Parliament - Topic 2.2

Question 1

What are the exclusive powers of the House of Commons?

Answer 1

• The House of Commons have the sole right to defeat a bill
• It also possesses exclusive control to dismiss a government through a vote of confidence
• The Commons have an overuling voice over the Lords and have final say on a bill

Question 2

What are the main powers of the House of Lords?

Answer 2

• Lords can only delay bills and suggest amendments
• More expertise/specialist knowledge since most of them are life peers and are chosen because of their dedication to the UK
• Party control is weaker in the Lords and therefore is more political balance. This allows the Lords to be able to scrutinise bills and the government better and without fear of losing their jobs
• Peers are from a range of backgrounds; they represent different groups and interests in society

Question 3

How does the Lords keep the government in check?

How do they utilise their powers to keep government in check?

Answer 3

• Lords can only delay bills, and suggest amendments, which can then be overturned by the Commons (Lords attempted to add amendments on passing Article 50 to guaranteed EU citizens’ rights for ones living in the UK). If the legislation is in the party’s manifesto, the Lords cannot delay legislation
• They have more expertise/specialist knowledge. This means bills are potentially more carefully and effectively scrutinised
• Party control is much weaker as Lords don’t need to be re-elected. The government can’t rely even on their own party peers backing them
• More political balance in the Lords; no one party dominates

Question 4

How does the Commons keep the government in check?

Answer 4

• Committees and PMQs are used to scrutinise government; the PM does not appear before the Lords to be challenged
• The Commons is democratically legitimate; they have more of a right to challenge government. They represent their constituents and therefore right to keep the PM in line with the country’s interests
• Vote of no confidence by the House of Commons (James Callaghan 1979, Theresa May 2019) and the idea of ‘confidence and supply’ to support the government becomes incredibly important