Constitutional Crisis Flashcards
what is the context to the constitutional crisis of 1909-1911
-include lords powers
-naval race and national efficency
-home rule
-earlier parliamentary reform
-the house of lords is currently unelected and dominated by tory aristocrats, the lords utilised their powers to block liberal legislation such as the home rule act of 1894, it went to sleep when there was a conservative govt
-An arms race broke out between GB and Germany – the Naval Race. The Empire was protected by the Royal Navy but Germany was increasing the number of its battleships (Dreadnoughts). GB competed by building more of their own = very costly.
-The extent of poverty and ill-health became a major concern – ‘national efficiency’. Concern was based on humanitarian reasons, self-interest, concern about German
competition and the socialism becoming a popular solution.
-only allowed passing of representation of the people act on condition that seats were redistributed-CHAMBERLAIN, used this to launch campaign against lords involving anti Tory riots ( lords blocked liberal legislation let con pass, Tory dominated lords needed reform- parliament act 1911)
what did the house of lords do to liberal legislation in 1907
the lords blocked liberal legislative bills from the House of Commons (e.g licensing, education & land valuation).
explain the role of the house of lords and why change was necessary/role and democracy within the commons
(comparative powers)
-the house of lords was supposed to act as a secondary chamber to the commons
-the lords was seen to be exceeding its role as a revision chamber to amend and improve legislation that had already been passed in the commons
–purpose was to act as a check on the commons powers but not to obstruct it from carrying out government business
-the commons power was evermore increasingly due to parliamentary reform and the extension of the electorate and the power of the lords diminished and by 1901 they were thought to be on equal footing (hoc also more representative with redistribution of seats act)
–the last word on legislation lay with the lords who retained the power to veto bills after they had passed through the commons
–power of lords increasingly coming under question due to unelected nature compared to the democratic commons
Balfours relationship with the lords and why it was seen as unjustifiable
-reference salisbury
-reference to social reform
-Balfour utilised the lords by encouraging them to block liberal legislation a tactic also used by salisbury
-current liberal party had secured a large majority in commons and strong mandate making veto power of the lords more questionable and undemocratic
-further the lords were trying to veto groundbreaking social reforms - tensions compounded
what was the peoples budget of 1909 and what was the reaction of the house of lords
why was what the lords do in response to the bill significant
-in 1909 David Lloyd George put forward his first budget which aimed to raise money to finance his social reforms and to fund the building of battleships in the face of growing threat from germany (arms race) through direct taxation (income tax)
-He proposed indirect taxes on motor cars/petrol (then a luxury) and beer/tobacco (worth £3.5m); an increase in income tax from 1s to 1s and 2d in the pound on incomes over £3,000 pa; a new super tax on incomes over £5,000 pa (affecting only 12,000 people); increased death duties on estates worth £5000 or above and new land taxes involving (20%) taxation on any unearned increase in land valuation plus a smaller tax on land that was left undeveloped. Stamp duties on land purchases were also increased
-set to raise £15 million
-the house of lords viewed it as an attack on their landed wealth and priviledge - lords vetoed the budget on the 30th of november
-the lords broke from convention and threw out his budget setting a constitutional crisis in motion(conservative domination in lords allowed them to block bill)
how did david lloyd george respond to the lords in 1909
-speech at newcastle in october 1909, hinted at bringing down the house of lords , lords decree a revolution but the people will give it
-Limehouse & Newcastle speeches followed – inflammatory attack on the rich or bold defence of the budget?
what was the result of the general election of 1910 and who called it
-first election of 1910
-asquith declared the lords actions as unconstitutional and called an election from january 1910
-libs won 274 seats over the conservatives 272
(minority govt)
-balance rested with irish nationalists who held 82 seats and the labour party who held 40 seats
what was the 1911 parliament act introduced by asquith
-sought to end the power of veto in the house of lords
-deny lords power to ammend or veto a money bill ie a budget
-impose a maximum delay of two years
-hold elections every 5 years rather than 7
what did the irish nationalists say about the act
-John redmond pledged to support the passing of the bill in return of the reintroduction of home rule
when was the budget passed
the budget was passed in 1910 after the liberals came into power after election (2 seat win)
-The Liberals called a general election in 1910 to achieve popular rejection of the Conservatives’ opposition to the Budget.
what attempts were made to negotiate the crisis by the liberals and conservatives
How many times
-constitutional conference, a series of meetings which did not result in success
-met 21 times between June and November
how was the bill passed by asquith, 2nd election of 1910
-refer to the king
Refer to asquiths majority
- asquith called another election st the end of 1910 which he won but still resulted in labour and the irish nationalists holding the sway-nearly identical results
- The Liberals formed their third government with a majority of 126 and a mandate for the parliament bill.
-the bill was passed in the commons and when the lords made further delaying tactics asquith revealed an agreement made with king George V to create enough liberal peers in the lords to swamp the conservative peers if they rejected the act
-The appointment of peers would be a dramatic and controversial option since the Unionist majority would be replaced by a Liberal one and the King would have been involved in a profoundly political decision. The Unionists, in turn, feared such a move since they would lose their monopoly of power in the upper house.
-the threat resulted in the lords accepting the act
–passed by a slim majority of 17
what was the impact of the parliament act
Impact on HR
-improved the lords and limited its powers so it remained as a secondary revising chamber
-however delay of two years caused signifcant issues for irish home rule where bill was delayed for 2 years and then war broke out
