MPs reflect on politics, popularity, parties, procedure and much, much more in these short video clips.
The world of Parliament
MPs explain some of the key institutions, procedures and processes that matter in Parliament.
On government and opposition
The two big teams in Parliament. The political party with the most MPs in Parliament gets to form the UK government and run the country. But what does the opposition do?
Debating and voting in the House of Commons
Did you know votes in Parliament are called 'divisions'? Why's that? And MPs do a lot of debating in the House of Commons, but what makes for a persuasive speech?
Challenging and testing the government
MPs in opposition and on the backbenches have a few ways of finding out what's going on in government departments.
What are parliamentary questions?
MPs regularly get the chance to ask questions of ministers about what's going on in government departments. But what are MPs trying to find out, and what do they hope to achieve?
Select committees and government departments
The government is often under the microscope in select committees. Groups made up of MPs investigate matters of public interest by holding inquiries and checking the work of government departments.
On political parties
It's hard to understand the UK Parliament without understanding the role of political parties.
Party and Parliament
Most MPs belong to a political party. A party is a group of people who share similar ideas about how the country should be run. So, what makes parties so important in Parliament?
Voting, whips and the party line
MPs represent people from their constituencies, but they also represent the views of their own political party.
Elections and representing the people
Explore how MPs get to Parliament, and how they try to stay there by serving the people they represent.
Getting elected
There is one MP in Parliament for each of the 646 'constituencies' across the UK. But what is a constituency, and how does an MP come to represent one in the House of Commons?
How MPs represent their constituents
Every MP represents around 70,000 people living in their constituency. So what's involved with serving constituents? Is it possible to keep everyone happy?
Pressure groups and the media
Politics is about persuasion, and MPs get faced with a number of influences other than constituents and political parties.
Dealing with the media
TV, newspapers and the web are the public platforms on which MPs campaign, explain their decisions and communicate their work in Parliament to their constituents. Dealing with the media can be tricky though.
What kinds of people want to meet and influence MPs?
Lots of different people and groups try to influence lawmaking and discussion in Parliament. Who do you think MPs listen to the most when they are voting in the House of Commons?
Life on the back benches
By all accounts, it's a varied, busy job representing constituents, working in Westminster and deciding how to manage it all.
The work of a backbench MP
MPs debate and vote on new laws, check the work of the government, and represent their constituents. But there doesn't seem to be a typical week.
Making decisions, or how to be an MP
The constituency, the party and the press: just three views MPs might consider when making decisions. But what do they do when the choice is not clear?
Becoming unpopular
Keeping the party and constituents happy are a big part of what keeps an MP in Parliament. Three MPs talk about the consequences of making unpopular decisions.
Watched all the videos?
All the MPs above were interviewed for our online game MP For A Week, aimed at 11-16 year olds. Why not have a go yourself? Try stepping into the shoes of an MP...