House of Lords

Question 1

Outline the House of Lords - composition

Answer 1

It has 650+ life peers - appointed by the king on the advice of the PM. Not a hereditary title (cannot be passed on to someone)

26 clergy - CofE archbishops and bishops - they cease to be a member when they retire.

92 hereditary peers - they inherit their title.

Question 2

What are the 3 main roles of the House of Lords?

Answer 2

1. Making Laws - Members spend almost half of the time in the House considering bills (draft laws).
   All bills have to be considered by both Houses of Parliament before they can become law. Examined line by line.
2. Consideration of public policy - Much of this is done in select committees - small groups appointed to consider specific policy areas e.g economic affairs, foreign affairs, education.
3. Holding the government to account - Members scrutinise the work of the government during question time and debates in the chamber, and government ministers must respond. Lords ask hundreds of Written and Oral Questions each year.

Question 3

Summary of the Draft Bill process?

Answer 3

Green Paper&raquo_space; White Paper&raquo_space; Bill&raquo_space; Passage through the House Of Commons and House Of Lords&raquo_space; Law.

Question 4

A bill must go through what steps (in both Houses) to become law?

Answer 4

• First reading: Bill arrives in the HOC or the HOL – the full title of the Bill is read out and an order is made for it to be printed.
• Second reading: Having been published, a date will be set for the second reading. This will comprise the main debate on the purpose and key areas of the bill.
• Committee stage: Detailed line by line scrutiny of the text of the Bill, with amendments (proposed changes). Votes may take place to decide whether to make the changes. Sometimes a Bill may be considered by the full House of Commons, sitting as a Committee, if a piece of urgent legislation is needed, such as anti-terror laws.
• Report stage: Further examination of the text. Any proposed changes to the Bill are debated and further votes take place about such changes.
• Third reading: A ‘tidying up’ stage. Final chance for amendments and votes.
• The Bill is referred to the other House – i.e. a Bill starting in the House of Commons is sent to the Lords, or vice versa. It then goes through a sequence similar to that above.
• Amendments Stage Each House considers the other’s amendments. This can be a long drawn out process in some cases.
• Royal Assent: When both Houses agree the final content, a bill is approved by the Queen and becomes a law – an ‘Act of Parliament’.

Question 5

What are the 4 types of Bills?

Answer 5

• Public Bills – the most common type of Bill. Launched by Government Ministers. These change the law or create a new law and they apply to the general population.
• Private Members’ Bills – These are Public Bills launched by MPs or Lords who are not members of the Government. (Note what “Government” is – refresh your memory about that definition.) The aim is to get a law passed which affects everyone.
• Private Bills – May be introduced by organisations such as local councils or private companies. These are bills which aim to change the law in relation to particular individuals or groups of people.
• Hybrid Bills – National bills affecting everyone but which may also affect specific groups of individuals or a particular community. Example – HS2 – the proposed high speed rail link from London to the North.