The House of Lords

[Woad-Warrier]

What exactly does the House of Lords actually do? From what I've seen all they do is redebate the bills that come from the House of Commons and maybe change a few words in it and debate a few issues with themselves?

I've tried Wikipedia but it doesn't really make it clear?

Also, is that a huge golden throne for the Monarch at the end?

[Noble Savage]

A quote from a great man

Tony Benn - The House of Lords is the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians

[removeduser_487563287433]

House of Lords is the upper House of the British bicameral legislature. Once a bill is passed in the commons it must then be approved by the House of Lords. It is actually surprisingly effective at being a check and balance since traditionally the party lines are not so rigid as in the commons - recent examples of when the Lords has displayed its power - fox hunting and when the Commons passed a bill exempting MPs from the Freedom of Information act.

[Woad-Warrier]

Hmm, didn't the Fox hunting bill get through though?

Is it a throne then? Why doesn't the Monarch attend the House of Lords? Not that she has to, but has she ever?

[removeduser_487563287433]

Hmm, didn't the Fox hunting bill get through though?

Is it a throne then? Why doesn't the Monarch attend the House of Lords? Not that she has to, but has she ever?

Not in the form that the Commons passed, no. The Monarch does attend the House of Lords, usually annually. The monarch is forbidden from entering the Commons.

[Bootsiuv]

Don't they wear those snazzy wigs too? Someone has to wear those things. W00t for the girly wigs!

[Woad-Warrier]

I think in the opening of Parliament

[Cluny the Scourge]

If the Lords reject a Bill then the Commons can force it through if they resubmit the exact same text to the Lords a year later, so the ultimate authority still lies in the Commons. They need to maintain the political momentum to do this, of course.

[Woad-Warrier]

Sounds fair.

So the Lords just "balances" the bills and makes them law?

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

the lords checks bills and usually passes them

[Woad-Warrier]

Woah really? Anyone got a picture? . I never seen it on TV :O

What changed in the bill? I mean Fox Hunting is fox hunting

[LoZz]

What exactly does the House of Lords actually do? From what I've seen all they do is redebate the bills that come from the House of Commons and maybe change a few words in it and debate a few issues with themselves?

I've tried Wikipedia but it doesn't really make it clear?

Also, is that a huge golden throne for the Monarch at the end?

in order for anything to become law or stature it has to be voted and passed on in the commons and in the lords.



a simple way of describeing it - the usa has the senate and the house of representatives (I think?) and the uk has the house of lords and the house of commons (common people)

and that gold throne is for the queen, she is the head of the lords i think much like tony blair is head of the commons

[Woad-Warrier]

I've never seen her at the House of Lords though...

[LoZz]

I've never seen her at the House of Lords though...

thats because she has no real power anymore remember she is just their for ceremonial things now. she doesnt take part in any of the voting etc, not allowed to.

though she is still the head of it

[Woad-Warrier]

Well actually she does have some power... The Royal Provokitive (cant spell it) best look on Wiki. Not even allowed to vote (remember its just 1 vote) in the House of Lords? I can understand in the House of Commons but the lords?

Thats just ******** to be honest.

[LoZz]

Well actually she does have some power... The Royal Provokitive (cant spell it) best look on Wiki. Not even allowed to vote (remember its just 1 vote) in the House of Lords? I can understand in the House of Commons but the lords?

Thats just ******** to be honest.

its weird, both her and lords are unelected yet the lords get to deside on things that effect our everyday lives and she does not.

this is proberly something to do with the civil war etc.

[Tony83]

The State Opening of Parliament

The House of Lords is a uniquely British institution with a long and illustrious past. Until the reforms of 1999, it was the largest regularly sitting legislative body in the world: more than 1,200 people were entitled to sit and vote there, although, many hereditary peers chose not to exercise their rights. No other western country has had an upper tier of parliament so heavily dominated by non-elected politicians who are literally "born to rule".

The House dates back to the 11th century when feudal landlords and religious leaders were consulted by Saxon kings. Britain is revered throughout the world as the "mother of parliamentary democracy" but nowadays some argue that the "children" the Empire spawned, such as Australia, Canada, the United States and even India, have electoral systems which are more democratic than the United Kingdom's.

The distinction between Lords and Commons developed in the 14th century. Shire and borough representatives formed the "Lower House of Parliament" while the religious leaders (Lords Spiritual) and landed gentry (Lords Temporal) became known as the "Upper House".

Since 1876 the House of Lords has acted as the highest appeal court in the UK.

The Lords were first reformed in 1909 following a constitutional crisis which threatened to bring down David Lloyd-George's Liberal government. When the Lords rejected his government's budget he responded by introducing a bill which ended the peers' power to reject legislation approved by the Commons.

A further act passed by Clement Attlee's Labour government in 1949 reduced the Lords' delaying powers.

The first life peers were created in 1958. The same legislation introduced allowances for peers' out-of-pocket expenses and a system of "leave of absence" for peers who did not wish or could not attend the House for long periods.

More recently, Tony Blair's Labour government has enacted further reforms with the aim of making the House more "relevant" to our times.

[Earl of Rochester]

It always has amazed me that England continues to allow an unelected body have power in its government.

But from a pragmatic standpoint it seems to be a system that works fine.

[Woad-Warrier]

Thanks for the picture and info Tony

"It always has amazed me that England continues to allow an unelected body have power in its government."

Why? Not every one is a republican... And the monarchy is great, why would we get rid of it?

[removeduser_487563287433]

It always has amazed me that England continues to allow an unelected body have power in its government.

But from a pragmatic standpoint it seems to be a system that works fine.

Like the American cabinet?