Parliament in the Making

The Houses of Parliament organised several events during 2015 as part of the "Parliament in the Making" programme.{{cite web|title=2015 anniversaries: Events|url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/2015-parliament-in-the-making/get-involved1/2015-parliament-in-the-making-events/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=22 January 2015}} These included exhibitions and talks about Winston Churchill that covered his involvement with the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which from 1801 to 1922 represented Great Britain and Ireland. A broader exhibition looked at the development of human rights and representation in the British Isles. The impact of Magna Carta on Parliament over the last 800 years was the subject of another exhibition. Furthermore, on Sunday 14 June 2015 at 3pm, Parliament encouraged everyone to "sit down to tea to celebrate, debate or reflect on their liberties" as part of an event called "LiberTeas".{{cite news|title=LiberTeas: debate Magna Carta over a cup of tea|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/11654064/LiberTeas-debate-Magna-Carta-over-a-cup-of-tea.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613215522/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/11654064/LiberTeas-debate-Magna-Carta-over-a-cup-of-tea.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2015|access-date=14 June 2015|work=The Telegraph|date=12 June 2015}}

The BBC broadcast a "Democracy Day" on 20 January 2015 to coincide with the 750th anniversary of Montfort's Parliament. It was broadcast in partnership with the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including broadcasts from inside the Palace of Westminster.{{cite web|title=Democracy Day|url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/2015-parliament-in-the-making/get-involved1/2015-parliament-in-the-making-events/bbc-democracy-day/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=20 January 2015}} Montfort's parliament of 1265 was the first time that representatives of towns and shires were summoned together with nobles and bishops to discuss matters of national concern, something which ultimately paved the way for the emergence of the House of Commons.{{cite news|title=Simon de Montfort: The turning point for democracy that gets overlooked|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30849472|access-date=19 January 2015|publisher=BBC|date=19 January 2015}}

During the day, live discussions were held about parliament, politics and democracy, which were participated in by people across the world. The first event was a discussion in the Speaker's House, led by Michael Sandel, professor of government at Harvard University, about democracy's "many facets, inherent tensions".{{cite journal |url=http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/01/democracy-debated-in-parliament/ |title=Democracy, debated in Parliament |date=20 January 2015 |author=Christine Heenan |journal=Harvard Gazette}} Other discussions addressed open data and transparency in government;{{cite news|title=UK government 'most transparent' in the world|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30883472?ocid=socialflow_twitter|access-date=21 January 2015|date=20 January 2015|publisher=BBC}} how the UK Parliament works;{{cite web|title=James Landale is joined by political and parliamentary correspondents to explain the work of all the parliaments of the United Kingdom and see them live in action.|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b050j4sq/democracy-day|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 January 2015|date=20 January 2015}} women in government; Islam and democracy; Africa and democracy; democracy and technology; and the influence of television dramas, in particular whether dramas such as The West Wing, Borgen or This House contribute to the public's understanding of the way politicians and government represent them or whether they adversely affect perceptions about this.{{cite web|title=Democracy to be examined and explored across the BBC on Democracy Day|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/democracy-day|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 January 2015}}

BBC Radio hosted a discussion with the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom.{{cite web|title=Democracy Day: Can modern democracy withstand threats to destabilise it?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02h939z|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 January 2015|date=20 January 2015}} BBC News opened up its internal editorial meetings to live broadcasts.{{cite news|title=BBC broadcasts its morning editorial meeting live for 'Democracy Day'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/bbc-broadcasts-its-morning-editorial-meeting-live-for-democracy-day--and-it-doesnt-quite-go-according-to-plan-9989757.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/bbc-broadcasts-its-morning-editorial-meeting-live-for-democracy-day--and-it-doesnt-quite-go-according-to-plan-9989757.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=27 January 2015|work=The Independent|date=20 January 2015}}

