What is the House of Commons?
The House of Commons is the elected lower house of the UK Parliament. It has 650 Members of Parliament, each representing a constituency, and is where most laws are debated and the government is formed.
MPs are elected at general elections using the first-past-the-post system. The party that wins a majority of seats usually forms the government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.
The House of Commons meets in the Palace of Westminster. Its chamber is famous for its green benches, with the government on one side and the opposition on the other.
The Speaker
Debates are chaired by the Speaker, who keeps order and calls MPs to speak. The Speaker is politically neutral and must give up party allegiance.
The distance between the two front benches is traditionally said to be two sword lengths.
The chamber was destroyed by bombing in 1941 and rebuilt after World War II.
There are not enough seats for all 650 MPs, so during busy debates some must stand. MPs vote by walking through division lobbies.