Origins of the British Parliament

Medieval Kings had to meet all royal expenses, private and public, out of their own income. If extra resources were needed for an emergency, such as going to war, the sovereign would seek help from his barons in the Great Council - a gathering of leading men who met several times a year.

During the 13th century, several English Kings found their own private revenue, together with aid from the barons, insufficient to meet the expenses of government. They therefore also called on representatives of counties, cities and towns to agree to additional taxation.

In time the Great Council came to include those who were summoned by name (who, broadly speaking, were later to form the House of Lords) and those who were representatives of communities - the Commons. These two groups, together with the sovereign, became known as 'Parliament' - a term meaning a meeting for parley or discussion.

Originally the sovereign's legislation needed only the agreement of his or her councillors. Later, starting with the right of individuals to present petitions, the Commons was eventually allowed to appeal to the Crown on behalf of groups of people.

In the 14th century, under King Edward III, it was accepted that there should be no taxation without parliamentary consent, still a fundamental principle today. In the 15th century, the Commons gained equal law-making powers with the Lords.

In the 17th century, tensions increased between Parliament and monarch, such that in 1641 the King and Parliament could not agree on the control of troops for repression of the Irish Rebellion. Civil war broke out the following year, leading to the execution of King Charles I in January 1649.

Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the role of Parliament was enhanced by the events of 1688-89 (the 'Glorious Revolution') and the passage of the Bill of Rights which established the authority of Parliament over the King, and enshrined in law the principle of freedom of speech in parliamentary debates.

The year 1707 brought the Union of England with Scotland and the first Parliament of Great Britain. Growing pressure for reform of Parliament in the 18th and 19th centuries led to a series of Reform Acts which extended the vote to most men over 21 in 1867 and, finally, to women over 21 in 1928.

The legislative primacy of the House of Commons over the Lords was confirmed in the 20th century by the passing of the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949.