Articles published during the day include a review of memorable speeches from 750 years of Parliament,{{cite news|title=Memorable speeches from 750 years of Parliament|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30813661|access-date=21 January 2015|publisher=BBC|date=20 January 2015}} and a timeline of the development of democracy in the United Kingdom from 1215 to today.{{cite news|title=Developing democracy|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-30855192|access-date=21 January 2015|publisher=BBC|date=20 January 2015}}

Taking place concurrently with the Parliament in the Making programme, there were other events celebrating the same themes and anniversaries. In particular, the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta was celebrated throughout the United Kingdom as well as in the United States and other countries.{{cite web|title=The global event to which the whole world is invited|date=5 August 2011 |url=http://magnacarta800th.com/events/|publisher=Magna Carta 800th|access-date=24 January 2015}}

The BBC organised a season of programmes under the title "Taking Liberties". Consisting of television and radio broadcasts, as well as online content, these programmes addressed the history and influence of Magna Carta since its sealing eight centuries earlier. Programmes during the season also looked critically at contemporary democracy in the UK and worldwide.{{cite web|title=BBC marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta with Taking Liberties season|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/taking-liberties|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 January 2015}}

The British Library hosted an extensive exhibition under the title "Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy". The British Library described the exhibition as exploring "the history and significance of this globally-recognised document" which has become "a potent symbol of liberty and the rule of law". The exhibitions featured other celebrated international documents including Thomas Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence and an original copy of the United States Bill of Rights.{{cite web|title=Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy|url=http://www.bl.uk/events/magna-carta--law-liberty-legacy|publisher=The British Library|access-date=24 January 2015}} Furthermore, the four surviving original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta held by the British Library and the cathedrals of Lincoln and Salisbury were located in the same place for the first time ever at an event at the British Library on 3 February and displayed together again in Parliament on 5 February 2015.{{cite web|title=Making history: Four original surviving Magna Carta manuscripts are brought together for the first time|url=http://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2015/february/four-original-surviving-magna-carta-manuscripts-are-brought-together-for-the-first-time|publisher=The British Library|access-date=28 February 2015|date=2 February 2015}}{{cite web|title=Magna Carta in Parliament|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/february/magna-carta-and-parliament/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=28 February 2015|date=5 February 2015}}

The Parliament in the Making programme was intended to "raise awareness of our democratic heritage with Parliament at the heart of the story". The following table summarises some of the main events in the development of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

{| class="wikitable"

|-

!align=center| Act !!align=center| Date !!align=center| Description !!align=center| Effect

|-

| ||align=center| 1066 ||align=center| William of Normandy, feudal system, council of advisers ||align=center| Advisers are tenants-in-chief (a person who held land) and ecclesiastics

|-

| ||align=center| 1215 ||align=center| Magna Carta ||align=center| Confers rights on the nobility and barons

|-

| ||align=center| 1265 ||align=center| Simon de Montfort's Parliament ||align=center| First representative parliament

|-

| ||align=center| 1295 ||align=center| Edward I's Model Parliament adopts Montfort's scheme || align="center" | Also summoned knights and burgesses; historically became known as the summoning of "the Commons"

|-

| ||align=center| 1341 ||align=center| Commons first have a separate meeting ||align=center| First example of bicameral system; the emergence of Parliament as an institution

|-

|align=center| ||align=center| 1430, 1432 ||align=center| Introduction of formal property ownership qualification for voting rights, the forty shilling freeholders franchise ||align=center| New uniform county franchise

|-

|align=center| ||align=center| 1535, 1542 ||align=center| Union of England and Wales ||align=center| Wales became a full and equal part of the Kingdom of England

|-

| ||align=center| 1547 ||align=center| St Stephen's Chapel, in the Palace of Westminster became the meeting place of the House of Commons of England ||align=center|

|-

|align=center| Petition of Right ||align=center| 1628 ||align=center| Assert certain rights of Parliament and the individual ||align=center|Taxation requires parliamentary consent; writ of habeas corpus restated

|-

| ||align=center| 1649 ||align=center|Charles I executed ||align=center| Commonwealth of England

|-

| ||align=center| 1660 ||align=center| Restoration of the monarchy ||align=center|Culminated in the Glorious Revolution twenty-eight years later

