The comparative powers of the HOC and HOL Flashcards
Powers exclusive to the House of Commons
The House of Commons has the sole right to defeat a bill. It also possess the exclusive right to dismiss the government if it loses a confidence vote
Why does the House of Commons posses the right to dismiss a government if it loses a vote of not confidence ?
This is because the government legitimacy derives from the consent of Parliament as representatives of the nation and if that consent is withdrawn then the government can no longer claim a mandate to govern (James Callighan)
Example of the last prime minister who was dismissed from a vote of no confidence
For example- in 1979, Callaghan had managed to survive for 3 years as a minority administration, however in March that year, that government lost a vote of confidence by 310-311 votes
He immediately asked the queen to dissolve parliament, telling the speaker that the case would now be taken to the country
Tony Benns comments on the House of Lords and why it is true ?
Tony Benn- ‘The House of Lords is the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians’,
Its certainly true that the Lords does not have the same powers as the HOL
Walter Bagehots comments on the house of lords
s long ago as 1867, Walter Bagehot, in the English Constitution, contrasted the ‘efficient’ part of gov which was the HOC with the merley ‘dignified’, which was the Lords
What inbuilt advantages do the Lords have which the commons lack ?
Since members of the Lords do not have the same constituency duties as MP’s, they can devote more of their time to scrutiny
The fact that they are not elected also means they are able to act independently since they are not bound by their parties manifesto.
-The large number of crossbenchers also makes it difficult for s government to dominant the House of Lords
Why are most life peers appointed to the Lords
Most life peers appointed to the Lords are there because if their achievements and tgh specialist understanding they can offer
Can you give any examples of Lords who are highly influential and posses highly regarded achievements ?
Robert Winston has been a labour member of the Lords since 1995. A brilliant embryologist who pioneered in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) he has chaired the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. He argued in the House of Lords that science teaching in primary schools need to be improved
Baroness Charkabti- barrister and director of the civil liberties pressure group Liberty from 2003 to 2016. In 2016, she was nominated a life peer in David Cameron’s resignation honours list. As corbyn’s attorney general, she often speaks on issues connected with civil liberties and women’s rights
What other opportunities do the lords offer for former members of the House of Commons
Lords also offers unique opportunities for former members of the House of Commons to continue public service, enabling their accumulated political experience to be used to advise government
Example of a former commons members service to the lords
Maragert Thatcher’s secretary of state of Health Lord Fowler, as a member of the House of Lords, he went on to chair a committee on AIDS/HIV in 2010-11 which reported that government AIDS-prevention measures had become ‘woefully inadequate’. In 2014, he wrote AIDS: Don’t die of prejudice and in 2016, he was overwhelmingly elected lord speaker
Relative powers of the House of Commons
Represents the nation and is accountable in a general election
Can dismiss the government in a vote of confidence
Must agree to the budget
Legitimised important decisions such as the dissolution of parliament, and by convention, the commitment of the UK to major military operations
The executive requires the consent of the House of Commons for legislation to be enacted
Scrutinises legislation in parliamentary debate and Public Bill Committees
House of Commons select committees monitor the work of government departments
Final approval/ rejection of bills. Legitimises important decisions
Relative powers of the House of Lords
Can delay legislation for one parliamentary session but cannot veto it
Salisbury Convention, if proposed legislation has been included in the winning parties electoral manifesto it will not oppose it
Less constrained by party whips (act more independently)
If the House of commons voted to extend the life of parliament beyond 5 years of the House of Lords could constitutionally reject this proposal. This provides a way in which the Lords is able to protect civil liberties
The Lord’s main work is as a revising chamber; offering amendments to legislation and scrutinising the work of the government through committed, ministerial questions and parliamentary debate
The large number of crossbenchers make it difficult for a government to dominate the Lords
