Issues affecting all our lives are shaped and driven by Parliament.

與我們生活息息相關的各個議題是由國會所塑造及推動。

But how did it all begin, what does Parliament do all day and how do you fit in?

然而這一切是怎麼開始的呢，國會一整天都在做些什麼，而你跟它又有什麼關聯呢？

Parliament has evolved throughout its long history to become what it is today, changing over time to meet the needs of the people.

國會是經歷過漫長的歷史演進才演變至今日的樣子，它隨著時間改變來迎合大眾的需求。

Two key historical events began this process.

兩個重大的歷史事件開啟了這個進程。

In 1215, King John put his seal on Magna Carta and agreed to a list of 63 rules set out by a group of barons.

在西元 1215 年，約翰國王簽署了大憲章，同意由一群男爵所制定的六十三條規則。

This ensured for the first time that no one, not even the king, was above the law.

這確保了有史以來第一次，沒有任何一個人，甚至是國王，是凌駕於法律之上的。

Fifty years later, Simon de Montfort, for the first time, invited representatives of the towns and shires to his 1265 parliament.

五十年後，Simon de Montfort，第一次邀請鎮上以及諸郡的代表來到他 1265 年的國會。

These events established the foundations for the representative democracy we have today and from this point onwards, the power to make decisions for the nation passed, over time, from the monarch to Parliament.

這些事件設立了我們今日代議民主及民代的基礎，而為國家做決定的力量也隨著時間從貴族轉移到國會中。

Let's take a closer look at the UK Parliament today.

讓我們來更仔細地看今日的英國國會吧。

Parliament is made up of three parts – the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch.

國會由三個部分組成，下議院、上議院和君主。

The House of Commons is the elected chamber of Parliament.

下議院是國會經選舉產生的院。

It debates big issues, proposes laws, amends existing ones, and challenges the government's work.

它辯論重大的事件、制定法律、修改現有的法律及檢視政府的工作。

There are 650 Members of Parliament, or MPs, who each represent a constituency in the UK.

總共有六百五十名下院議員，又簡寫為 「MPs」，每一位都代表著英國的各選區。

They belong to either a political party or are independent, and are elected by constituents of the area they want to represent.

他們歸屬於某一個黨派或是無黨派，他們由自己想代表的選區選民投票產生。

The leader of the party that has the most MPs elected after a general election becomes the Prime Minister and heads up the government.

經過一次大選後，該黨獲得最多下院議員席次的領導人將成為首相，並帶領整個政府。

They choose a cabinet made up of 20 senior ministers who coordinate each government department's work.

他們選出一個由二十位資深部長所組成的內閣，這些部長互相協調各政府部門的工作。

Parties not in power are called the opposition. MPs from the opposition and government question the Government on policy and proposed laws.

不掌權的黨派稱為反對黨。反對黨及政府中的下院議員質詢政府關於有關政策和提出的法律。

The speaker keeps the house in order by chairing these debates.

議長主持這些辯論以維持下議院的秩序。

The House of Lords is the second chamber and shares the making and shaping of laws with the House of Commons.

上議院是第二個議院，它與下議院共同制定和塑造法律。

It has around 800 members and it's made up mostly of life peers, and also includes hereditary peers and bishops.

它有大約八百位成員，而它大多由一代貴族所組成，它也包含了世襲貴族及主教。

Lords are selected for their knowledge and experience, and hold government to account by using their expertise to look at laws and issues in detail.

上議院議員是因為他們的知識和經歷而被選上，他們用他們的專業知識仔細地檢視法律和各議題以主持政府。

The monarch's role is mainly ceremonial. They meet the Prime Minister once a week to hear what's going on in Parliament and formally agree every new law.

君主的職責比較多是儀式性的。他們每週和首相見一次面，了解國會正在做甚麼並正式地同意每一條新的法律。

But that's not all! There are also people working behind the scenes who support the work of Parliament: clerks, librarians, researchers and many more.

但不只如此！還有很多在背後工作支持國會任務的人；辦事員、圖書館員、研究員和更多。

The government has been elected to run the country, and Parliament holds the government to account for us, the public… but how?

政府經由選舉來帶領整個國家，而國會監督政府以對我們，就是人民負責…但這是怎麼運作的呢？！

Prime Minister's questions and ministerial questions give MPs and Lords the opportunity to challenge the government's policies.

