The House of Lords - A Beginners Guide to UK Politics
The House of Lords has existed as a separate chamber of Parliament since the mid 14th century. In this article, we take a look at the Upper House's role and structure.
The House of Lords has existed as a separate chamber of Parliament since the mid 14th century, and has a number of roles to complement the work of the Commons. There are two important exceptions: members of the Lords do not represent constituencies, and are not involved in matters of taxation and finance.
The House spends the majority of its time (about 60%) on legislation. It plays a key role in examining and revising Bills sent from the Commons. It may also initiate Bills (usually non-controversial), which spreads the burden of the legislative load more evenly between the two Houses and throughout the parliamentary year.
Another important function is to act as a check on the Government by scrutinising its activities, questioning and debating policy and other issues.
Oral questions (known as Starred Questions), may be asked for about 30 or 40 minutes on each day that the House sits, allowing ministers to be cross-questioned. Over 4,500 written question are also asked each year to query government policy and extract information.
Mini-debates (Unstarred Questions) take place every few days, and last no longer than 90 minutes. They provide an opportunity to raise issues of concern, with a government spokesman responding at the end of the debate.
General debates are usually scheduled every Wednesday. These will either be a single debate lasting no more than five hours, or two shorter debates running for a maximum of two and a half hours each. The topics for short debates are suggested by back-bench or crossbench peers, and chosen by ballot. The long debates are agreed between the whips of the political parties and the Convenor of the Crossbench peers - known as 'the usual channels'.
The membership of the House of Lords is characterised by a wide range of expertise, which is utilised in its major investigative select committees. For example, the European Union Committee has seven sub-committees involving over 70 members who scrutinise proposed European legislation. There are also committees on Science and Technology, Economic Affairs and the Constitution.
The House also has an important judicial role. It acts as the Supreme Court of Appeal for the UK in both criminal and civil cases (except Scottish criminal cases).
Members include the 12 salaried Law Lords and the Lord Chancellor, and its sittings, on the Committee corridor, are open to the public.
Members of the House of Lords (known as 'peers') consist of Lords Spiritual (senior bishops) and Lords Temporal (lay peers). Law Lords (senior judges) also sit as Lords Temporal.
There are currently about 700 members of the House of Lords, including 26 Archbishops and Bishops and 92 hereditary peers. Lords are unelected and most are unpaid - other than a voluntary attendance allowance.
Each of the three main party groups Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat sit in a certain designated area of the House. Each party has:
Many peers have no party affiliation and are known as 'Crossbenchers'. They have a Convenor but no whip system, and their independence is a distinctive characteristic of the House of Lords.
"The Woolsack was introduced by King Edward III (1327-77), stuffed with English wool as a symbol of prosperity (the wool trade was England's traditional source of wealth). Nowadays, the Woolsack is stuffed with wool from each of the countries of the Commonwealth, to symbolise unity."
Many peers have no party affiliation and are known as 'Crossbenchers'. They have a Convenor but no whip system, and their independence is a distinctive characteristic of the House of Lords.
The Lord Chancellor (currently The Rt Hon. The Lord Falconer of Thoroton) is the Speaker of the House, and sits at the front of the Lords Chamber on the Woolsack - a large red seat stuffed with wool.
He has limited powers in comparison to the Speaker of the House of Commons, and acts merely as the spokesperson of the House, performing duties such as announcing the results of votes. He cannot control proceedings, or discipline members for violating the rules of the House. However, unlike the politically neutral Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chancellor remains a member of his party, and may participate in debate.
The House regulates itself under the guidance of the Leader of the House (currently Baroness Amos) who, as well as acting as the leader for the party currently in government, has a responsibility to the House as a whole. The Leader is often called upon to advise on procedures and points of order, and is required to determine the order of speakers.
Both the Speaker and the Leader of the house are members of the Cabinet.
