Monday 30 July 2007

Houses of Parliament ~ 13 July 2007

Much of the Parliament building had been rebuilt in 1845 after a fire. It also suffered some damage during the air raids of World War II. The House of Commons, within Parliament, was rebuilt in 1950. Parliament is divided into two houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is made up of 660 representatives, which are elected at least every 5 years. The House of Commons holds the power to create legislation, whereas the House of Lords only has the power to amend legislation. The House of Lords was established in 1996, and it contains 760 members. The Lords and Ladies are nominated by the Prime Minister and tend to be professionals who have been successful in their field. When a new Prime Minister is elected, it is not the individual whom the people are voting for; they are voting only for the political party in general (either Labor or Conservative).

Some examples in the collection that we viewed include: the death warrant for Charles I (1640), signed with seals; portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; the Royal Gallery with two large murals depicting the Napoleonic Wars; a series of volumes that hold the Congressional Records; and Westminster Hall (preserved from the 14th century) where William Wallace, among other criminals, was held on trial. Some of the personnel that make up Parliament's staff are: stenographers, clerks, messengers to go between Houses, security staff, tour guides, the members of the House of Commons (who are organized into committees with chairmen) and the House of Lords, the Cabinet members, the Sergeant-at-arms and his soldiers, as well as the officials who are senior civil servants.

I found it very interesting to uncover more of the history behind the Parliament building, which goes beyond its current function. It used to be a royal palace; in fact, the last monarch to live there was King Henry VIII. I appreciated learning about the political process in England. One fact of note is that a vote here is called a "division." :)
To examine the Houses of Parliament from a librarian's perspective gave me a deep appreciation for how much history is preserved within those walls and the artifacts they display, and for how the history still relates to the current political practices. I felt a tingle of awe as the tour guide pointed out the seat at the end of a first row in the House of Commons, against which I was standing, as the seat where Margaret Thatcher sat. We also saw a bronze statue of Thatcher, standing sure and strong. She was such an influential politician and a woman whom I admire. So, it was neat to see how Parliament still incorporates its history as it is constantly being created, to make it more than just a location to debate bills, but also a collection that enriches the public.

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