House of Lords Flashcards
The legislature is what
Parliament
What is Parliament composed of (three elements)
House of Commons, House of Lords and The queen
What is the House of Lords known as
‘The second chamber’
Are the HOL elected
No, largely appointed
What are the HOL referred as
Revising Chamber
What are the HOL there for
To advise the House of Commons and serve as a ‘voice of reason’
What do the Lords bring
experience and knowledge from a wide range of occupations as they continue to be active in their fields with successful businesses, culture, sports, academia, law, education, health and public services.
They also bring this knowledge to their role of examining matters of public interest that affect all UK citizens
How are the Lords appointed
By the queen on the advice of the Prime minister.
Recommended by an independent body, the House of Lords Appointments commission
What does the Appointment Commission do
they recommend individuals for appoinment as non-party-political life peers and also vets nominations for life peers ensuring the highest standards of propriety.
Members can be nomiated by….
public and political parties, once approved by PM in which are then formalised by the Queen
what were law lords
12 judges specifically appointed because of their legal expertise to hear appeals from the court of appeal and lower courts.
What was the constitutional reform act 2005 and when did it come to force
The constitution reform act removed law lords from the house and came into force since october 1 2009.
Are scrutiny of bills in the house of lords more prejudiced or less
less
are government defeats in the house of lords more common
yes
what is ‘ping-pong’
Amendments passed in the lords are then re-subitted to the commons for further consideration, this is called ping pong
what do the house of lords play
An important role in reviewing and scrutinising legislation (highlighting defects)
Example of an action made in the House of lords
Conservative’s tax credit Bill defeated in Lords. Plans to cut 4.4 billion from the tax credit rejected in the HOL, therefore prevented Lord Chancellor George Osbourne’s cutting tax credits
Up until the early years of the 20th century what power did the HOL had
The power to veto (stop) legislation
What was the Parliament act 1911 and what did it reduce
This act removed from the HOL the power to VETO a bill, except one to extend the lifetime of Parliament. It also reduced the maximum lifespan of a parliament from seven years to five years
How long could the Lords delay a bill
up to two years
What did the Parliament act 1949 do
further reduced the lord’s delaying power to one year
what did the parliament acts define
the powers of the lords in relation to public bills as follows
Money bills - start in the commons and then must receive royal assent no later than a month after being introduced in the lords, even if the lords has not passed them - lords cannot amend money bill.
Common bills - lords can reject a bill passed by commons in two consecutive parliamentary sessions. after, commons can send the bill to the queen for royal assent without lords consent
ensures that in an event of a conflict, the will of the commons prevails and the lords can merely delay, not veto, the passage of the bill.
What is the parliaments functions
legislating
How does primary legislation start off
It starts off as a policy proposal, then drafted into a farm capable of becoming law (a BILL)
When does a Bill become an act of parliament
when it has passed through the appropriate parliamentary process in the HOC and the HOL and has been given royal assent by the Queen
What are public bills and give some examples
they are proposals for primary legislation that will apply to the general public e.g. government of wales act 2006 or dentist act 1984
What are government bills
proposals for legislation adopted by cabinet into governments legislative programme.
What are Private member’s bills
they are non-government sponsored bills introduced by non-minsterials MP’s i.e introduced by an MP who isnt a member of the governement
often fail for lack of parliamentary time
what are private bills
only affect particular people or a particular locality
what is the salisbury convention
a non-legally binding political rule that lords will accept a legislative which formed part of the government’s electipon manifesto
what does the salisbury convention ensure
ensures that government bills can get through the lords when the government of the day has no majority in the Lords. In practice this means that the lords do not (or should not) vote down a government bill mentioned in an election manifesto
what is the legislative process
first reading - title of the bill is read out in the HOC
second reading - the responsible minister sets out the purpose of the bill to parliament and the opposition responds, then there is a debate in the house
committee stage - bill is referred to committee which considers the bill line by line and may make amendments
report stage - bill is reported back to house which may or reject any amendments
thrid reading - largley a formality to correct any errors
the lords - bill is sent to lords, above process is repeated in the lords
royal assent - announce in the commons and the lords
