Words / B2

PAHL-uh-m-uh-nt/ˈpɑːləmənt/

Parliament is the law-making assembly: sit in parliament, pass through parliament, the UK Parliament (Commons and Lords). Government runs the country day to day; parliament makes and scrutinises law. An MP sits in parliament. Parliamentary is the adjective. In speech, MPs / the Commons often stands in. Do not call a town council parliament, and do not confuse it with a building tour (the Palace of Westminster houses Parliament).

Meaning

The group of elected people who make a country’s laws (in the UK, the Houses of Parliament).

Examples

• “The bill will go back to parliament next week.”
• “The bill returns to parliament after the Lords’ amendments.”
• “Hung parliaments make coalitions more likely, which is the composition sense.”

Good to know

in parliament; pass a bill through parliament. Day-to-day executive: government. Person: MP. Adjective: parliamentary. Not a local council.

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