A public administrative body or organisation that operates outside of the civil service (or at 'arms-length'), yet receives financial support from the UK government.

When a parliamentary bill is given Royal Assent and becomes part of our laws it then becomes an 'act of Parliament', and kept in the House of Lords Record Office at Westminster.

The repayment of monies to cover costs such as travel expenses, staffing and running an office.

The House of Commons has traditionally referred to the House of Lords as 'another place', or 'the other place'.

The seats where a Member of Parliament (MP) is seated when they are neither a minister or a spokesperson for the party they are a member of.

Parliamentarians that do not hold ministerial or shadow ministerial office, also known as private members. Backbenchers generally have more freedom to speak as they are not as constrained by loyalty.

An annual financial report on the state of the UK's finances and economy, outlining changes to how the taxpayers money will be spent in the forthcoming year.

By-elections are elections that take place in individual constituencies following the resignation, death, bankruptcy, 'lunacy' or elevation to peerage of the MP for that constituency.

The senior members who are chosen by the leader of the party, who decide government policy and coordinate the work of the different departments.

A vote by the Speaker of the House, who makes the final decision when numbers on both sides of the division are the same.