Comparative powers of the HoC and HoL

Question 1

Where does Commons have exclusive authority

Answer 1

-Give consent to taxation and public expenditure; since the Commons represents the taxpayer

Question 2

What is a Confidence and supply agreement? (3)

Answer 2

• Informal coalition agreement,
• where a minority party agrees to vote with the government on key issues
• in exchange for policy concessions

Question 3

Where does the Lords have distinctive powers (2/3)

Answer 3

• Acts as a revising chamber, proposes amendments to government legislation
• Can delay non-financial legislation for 1 year
• UNLIKELY, can veto if a government attempts to prolong the life of government beyond 5 years

Question 4

What increases the Lord’s legitimacy

Answer 4

• removal of most hereditary peers in 1999, dominated by life peers

Question 5

How do Cross-bench peers hold government to account?

Answer 5

-Neutral figures, more likely to asses bill on its merits and whether to support/oppose government.

Question 6

What can the government do, if clashes occur between the 2 houses

Answer 6

-The government can make use of its majority to overturn critical Lord’s Amendments

Question 7

Why might it be suggested that the HoL has more influence than the HoC over government decisions (4)

Answer 7

• Government doesn’t have a majority in the Lords
• Party loyalty is weaker in the Lords than in the Commons
• Unelected peers are immune from patronage
• Government suffers more defeats in the HoL than in the HoC

Question 8

How does the HoC exert more influence over government decisions than the Lords (4)

Answer 8

• Commons is more powerful (Parliament Act)
• Salisbury convention limits power
• Government can reverse defeats in the Lords
• Lords lack the authority to challenge