWith the country facing a hung Parliament how will a government be formed and then sustained in office? Plotting a roadmap through the constitutional issues, this pap…
resourcesBack to Business: Procedure at the start of a new ParliamentExhausted by weeks of campaigning, the 650 successful MPs elected on 8 June will have just five days to rest and recharge their batteries before the new Parliament be…
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 politic…
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…
researchWestminster Lens: Parliamentary DataThis data project enhances the provision of information and analysis about the scrutiny of primary and secondary legislation by the Westminster Parliament. It draws o…
researchParliaments, Public Engagement and Poverty ReductionIn Bangladesh and Ethiopia progress has been made towards development goals even though parliamentary scrutiny is weak and political opposition constrained. This rese…
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 democ…
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 a…
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 differen…
blog / 08 Sep, 17Who is in charge of the Palace of Westminster? Big Ben and parliamentary governanceThe summer’s row over the temporary silencing of Big Ben highlights confused and opaque decision-making structures governing the Palace of Westminster. This bodes ill…
blog / 05 Sep, 17A Parliamentary Scrutiny Solution For The EU (Withdrawal) BillThe government has said that the ‘principal objective of leaving the EU is for Parliament to take back control of UK laws and policies’. The European Union (Withdrawa…
blog / 03 Sep, 17A summer without select committees - and why it must never happen againThe House of Commons returns on 5 September still without its select committees. By failing to get its select committees back up and running for so long after the gen…
blog / 18 Jul, 17The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – initial reflections on the Bill’s delegated powers and delegated legislationThe powers set out in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (formerly known as the ‘Great Repeal Bill’) are some of the broadest constitutionally important provisions ever seen in…
blog / 21 Jun, 17The State Opening of Parliament: history, tradition and what to expectThe State Opening of Parliament is one of the most anticipated events of the parliamentary year. Beamed to television and radio networks around the world, it has beco…
blog / 08 Jun, 17The Mock Elections 2017 national results are in!Results in at the national Mock Election headquarters show that the Labour Party has won the school election campaign across the country by a comfortable majority…
blog / 06 Jun, 17Why schools play such an important role in creating strong and stable democraciesIn the run-up to the 2017 election, the issue of youth voting has once again returned to the fore in public debate, much as it did in 2015. Although there was an incr…
blog / 05 Jun, 17Lessons for new select committees from the BHS inquiryWhen select committees in the new House of Commons look for a successful past inquiry from which to learn, they may well think of the inquiry into Sir Philip Green an…
blog / 26 May, 17Deal or no deal? A parliamentary Brexit vote and the two-level gameTheir manifestos have confirmed that Labour rejects a ‘no deal’ Brexit, while the Conservatives believe ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’. This difference has impli…
public event / 12 Sep, 17The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: Principles, Powers and ParliamentsThe day after the EU (Withdrawal) Bill is due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons and shortly before the Bill enters its committee stage for detaile…
public event / 26 Apr, 17Launch 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 c…
public event / 14 Nov, 16Future 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 als…
public event / 18 Jul, 16It'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 legis…
public event / 25 May, 16Lord Speaker Hustings 2016On 25 May the Hansard Society hosted the hustings for the Lord Speaker in the Robing Room in the House of Lords…
public event / 14 Apr, 16Launch 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 t…
public event / 08 Sep, 16Making 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…
public event / 27 Mar, 15TTIP: 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…
