Relative power of the Houses

Question 1

State why the Lords argued to be more effective than the Commons

Answer 1

Party discipline
Scrutiny
Legislation
Expertise

Question 2

Is the Lords more effective than the Commons?: Party discipline

Answer 2

Party discipline weaker in HoL - more independent
185 crossbenchers - more freedom for peers to debate and express their own views
E.g. Lords defeated the gov:
x 14 in 2018 over EU Withdraw Bill
Between 2010 and 2012, the Lords defeated coalition x 48, HoC didn’t defeat legislation proposed by executive

Question 3

Is the Lords more effective than the Commons?: Scrutiny

Answer 3

Lords spend most of time scrutinising, unlike MPs
Between 2010-2015, Lords voted against reforms to constituency boundaries, the NHS, the HoL, AV referendum and caps on welfare payments

Question 4

Is the Lords more effective than the Commons?: Legislation

Answer 4

Gov has lost some legislation in the Lords
Several controversial pieces of legislation have been effectively dealt with e.g. 2013 over its plans to cut legal aid
Can also force the gov to amend bills

Question 5

Is the Lords more effective than the Commons?: Expertise

Answer 5

Many Lords appointed due to their expertise
E.g. Lord Walton, former president of the BMA
Lord Mogan-Howe, ex-police chief

Question 6

State the reasons why the Commons could be more effective than the Lords

Answer 6

Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949
Salisbury Convention
Legitimacy and representation of constitutents 
Liason Committee
Committees
Scrutiny 
Media

Question 7

Is the Commons more effective than the Lords?: Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949

Answer 7

Made Lords less powerful than Commons
Preventing the Lords from rejecting legislation and only allowing them to delay for a year
E.g. Lords forced delay in the (fox) Hunting Act 2004
Any Lords amendments that are rejected 3 times by Commons become ineffective
E.g. In 2012, Lords returned the Welfare Reform Act to the Commons with 7 amendments, all were rejected

Question 8

Is the Commons more effective than the Lords?: Salisbury Convention

Answer 8

Emerged during 1945-1951 gov

Lords don’t try to vote down a gov bill mentioned in an election manifesto

Question 9

Is the Commons more effective than the Lords?: Legitimacy and representation of constituents

Answer 9

Lords is unelected, meaning it lacks a mandate

Question 10

Is the Commons more effective than the Lords?: Liason Committee

Answer 10

Part of HoC and chacks power of PM, which Lords can’t do

Question 11

Is the Commons more effective than the Lords?: Committees

Answer 11

HoC select committees have grown in influence and authority
Since 2010, become more effective in scrutinising gov depts
E.g. Health Committee brough changes to coalition’s Health and Social Care Bill; Margaret Hodge, while chairing the Public Accounts Committee, called Starbucks (as well as other big businesses) to account over the amount of tax they pay
No departmental select committees in the Lords

Question 12

Is the Commons more effective than the Lords?: Scrutiny

Answer 12

Lords less effective at scrutinising
PMQs and ministerial question time only in HoC
Only gov spokespeople in Lords
Allows HoC to directly scrutinise gov

Question 13

Is the Commons more effective than the Lords?: Media

Answer 13

Still concentrates more on HoC and its role in making gov accountable