Structure And Role Of The House Of Lords

Question 1

Name 3 features of the House of Lords.

Answer 1

1. The members are all peers - none are elected.
2. There are only a small number of select committees and they have a limited importance.
3. Bills are not scrutinised by special committees such as in the commons, but by members of the whole house.

Question 2

What are hereditary peers?

Answer 2

Hereditary peers are peers taht have inherited their titles from their fathers and will ass their titles onto their children. There are 92 hereditary peers.

Question 3

What are life peers?

Answer 3

Life peers are peers that are appointed fro life by party leaders. They do not pass their titles onto their children. There are a mixture of former politicians, civil servants and experts in their field.

Question 4

What are lords spiritual?

Answer 4

Lords spiritual are senior bishops of the Church of England. There are 26 of them.

Question 5

What have new labour introduced about hereditary peers?

Answer 5

The labour government is aiming to pass the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers Bill). This bill will remove the right of the remaining 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords.

Question 6

Give 2 examples of life peers.

Answer 6

1. Lord sugar has been a life peer since 2099. He was appointed due to his expertise in the business field. He had been a member of the Labour Party, but in 2015 became a non affiliated peer.
2. Lord Cameron was the former prime minister, from 2010 - 15. He was then appointed to the House of Lords by Rishi Sunak, and became the foreign minister.

Question 7

Explain the boris Johnson scandal with life peers.

Answer 7

Charlotte Owen was nominated by Boris Johnson to the House of Lords as part of his resignation honours list. She is the youngest ever life peer and received a lot of criticism over her lack of professional experience.