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MPs, Lords & officers</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/">MPs</a></li><li>What MPs do</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="grand-parent"><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/">About MPs, Lords & officers</a><ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/">MPs</a><ul><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/apg/">All-Party Groups</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/parties/">Political parties in Parliament</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/standards/">Standards</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/partysystem/">The party system</a></li><li class="selected"><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/mps/">What MPs do</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/electing-mps/">How MPs are elected</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/what/">What your MP can do for you</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/">Pay and expenses for MPs</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/raising/">Raising matters in the House of Commons</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> What MPs do </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207010025im_/http://assets4.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_1196.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>The UK public elects Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons. MPs are involved in considering and proposing new laws, and can use their position to ask government ministers questions about current issues. </p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <p>MPs split their time between working in Parliament itself, working in the constituency that elected them and working for their political party. Some MPs from the ruling party become government ministers with specific responsibilities in certain areas, such as Health or Defence.</p> <h2>Working in Parliament</h2> <p>When Parliament is sitting (meeting), MPs generally spend their time working in the House of Commons. This can include raising issues affecting their constituents, attending debates and voting on new laws. Most MPs are also members of committees, which look at issues in detail, from government policy and new laws, to wider topics like human rights.</p> <h2>Working in their constituency</h2> <p>In their constituency, MPs often hold a 'surgery' in their office, where local people can come along to discuss any matters that concern them. MPs also attend functions, visit schools and businesses and generally try to meet as many people as possible. This gives MPs further insight and context into issues they may discuss when they return to Westminster.</p> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div id="find-your-mp">  <h3>Find Your MP</h3>  <fieldset> <legend></legend> <ol> <li> <p class="introduction"><label for="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_txtSearch"> Enter your postcode to find the name and contact details of your local MP.</label> </p> <input name="ctl00$ctl00$SiteSpecificPlaceholder$ctlRightHandModuleContainer$ctl00$txtSearch" type="text" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_txtSearch" class="mp-postcode"/> </li> </ol> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$ctl00$SiteSpecificPlaceholder$ctlRightHandModuleContainer$ctl00$btnSearch" value="Find" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_btnSearch" class="find"/> </fieldset> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_pnlMainImageThumb" class="itemImage missing"> </div> <div class="itemText">  <strong>House of Commons Information Office</strong>   <div class="rte main-introduction"> <ul> <li>Telephone: 020 7219 4272</li> <li>Email: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207010025/mailto:hcinfo@parliament.uk">hcinfo@parliament.uk</a></li> <li>Text phone: Dial 18001 followed by 020 7219 4272</li> <li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/hcio/">House of Commons Information Office</a></li></ul> <p><strong>Publications</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/">Guides to Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/weekly-information-bulletin/">Weekly Information Bulletin</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/sessional-information-digest/">Sessional Information Digest</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/">FAQs</a><br/><br/></li></ul> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_pnlMainImageThumb" class="itemImage missing"> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p><strong>Constituent:</strong> </p> <p>The UK is divided into 650 different regions called constituencies where the public elect candidates to be their MP. A 'constituent' is the name given to every person who lives within or is eligible to vote in a constituency. </p> </div>  </div> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_pnlMainImageThumb" class="itemImage missing"> </div> <div class="itemText">  <strong>Code of Conduct</strong>   <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p></p><div> <p>The Code of Conduct helps MPs understand their responsibilities to Parliament and the public. In addition to guidance, the Code also requires all Members to declare outside interest, like paid work or gifts.</p></div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207010025/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmcode.htm">Read the Code of Conduct</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/old/dead-fix/register-of-members-interests/">See the register of Members Interests</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20111207010025/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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