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THE COMPARATIVE POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND LORDS - Coggle Diagram
THE COMPARATIVE POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND LORDS
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Financial privilege, as the Lords can't delay or amend money bills. The Commons has complete control over taxation and public spending, used this power for Welfare Reform Bill (2012).
The power to dismiss the executive, if the govt is defeated on a motion of no confidence, it must resign. In 1979, Thatcher tabled a vote of no confidence, the Lib Dems didn't vote with Labour, and Callaghan lost.
The right to insist on legislation, so the Lords should ultimately give way to the Commons if there's conflict.
The House of Commons is the lower house of the UK Parliament, and has been the dominant chamber for over a century, with a number of exclusive powers:
Introduce matters of concern to an MP in a ten-minute rule debate, where backbench MPs have ten minutes to explain their concerns, or in an adjournment debate, where if there is time at the end of a debate, backbenchers are given a limited opportunity to raise an issue.
Final approval of amendments.
More powerful in de jure terms.
Secondary legislation is normally the sole job of the Commons. There are some exceptions such as the 2015 Lords amendments to tax credit regulations - led to Strathclyde review of the Lords' role which stated the Commons could override any Lords changes.
HOUSE OF LORDS
Can veto if Parl wants to extend its term.
Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 - removed the Lords ability to delay money bills, and Commons can force through a bill delayed by the House of Lords after a year.
Can examine secondary legislation - scrutinise, propose amendments which may be rejected by the HoC.
The Salisbury Convention dates back to 1945 when Lord Salisbury gave the commitment that they wouldn't oppose any bill passed by a govt that had been in their manifesto.
Can delay the passage of legislation for up to one parliamentary year (except money bills and manifesto commitments).
Can force a general election if the govt tries to stay on beyond 5 years without one.
The Lords is the upper house of the UK Parliament.
IS THE LORDS BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT?
Under the 1979-97 Tory govt there were on average just over 13 defeats a year of the got in the Lords, whilst 1997-2010 Labour suffered on average 40 a year. The 2010-2015 coalition suffered 25 a year, and the 2015-2019 Conservatives suffered an average of 55 a year.
The changes in 1999 removed the Conservative majority in the Lords.
The Lords has therefore been emboldened in challenging the govts, but as a last resort the Commons can still use the Parliament Act to push bills through, notably equalising the age of consent for gay people in 2000 and banning fox hunting with dogs in 2004.
Since 1999 the Lords has greater legitimacy with the removal of most hereditary peers, this means the Lords is made up of people who have in someway earned through service their position.
DEBATES ABOUT RELATIVE POWER
2005 - Labour won with just 35.2% of the popular vote. The Lords challenged the bringing in of identity cards even though Labour had pledged to introduce them in their manifesto.
2010 - coalition govt, who's manifesto should it be based on?
There have been various election results that have cast concerns over the legitimacy of various govts in recent elections which have suggested the Lords should act as more of a check, especially as the Commons ability is limited by party politics.
2017 - minority govt.
The Commons has more power and without major reform to the Lords this will remain the case.