UK Parliament Explored: Petitions (FutureLearn)

Discuss what makes a petition successful, gain a greater understanding of the role of the Petitions Select Committee and explore case studies of petitions both historical and contemporary that have achieved change.

What topics will you cover?

• An overview of how petitions to the UK Parliament work
• An introduction to the role and work of the Petitions Select Committee
• Paper petitions and how they are presented in the House of Commons Chamber
• Key milestones for e-petitions, including receiving a Government response and triggering a parliamentary debate
• An overview of themes and issues people petitioned about between 2015-2017
• Historical petitioning and how people used petitions as a form of political participation
• Contemporary petitions – What can they achieve? What constitutes success?
• Beyond petitioning, getting your voice heard in Parliament.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

• Develop your understanding of how petitions to the UK Parliament work, including what happens when a petition achieves specified milestones.
• Explore the work of the Petitions Select Committee and gain a greater understanding of their role in the petitioning process.
• Discuss the potential outcomes petitions can achieve and reflect on petitioning as a form of political participation.
• Reflect on how petitions have effected change through discussing historical and contemporary case studies.