Parliament : Comparative Powers Of Commons And Lords

Question 1

Key powers of the house of commons

Answer 1

1. Supreme legislative power - in theory commons can make, unmake, and amend any law with only the lords being able to delay these laws - parliamentary sovreignty
2. Approves gov budget and money bills
3. Departmental select committees only exist in commons - lords have select committees that aren’t focused on scrutinising gov depts
4. Power to question gov ministers and PM - only commons
5. Power to represent people and be held accountable
6. Key role of legitimation of gov and its leg
7. Power to remove gov - gov defeated in commons on a matter of confidence has to resign - if no new gov formed in 14 days a gen election is held

Question 2

Where are the lords legislative powers set out?

Answer 2

Parliament acts of 1911 and 1949

Question 3

Powers of the house of lords

Answer 3

1. Can delay bills passed by commons for up to a year - not money bills
2. Salisbury convention : lords cannot defeat measures outlined in manifesto
3. Less loyalty to parties because they are either cross-benchers or not seeking party approval
4. Question time - every gov dept has a spokesperson who must respond to questions
5. Leg committees in the lords includes experts
6. Time and independence to debate important issues at leisure as well as ethical issues like genetic engineering
7. Rare but can provide gov with ministers
8. Possess concurrent veto powers that cannot be overridden by commons - can only be used with consent of both houses

Question 4

Examples of expert lords

Answer 4

Lord Walton - former president of the British Medical Association
Baronness Lawrence - campaigner for the awareness and reform of institutionalised racism

Question 5

Example of a lord who became a minister

Answer 5

Lord Mandelson was in Gordon Brown’s cabinet

Question 6

Examples of concurrenr veto powers of lords

Answer 6

1. Extension of the life of parliament (delays to general elections)
2. Sacking of senior judges
3. Introduction kf secondary or delegated legislation

Question 7

Select committees

Answer 7

Committees responsible for scrutinising the work of government depts, other select committees take on a wider remit

Question 8

Money bill

Answer 8

Bill that contains significant financial measures, as determined by the Speaker

Question 9

Salisbury convention

Answer 9

Convention whereby lords do not delay or block leg that was in the gov manifesto

Question 10

Crossbenchers

Answer 10

Lords who are not affiliated to a party and have no party loyalty