House of LordsHouse of Lords

BicameralBicameral In the UK we have a Bicameral system of In the UK we have a Bicameral system of

government which basically means we have government which basically means we have two chambers. This is not unusual, other two chambers. This is not unusual, other countries with this style of governance are countries with this style of governance are France, USA, Italy and South Africa.France, USA, Italy and South Africa.

So what's the issue?So what's the issue? The House of Lords is an unelected house. The House of Lords is an unelected house. Controversy exists when a Peer questions Controversy exists when a Peer questions

an MP who after all is chosen by the people. an MP who after all is chosen by the people. Members of the House of Lords are not Members of the House of Lords are not

chosen by the people therefore it could be chosen by the people therefore it could be seen as being undemocratic.seen as being undemocratic.

Role of the House of LordsRole of the House of Lords It ensures that the decisions of the first It ensures that the decisions of the first

chamber are scrutinisedchamber are scrutinised It limits hasty decision makingIt limits hasty decision making Makes sure that other points of view are Makes sure that other points of view are

taken into considerationtaken into consideration

House of Lords Video Peers say '5 years is too long'

Who is in it?Who is in it? Most members sit for parties but many Most members sit for parties but many

members do not affiliate with a party and members do not affiliate with a party and are called Crossbenchers.are called Crossbenchers.

This means that the party Whip and party This means that the party Whip and party loyalty play a lesser part in this Chamber loyalty play a lesser part in this Chamber whilst it dominates the Commons.whilst it dominates the Commons.

There are also Bishops from the Church of There are also Bishops from the Church of England ensuring that in the UK there is England ensuring that in the UK there is some religious input in politics.some religious input in politics.

How do you become a Lord?How do you become a Lord? The main route is through appointment by the The main route is through appointment by the

Prime Minister.Prime Minister. In recent years the PM’s power of patronage In recent years the PM’s power of patronage

has been weakened as since 2000 a House of has been weakened as since 2000 a House of Lords Appointment Commission has been Lords Appointment Commission has been responsible for sleeting new members and responsible for sleeting new members and vetting the PM’s choices.vetting the PM’s choices.

In 2006 Tony Blair was accused of accepting In 2006 Tony Blair was accused of accepting ‘cash for honours’ during his time in office. ‘cash for honours’ during his time in office.

What type of people become What type of people become Lords?Lords?

Many are considered experts in Many are considered experts in their field.their field.

They include lawyers, academics They include lawyers, academics and other professionals such as and other professionals such as Lord Sugar.Lord Sugar.

Nearly 200 former MPs are Nearly 200 former MPs are Lords such as Lord Prescott.Lords such as Lord Prescott.

The average age in 2010 was 69 The average age in 2010 was 69 whereas in the commons it was whereas in the commons it was 50 but it does have a higher 50 but it does have a higher proportion of women and ethnic proportion of women and ethnic minorities than the Commons.minorities than the Commons.

PowersPowers Formally the Lords is very powerful.Formally the Lords is very powerful. It can amend or reject any bill.It can amend or reject any bill. The Lords can delay a bill by up to a The Lords can delay a bill by up to a

year which in political terms can be a year which in political terms can be a very long time.very long time.

Members can also table questions to Members can also table questions to other Lords ministers (of which there other Lords ministers (of which there is usually one in government – is usually one in government – Baroness Warsi), instigate debates and Baroness Warsi), instigate debates and participate in their own select participate in their own select committees.committees.

ChangesChanges Before 1999, the Lords were dominated by Before 1999, the Lords were dominated by

hereditary peers who were mainly aligned to hereditary peers who were mainly aligned to the Tories.the Tories.

With the removal of most of the hereditary With the removal of most of the hereditary peers in the 1999 reforms, the Lords has peers in the 1999 reforms, the Lords has become more assertive.become more assertive.

Peers now consider themselves more Peers now consider themselves more legitimate to challenge the government as legitimate to challenge the government as they are selected on merit.they are selected on merit.

Government defeatsGovernment defeats During the Labour government 1997-2010, During the Labour government 1997-2010,

the Liberal Democrats within the Lords held the Liberal Democrats within the Lords held power and often sided with the Tories to power and often sided with the Tories to inflict defeat.inflict defeat.

The Labour government suffered 514 defeats The Labour government suffered 514 defeats during this time compared to only 6 within during this time compared to only 6 within the Commons.the Commons.

Research shows that the government gives in Research shows that the government gives in to the Lords about half of the time it suffers to the Lords about half of the time it suffers defeats.defeats.

New DevelopmentsNew Developments Some commentators fear that the Lords Some commentators fear that the Lords

influence will decline as the coalition parties influence will decline as the coalition parties together have more peers combined than together have more peers combined than the Labour.the Labour.

Despite this the new government has Despite this the new government has already suffered a handful of defeats.already suffered a handful of defeats.

It remains to be seen whether independent It remains to be seen whether independent crossbenchers will now begin to play a crossbenchers will now begin to play a bigger part in proceedings.bigger part in proceedings.