首相的問題及各部長的問題讓下院議員和上院議員有機會質詢政府的政策。

It's in these debates that they can share the views of their constituents and the public and how new policies may affect them.

正是經由這些辯論讓他們可以分享自己所代表的選區選民和大眾的想法，以及新政策對他們可能的影響。

Another important way Parliament can scrutinize or look in detail at the work of government is through select committees.

另一個國會可以仔細檢查，詳細檢視政府的重要方法是透過特別委員會。

Select committees analyse and scrutinise policy. They are made up of either MPs, Lords or a mixture of both.

特別委員會分析及仔細檢查政策。他們由下院議員或是上院議員組成，或是兩者混合組成。

Together committee members look at a particular subject and make recommendations on improvements.

特別委員會一起檢視特定的主題，並提出改進的建議。

Witnesses with expertise in the area under scrutiny are called to give evidence, which is used to help shape the committee's enquiry.

被檢視的有著相關專業知識的見證人會被傳喚來作證，他們被用來幫助型塑該委員會的調查。

Members of the public, like you, with a view on the subject can also give evidence for consideration.

一般大眾成員，像你，如果對該主題有想法也可以提出來做參考。

At the end of an inquiry, a committee writes a report with recommendations that the government usually responds to within 60 days.

在質詢會的最後，委員會寫出一個包含建議的報告，而政府通常會在六十天內回覆這個報告。

Both Houses in Parliament share responsibility for making and shaping laws. But where do laws come from in the first place?

國會的上下兩院共同承擔責任創造和型塑法律。但法律一開始是從哪裡來的呢？

A bill is a proposal for a new law, or to change an existing law, and comes from lots of places, like governing opposition parties, public inquiries, civil servants or campaign groups.

一個議案是一個為了制定新法律的提議，或是為了改變一個現存的法律，它來自很多地方，像是政府和反對黨，大眾質詢，公家機關成員或是倡議團體。

So how does an idea get turned into a law?

所以一個想法是如何變成法律的呢？

Imagine the government wanted to place greater controls over the internet.

想像政府想要更加掌控網路世界。

A proposal called a green paper is published, which presents the government's ideas for future policy.

一個被稱為綠皮書的提議將被出版來呈現政府對於制定未來政策的想法。

This is open for public discussion with interested groups like internet service providers and others likely to be affected.

這是可以公開給大眾討論的，包含有利害關係的團體，像是網路服務提供者和其他可能會受影響的人。

Once findings are gathered, a white paper is published which outlines a firmer plan for government policy.

一旦調查結果出爐，就會出版一份擬好有關政府政策之更詳實計畫的白皮書。

Cabinet ministers must agree whether the proposal is taken forward.

內閣首長們必須表決該議案是否繼續。

Once agreed, a bill is drawn up and the minister responsible for the policy introduces the bill to Parliament for debate.

一旦表決通過，該議案就成立，而對該政策負責的大臣將向國會介紹該議案以供辯論。

MPs and members of the House of Lords comment on, debate or amend the bill through several stages, and at the end of the process, apart from very rare circumstances, it must be agreed by both houses.

下院議員和上議院成員經由好幾個階段，對該議案做評論、辯論或修改，而在整個過程的最後，除了在非常少的狀況下，該議案一定要獲得兩院的同意。

It's then passed to the monarch who gives formal approval, or Royal Assent, and the bill becomes law, called an Act of Parliament.

它接著被送到君主那裡，君主會正式批准該議案，或稱為御准，而該議案會變成法律，稱為國會法律。

In the UK, we live in a democracy which means power is in the hands of the people through our right to vote.

在英國，我們身在一個民主制度中，這意味著權力來自握有投票權的人民。

Throughout history, lots of people in the UK have campaigned for the voting rights we have today.

在過去歷史中，許多在英國的人不斷為了我們今日所擁有的投票權倡議。

There are lots of different types of elections to vote in: general, local, European.

有很多不同種類的選舉來投票：大選、地方選舉和整個歐洲的選舉。

Let's take a closer look at how MPs are elected to the House of Commons through the general election.

我們來看看下院議員是如何經由大選被選舉進入下議院的。

General elections take place in the UK usually once every five years and every seat is up for grabs.

