Power Dynamics in the British Parliament

Power Dynamics in the British Parliament

• House of Commons is the more powerful chamber, despite its name.
• The Bill of Rights established Parliament's supreme authority, granting the Commons crucial power.
• The Commons controls taxation and the budget.
• The Commons represents the tax-paying majority.
• The 19th-century Reform Acts increased the Commons' influence as elected MPs represented a larger segment of the population.
• However, the House of Lords retained the power to veto bills.
• This power was frequently used, especially against liberal reforms, due to the Lords' conservative, aristocratic composition.
• The 1911 Parliament Act resolved the conflict, limiting the Lords' power.
• Money bills and bills authorizing government spending can bypass the House of Lords.
• Other bills must be approved by both houses; the Lords can delay but can be overridden in subsequent sessions.
• The Lords' power is reduced to delaying bills, except for extending the Commons' term beyond its legal maximum.

Evolution of Power Balance

• The introduction of life peers in 1958 further diminished the Lords' power.
• Most of these peers were known politicians or public servants, showing deference to the Commons' authority.
• Currently, the House of Commons is the supreme legislative body.
• The Commons lacks a formal constitutional limit, meaning they hold unrestricted power to enact any law change.
• The monarch's role is essentially to confirm the laws, which they usually adhere to.

Role of the House of Lords

• The Lords rarely exercise their veto power, avoiding direct conflict.
• There's an unwritten rule where Lords avoid voting against bills championed by the party in power.
• The Lords' primary function is to critique government actions, flag potential issues with bills, and voice public concerns.
• These criticisms are made by proposing amendments and even initiating bills of their own; though few are adopted by the Commons.

Explore the intricate power dynamics between the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the British Parliament. This quiz covers the evolution of Parliament's authority, the impact of historical reforms, and the legislative processes that define these two chambers. Test your knowledge on how these structures influence British governance.