The comparative powers of the house of commons and house of lords - 2.2. Parliament - UK Government

Question 1

Exclusive powers of Commons

Answer 1

Monetary issues - as the representative of the taxpayer only Commons can give consent to taxation & public expenditure

Commons can exercise confidence & supply agreement

Question 2

Confidence & supply agreement

Answer 2

Type of informal coalition agreement sometimes used in the event of a hung parliament. One party supports another. This party will back a vote of no confidence and will vote through the government’s budget

Question 3

Confidence and supply agreement example

Answer 3

2017 Conservatives & Democratic Unionists Party

Question 4

Restraints on the HoL powers

Answer 4

Parliament Acts of 1911 & 1949 - set out Lords had no right to delay monetary bills & power to veto non-financial bills replaced by 2-year delaying power.
This was reduced to 1 year in 1949

Salisbury Convention

Question 5

Salisbury Convention

Answer 5

The convention whereby the House of Lords does not delay or block legislation that was included in a government’s manifesto.

Question 6

Distinctive powers of the Lords

Answer 6

Mainly revising chamber, proposes amendments to legislature which government chooses whether to accept

Delay non-financial bills for up to 1 year

If the government attempted to prolong the life of Parliament beyond legal maximum term (5 years) Lords can force it to hold a general election

Question 7

Most powers of the 2 houses

Answer 7

Are shared

Question 8

What increased the Lord’s sense of legitimacy

Answer 8

Removal of most hereditary peers (1999) - now mainly appointed. These life peers are more likely to be involved and challenge the government

Question 9

Traditional

Answer 9

Traditionally dominated by Conservatives (because of peers) but not any more.

Question 10

Examples (x2) of limits to the Salisbury convention

Answer 10

2005 Liberal Lords opposed Blair’s proposal for identity cards (on manifesto) arguing government had been elected on low share of popular vote (35.2%)

2010 Coalition - the government programme was based on a coalition agreement which hadn’t been put to the voters

Question 11

Cross-bench peers

Answer 11

Lords not aligned to any party

Question 12

Lords are doing what more

Answer 12

Challenging government more

Question 13

Example of Commons overriding Lords’ amendments to a bill

Answer 13

2012 coalition government rejected 7 amendments to its Welfare Reform and Work Bill arguing only Commons was entitled to take decisions with large financial implications

Question 14

Parliamentary ping pong

Answer 14

When a bill goes back and forth between the 2 houses

Question 15

Extreme example of parliamentary ping pong

Answer 15

2005 Prevention of Terrorism Bill. Lords wanted it to include a sunset clause - government has the choice of whether to accept. In the end they compromised to review it after a year

Question 16

Sunset Clause

Answer 16

Clause in legislation that makes the legislation expire after a year

Question 17

If upper house maintains opposition to the Commons the government can…

Answer 17

Use the Parliament Act to pass a bill through. Rare but used 3x under Blair

Question 18

Example of government using Parliament Act to override Lords (under Blair)

Answer 18

Equalising the age of consent for gay & heterosexual people (2000)

Banning hunting with dogs (2004)