英國大選通常每五年一次，而每一個席次都競爭激烈。

On polling day, voters make a choice from a list of candidates.

在投票日，選民在一系列候選人中做出決定。

The candidate with the most votes then becomes that constituency's MP.

獲得最多選票的候選人就成為該選區的下院議員。

OK, but how would I know who to vote for?

好的，但我該怎麼知道要投給誰呢？

Before elections, candidates need to campaign to get people to vote for them.

在選舉前，候選人必須競選好獲得民眾的選票。

Campaigning can involve handing out political leaflets, speaking in public debates, talking to people during door to door visits, and party political broadcasts.

競選內容可以包含發放政策傳單、在公開辯論會發言、登門拜訪民眾和政黨的政治廣播。

Parties standing for election publish a declaration of their policies during the campaign, called a manifesto.

在競選過程中，代表選舉的政黨會發行一個宣告書來聲明他們的政策，稱為宣言。

Once elected, an MP represents all their constituents, even the ones that didn't vote, or voted for a different candidate.

一旦被選上，一位下院議員將代表他選區所有的選民，甚至代表那些沒有投票或是投給不同的候選人的人。

The party with the most MPs elected forms the government, and their leader becomes Prime Minister.

選上最多下院議員的政黨組成政府，而他們的領導人成為首相。

And if there's a "hung Parliament," where there's no clear winner, then a minority government or a coalition government may be created or a fresh election held.

而如果出現「懸峙議會」，沒有明顯的贏家，那麼一個由少數派組成的政府或是一個聯合政府就可能誕生，或是也可能重新舉辦選舉。

One way to have a say in how the country is run is to use your vote.

想參與在國家改革推進的其中一個辦法就是行使你的投票權。

You have to be 18 or over to vote in general elections, but you can register from the age of 16.

你必須是十八歲以上 (含) ，才能在大選中投票，但你可以在十六歲時就登記。

There are lots of other ways to get involved and have your voice heard whatever your age, remember MPs represent all of their constituents.

無論你幾歲，你仍有許多其他的方法來參與和讓你的聲音被聽見，記得下院議員代表他選區所有的選民。

But how?

該怎麼做呢？

You can visit an MP in their local constituency office, or you can even travel to the Houses of Parliament to lobby them in central lobby.

你可以到下院議員的地方選區辦公室拜訪他們，或者你可以到國會的議院中央大廳遊說他們。

Lords have knowledge and experience in specific subject areas. You can look them up by policy interest on the Parliament website.

上院議員在特定領域有專業知識和經驗。你可以在國會網站的政策關注區找到這些資訊。

Anyone can contact any Lord or their local MP by letter, phone or email to discuss an issue that's important to them or their community.

任何一個人都可以透過信件、手機或是電子郵件，聯繫任何一位上院議員或是他們當地的下院議員，討論對他們或是他們的社群重要的議題。

Sometimes though, there's strength in numbers, so to get your voice heard you could join the youth section of a party, or the UK Youth Parliament.

然而有的時候，人多勢眾，所以你可以加入一個政黨的青年部門或是英國青年國會來讓自己的聲音被聽見。

If you're passionate about an issue, you could start a petition for a cause either on paper or online, or join an existing campaign, pressure or protest group to influence decision making.

如果你對一項議題充滿熱情，你可以為此發動請願，不管是書面或是線上都可以，或者參加一個現行的倡議活動、壓力或是抗議團體，以影響政府做決定。

These groups use different methods to get their voices heard, from lobbying to peaceful protest, all designed to bring about change.

這些團體用不同的方法來發聲，從遊說到和平抗爭，全都是為了帶來改變。

And don't forget, you can get your voice heard in school or college too by joining or starting a student council, a bit like a mini-Parliament!

而別忘了，你也可以透過參加或是創設學生議會，有點像是小型國會的組織，在學校或是大學裡發聲。

So Parliament sits at the heart of UK democracy, debating the big issues of the day, making and shaping laws and holding the government to account.

所以國會是英國民主的核心，辯論現今最重大的議題、創造和型塑法律以及監督政府。

By voting, petitioning, campaigning and more, you can also get involved with the work of Parliament.

透過投票、請願、進行倡議活動還有更多，你也可以參與國會的工作。

What will you do?

你會怎麼做呢？