House of Lords

Queen Anne in the House of Lords by Peter Tillemans

House of lords and princes chamber

David Lloyd George 1902

Passing of the Parliament Bill, 1911 - Project Gutenberg eText 19609

1911-New-Perrs-UK-Punch

House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Alongside the House of Commons, it forms the bicameral legislature of the UK. The House of Lords is composed of Life Peers, Bishops of the Church of England, and Hereditary Peers. The primary function of the House of Lords is to review legislation proposed by the House of Commons, with the power to amend or delay legislation, but not to permanently block it.

Composition

The House of Lords has three main types of members:

• Life Peers: Appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister or the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Life peers hold the title for their lifetime but cannot pass it on to their descendants.
• Bishops: The House includes 26 bishops of the Church of England, known as the Lords Spiritual. They include the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester, and 21 other bishops who serve on a rotating basis.
• Hereditary Peers: Originally, all peers could sit in the House of Lords, but the House of Lords Act 1999 reduced their number drastically. Now, only 92 hereditary peers remain, elected internally.

Functions and Powers

The House of Lords performs several key functions:

• Legislative Review: It reviews, amends, and debates legislation proposed by the House of Commons. While it can delay legislation, it cannot ultimately veto it due to the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949.
• Scrutiny: Through its committees, the House of Lords scrutinizes public policy, government activity, and proposed laws in detail.
• Representation: It provides a forum for expertise and experience from various fields, contributing to the legislative process.

History

The origins of the House of Lords date back to the medieval period, with its role and composition evolving over centuries. Significant reforms in the 19th and 20th centuries have shaped the modern House, including the introduction of life peers in the Life Peerages Act 1958 and the reduction of hereditary peers in the House of Lords Act 1999.

Recent Reforms and Debates

The composition and powers of the House of Lords have been subjects of ongoing debate. Recent discussions have focused on further reducing the number of hereditary peers, introducing elections for members, and limiting the size of the House. However, comprehensive reform has been elusive.

See Also

• Parliament of the United Kingdom
• House of Commons
• Constitution of the United Kingdom
• Parliament Acts

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