2.2- comparitive powers of the commons and the lords

Question 1

What are the arguments in favour of the lords being more influential with legislation than the commons

Answer 1

• they have more time and expertise (legislation)
• When the government has a large majority, the commons is weak
• the lords will sometimes take a stand against a bill if it believes it is justified (violated HR or lacks public support)
• the delaying power can be significant in times of emergency
• new labours reform has made the lords more independent from the commons

Question 2

Give an example of where the lords have been more significant in scrutinising legislation

Answer 2

2020 agriculture bill- the Commons spent 32 hours scrutinising, lords spent 96 hours

Question 3

give an example of an expert in the lords.

Answer 3

• Baron (john) Krebs is a zoologist
• president of the british science association from 2012-2013
• chairs the lords science and technology committee
• left the committee this year

Question 4

how many crossbenchers are in the lords? what is the significance of this for majority parties?

Answer 4

183, helps to ensure that niether party can gain a majority

Question 5

Give an example of a significant lords departmental select committee

Answer 5

The lords Business and trade select committee questioning Kemi Badenoch over the post office scandal

Question 6

what are the arguments in favour of the commons being more influential over legislation than the lords

Answer 6

• The Commons has more legislative power (1911 and 1949)
• the lords is limited by the salisbury convention
• the lords often backs down if ammendments are rejected

Question 7

how many BME MPS are there in the commons?

Answer 7

66

Question 8

Give an example of when the parliament acts have been used

Answer 8

sexual offenses act 2000- equalising the age of consent for all types of sexual activities
- opposed by the lords lead by baroness young

Question 9

when was the last succesfull vote of no confidence? why did this happen?

Answer 9

• 1979
• nationalist parties upholding a confidence and supply agreement withdrew support

Question 10

how much time does the lords spend in the chamber compared to the lords?

Answer 10

• between 2006- 2021 mps spent on average 24% of time in the chamber, compared to 44% for the lords

Question 11

give an example of when the lords power to delay has been significant.

Answer 11

in 2001, 10 defeats in the lords lead the govt to remove incitement of religios hatered as an offense in anti terrosism legislation

Question 12

give an example to show that the house of lords is becoming increasingly representative.

Answer 12

between 2000 and 2014 of the 63 appointed peers, 13 were from BME backgrounds

Question 13

how many times was tony blair defeated in the commons?

Answer 13

only 4 times in the HOC

Question 14

how many times was Blair defeated in the lords?

Answer 14

460

Question 15

how does the 2018 EU withdrawl bill show the ability of the lords to influence legislation under minority governments?

Answer 15

• the lords defeated the commons 15 times on 15 ammendments
• 6 were rejected by the commons
• 1 was accepted by government
• 8 saw some form of compromise e.g there would be no hard boarder in ireland

Question 16

what are the arguements that the house of lords is more powerful in terms of scrutiny (6)?

Answer 16

• especially in recent years with governments rushing legislation through the commons, the lords plays a greater role in revising legislation
• government has less control over the parliamentary time table in the lords
• the lords has more expertease
• the lords have life tenure and the government does not have a majority therefore, rebellions are more common , whipped mps
• commons public bill committees represent the balance of the house

Question 17

what are the arguments that the house of commons is more effective than the lords when it comes to scrutiny?

Answer 17

• more non-legislative scrutiny: The commons has access to the cabinet (PMQ’S, votes of no confidence)
• only the commons can vote down manifesto commitements and financial legislation
• democratic legitimacy of the commons makes the scrutiny more effective

Question 18

how could it be argued that the house of lords is better at fullfilling the role of representation?

Answer 18

• they are more ideologically diverse due to cross-benchers (representation)
• lack of government majority and whipping system- the goverment is not inherently put first

Question 19

how could it be argued that the House of Commons is better at fullfilling the role of representation?

Answer 19

• the house of commons is more descriptively representative
• acountable to the people through general elections

Question 20

Give an example of an appointment believed to be linked to donations.

Answer 20

lord Cruddas
- he made his largest ever donation of 500,000 days after recieving the peeradge
- Cruddas was rejected by the HOL appointments commission

Question 21

how did the 1999 HOL act change the lords?

Answer 21

• 92 hereditary peers
• 26 bishops

Question 22

what is the average age of the house of lords?

Answer 22

71

Question 23

what % of the HOL is male? what about the HOC?

Answer 23

• HOL: 71%
• HOC: 65%