The Role of the House of Lords
The House of Lords has existed as a separate chamber of Parliament since the mid 14th century, and has a number of roles to complement the work of the Commons. There are two important exceptions: members of the Lords do not represent constituencies, and are not involved in matters of taxation and finance.
1. Legislation
The House spends the majority of its time (about 60%) on legislation. It plays a key role in examining and revising Bills sent from the Commons. It may also initiate Bills (usually non-controversial), which spreads the burden of the legislative load more evenly between the two Houses and throughout the parliamentary year.
2. Scrutinising the Government
Another important function is to act as a check on the Government by scrutinising its activities, questioning and debating policy and other issues.
Oral questions (known as Starred Questions), may be asked for about 30 or 40 minutes on each day that the House sits, allowing ministers to be cross-questioned. Over 4,500 written question are also asked each year to query government policy and extract information.
Mini-debates (Unstarred Questions) take place every few days, and last no longer than 90 minutes. They provide an opportunity to raise issues of concern, with a government spokesman responding at the end of the debate.
General debates are usually scheduled every Wednesday. These will either be a single debate lasting no more than five hours, or two shorter debates running for a maximum of two and a half hours each. The topics for short debates are suggested by back-bench or crossbench peers, and chosen by ballot. The long debates are agreed between the whips of the political parties and the Convenor of the Crossbench peers - known as 'the usual channels'.
3. Independent Expertise - the Select Committees
The membership of the House of Lords is characterised by a wide range of expertise, which is utilised in its major investigative select committees. For example, the European Union Committee has seven sub-committees involving over 70 members who scrutinise proposed European legislation. There are also committees on Science and Technology, Economic Affairs and the Constitution.
4. Judicial Work
The House also has an important judicial role. It acts as the Supreme Court of Appeal for the UK in both criminal and civil cases (except Scottish criminal cases).
Members include the 12 salaried Law Lords and the Lord Chancellor, and its sittings, on the Committee corridor, are open to the public.
The Structure of the House of Lords
Members of the House of Lords (known as 'peers') consist of Lords Spiritual (senior bishops) and Lords Temporal (lay peers). Law Lords (senior judges) also sit as Lords Temporal.
There are currently about 700 members of the House of Lords, including 26 Archbishops and Bishops and 92 hereditary peers. Lords are unelected and most are unpaid - other than a voluntary attendance allowance.
Each of the three main party groups Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat sit in a certain designated area of the House. Each party has:
- A leader,
- Whips who organise the business of the House,
- Departmental spokesmen who sit on the frontbench.
Many peers have no party affiliation and are known as 'Crossbenchers'. They have a Convenor but no whip system, and their independence is a distinctive characteristic of the House of Lords.
"The Woolsack was introduced by King Edward III (1327-77), stuffed with English wool as a symbol of prosperity (the wool trade was England's traditional source of wealth). Nowadays, the Woolsack is stuffed with wool from each of the countries of the Commonwealth, to symbolise unity."
Many peers have no party affiliation and are known as 'Crossbenchers'. They have a Convenor but no whip system, and their independence is a distinctive characteristic of the House of Lords.
The Speaker of the House
The Lord Chancellor (currently The Rt Hon. The Lord Falconer of Thoroton) is the Speaker of the House, and sits at the front of the Lords Chamber on the Woolsack - a large red seat stuffed with wool.
He has limited powers in comparison to the Speaker of the House of Commons, and acts merely as the spokesperson of the House, performing duties such as announcing the results of votes. He cannot control proceedings, or discipline members for violating the rules of the House. However, unlike the politically neutral Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chancellor remains a member of his party, and may participate in debate.
The Leader of the House
The House regulates itself under the guidance of the Leader of the House (currently Baroness Amos) who, as well as acting as the leader for the party currently in government, has a responsibility to the House as a whole. The Leader is often called upon to advise on procedures and points of order, and is required to determine the order of speakers.
Both the Speaker and the Leader of the house are members of the Cabinet.
