The parliamentary institutions were first of all developed in England and the British Parliament is regarded as the mother of all Parliaments. In fact the British Parliamentary system is regarded as a model for parliamentary institutions in Britain is spread over a period of seven to eight centuries.
During this period of evolution, England passed from absolute monarchy to modern constitutional monarchy. Prior to that there was no parliament and the king ruled with the help of a Privy Council, even though he was not bound by its advice. The first formal body which can be regarded as the fore-runner of the modern parliament was formed by King John in 1213 when he called upon each of the counties to send four discreet knights’ to a meeting of the Great Council to accept taxes proposed by him.
This practice of getting tax approved from representative gathering was followed by the later kings. In 1265 Simon de Montfort also invited two townsmen from twenty selected towns to attend the meeting of the parliament. Thus the parliament began to represent the barons the clergy and the commons. These three sections of society met as a common body to hear the king’s proposals and then held separate meetings to discuss these proposals and again met as single body to vote upon them.
Thus a sort of three houses of parliament came into existence. But subsequently the greater barons and higher clergy, because of their common interests, began to hold joint meetings and thus the House of Lords came into existence. The commons on the other hand began to hold separate meetings and thus the House of Commons was formed.
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The powers of the parliament also underwent transformation over period of time. Originally it performed only judicial functions and was known as High Court of Parliament. But gradually it acquired control over finance. Finally it acquired the power to make laws. Initially in matter of legislation it only submitted legislative proposals to the king in the form of petitions and they became statutes only if king accorded his assent.
In course of time, the parliament acquired effective legislative powers. In the financial sphere it came to be recognized as the sole authority for the imposition of taxes. It began to act as the guardian of public purse and often utilized its meetings convened to vote supplies, for the ventilation of grievances. With the passage of time even legislation became the prerogative of the parliament, even though formally the monarch continued to be at the centre of the picture.