|-

|align=center| Bill of Rights (England & Wales)
Claim of Right (Scotland) ||align=center| 1689 ||align=center| Assert certain rights of Parliament and the individual ||align=center| Contributed to parliamentary supremacy over the monarch; a landmark in the development of civil liberties in the United Kingdom

|-

|align=center| Acts of Union 1707 ||align=center| 1707 ||align=center| Union of England and Scotland ||align=center| Created the Parliament of Great Britain

|-

|align=center| Acts of Union 1800 ||align=center| 1801 ||align=center|Union of Great Britain and Ireland ||align=center| Created the Parliament of the United Kingdom

|-

|align=center| Great Reform Act, Second, and Third Reform Act ||align=center| 1832, 1867, 1884 ||align=center| Wider male franchise and more even representation ||align=center| See history of elections in the United Kingdom

|-

|align=center| Ballot Act 1872 ||align=center| 1872 ||align=center| Secret ballot ||align=center| See, for example, voting system

|-

|align=center| Parliament Act 1911 ||align=center| 1911 ||align=center| Payment of Members of Parliament introduced; reduced the maximum term of a parliament from seven years to five ||align=center| With Parliament Act 1949, supremacy of the House of Commons

|-

|align=center| Representation of the People Act 1918 ||align=center| 1918 ||align=center| Universal male franchise and franchise expanded to include some women (above age 30 and meeting certain conditions) ||align=center| All male adults and c. 40% of adult women gained suffrage (dependent on marital status, property ownership)

|-

|align=center| Equal Franchise Act 1928 ||align=center| 1928 ||align=center| Universal male and female suffrage from age 21 ||align=center| Electoral equality between women and men

|-

|align=center| Representation of the People Act 1969 ||align=center| 1969 ||align=center| Voting age lowered to 18 ||align=center| Franchise expanded

|}

During his May 2011 state visit to the United Kingdom, United States President Barack Obama gave a speech to both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall which made reference to the role of Parliament in developing democracy, rights and liberties.{{cite news|title=Obama: The West still leads the world in the 21st century|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/25/114770/obama-the-west-still-leads-the.html|work=McClatchy Newspapers|access-date=14 June 2015|date=25 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626151829/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/25/114770/obama-the-west-still-leads-the.html|archive-date=26 June 2015}}{{cite web |date=25 May 2011 |title=Remarks by the President to Parliament in Westminster Hall, London, United Kingdom |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/25/remarks-president-parliament-london-united-kingdom |access-date=26 May 2011 |work=whitehouse.gov |via=National Archives}}

{{blockquote|Centuries ago, when kings, emperors, and warlords reigned over much of the world, it was the English who first spelled out the rights and liberties of man in the Magna Carta. It was here, in this very hall, where the rule of law first developed, courts were established, disputes were settled, and citizens came to petition their leaders. Over time, the people of this nation{{nbs}}... would ultimately forge an English Bill of Rights, and invest the power to govern in an elected parliament that's gathered here today. What began on this island would inspire millions throughout the continent of Europe and across the world{{nbs}}... As Winston Churchill said, the "…Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, and English common law find their most famous expression in the American Declaration of Independence." {{nbs}}... [W]e have learned better than most that the longing for freedom and human dignity is not English or American or Western – it is universal, and it beats in every heart.|}}

{{Portal|United Kingdom}}

• Constitution of the United Kingdom
• History of the constitution of the United Kingdom
• UK Parliament Week
• The History of Parliament
• Westminster system

{{reflist|35em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150128114546/http://www.parliament.uk/2015 Parliament in the Making website]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/30876658 Democracy Day live reporting]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-30734123 Democracy Day website]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/sections/taking-liberties BBC 'Taking Liberties' website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160109170532/http://liberteas.co.uk/ LiberTeas website]

Category:Parliament of the United Kingdom

Category:Politics of the United Kingdom

Category:Civil rights and liberties in the United Kingdom

Category:2015 in the United Kingdom

Category:2015 in British politics