citizenship theme B: houses of commons and lords

Question 1

what is the house of commons?

Answer 1

The house of commons is the publicly elected house of parliament.

Question 2

what is the house of lords?

Answer 2

The house of lords is the unelected house of parliament also known as the ‘second chamber’. It is independent from the house commons.

Question 3

what is the role of the house of commons?

Answer 3

Main roles include:
1) Debating, examining, proposing, and passing laws.
2) Working in small select committees scrutinising new laws and wider areas of government work, to challenge and hold the government to account.
3) Making decisions on financial bills, such as proposed new taxes. the house of lords can consider these bills but cannot block or amend them.
4) Preparing questions to be answered at prime minsiters question time.

Question 4

what is the role of the house of lords?

Answer 4

Main roles include:
1) Debating, examining, proposing and passing laws.
2) Working in small select committees to scrutinise and amend new laws and bills proposed by the house of commons, and using their expertise to identify any errors.
3) Providing expertise in specific aras.

Question 5

what is the relationship between the houses?