How laws are made: online resources
Parliament explained articles
Get the basics about Parliament and what goes on there with these introductions to the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the role of the government.
Resources for KS4 students
For older students who want more detail, these resources provide a gateway into learning about real-world UK lawmaking.
Online games
MP For A Week
MPs play a big part in making laws for the UK. MP For A Week is a multi-level game aimed at 11-16 year olds. It lets students step into the shoes of a backbench MP.
- Play MP For A Week - Can you keep your party and voters happy? A special menu lets teachers jump straight to any individual activity or video in the game.
- Teachers' guide - Help to get the most out of this flexible resource.
MyUK
MyUK lets students take charge of Britain, choose and pass new laws, customise their country and create their very own version of the UK.
Film and video
You can browse our video bank and find a number of short film clips. Suitable for 11-18 year olds.
Interactive activities
Interactive whiteboard resources
Full of animations, quizzes and other activities, these interactive presentation tools will help students understand how laws are made.
Houses of History timeline
Houses of History tells the fascinating story of the Westminster Parliament, including many of the most important and influential laws passed by its members.
Lesson plans
A collection of resources for teaching in the classroom about lawmaking and the roles of Parliament and government.
- KS3: DIY Laws - A two-part lesson where students explore the process of a bill going through Parliament.
- KS4: Parliament and Government - Students explore the differences between the two institutions.
- KS4: How laws are made - Following on from Parliament and government students get to explore in more detail the law making process.
From parliament.uk
There are a range of resources across www.parliament.uk for finding out about lawmaking.
How lawmaking works
A selection of articles and explanations about how laws are made. Suitable for older students and those who want to know what goes on in a bit more detail.
- Making laws - A good overview of how law making works
- The passage of a bill (flash) - Animated diagram of how a bill moves through the Houses of Parliament to become a law.
Living Heritage resources
History-focused articles showing how Parliament and our system of lawmaking developed.
- The Commons as lawmakers - An overview of the birth of Parliament and how the House of Commons developed its role in lawmaking.
Best of the web
Free online education resources useful for supporting teaching and learning in citizenship, modern studies and political literacy.
Channel 4 education
A selection of fun articles, games and quizzes about lawmaking – the process and the concept including why we need laws, rights and responsibilities and emergency laws.
BBC: Democracy Live
The BBC Democracy Live website has a large pool of resources about what's happening in Parliament and how laws are made in each of the UK legislatures and assemblies.
National Assembly for Wales
A guide to how laws are made in the Welsh National Assembly.
Northern Ireland Assembly education resources
A good set of resources about the work of the Northern Ireland Assembly, including legislation and lawmaking.
Scottish Parliament
An easy-to-read guide about how the Parliament in Edinburgh works, including how laws are made.
Open University modules
Online modules covering the theory of rulemaking, as well as lawmaking in Parliament. Suitable for teachers and older students.
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