Comparing the House of Commons & the House of Lords
The Parliament Act significantly curtailed the power of the Lords by removing their ability to veto legislation entirely. It established that 'Money Bills' (financial legislation) could be passed without the Lords' consent after one month.
The Parliament Act further reduced the Lords' power to delay non-financial legislation from two years down to just one year. This means if the Commons passes a bill in two successive sessions, it can become law even if the Lords continues to reject it.
Financial Privilege is a core principle where the House of Commons has the exclusive right to decide on levels of taxation and public spending. The Lords cannot amend financial clauses in bills, reflecting the principle of 'no taxation without representation.'
| Feature | House of Commons | House of Lords |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | elected MPs | Approx. appointed/hereditary peers |
| Primary Role | Representation, Taxation, Government formation | Scrutiny, Revision, Expertise |
| Legislative Power | Can bypass the Lords using Parliament Acts | Can only delay legislation for up to one year |
| Financial Power | Sole authority over 'Money Bills' | No power to amend or block financial bills |
| Legitimacy | High (Democratic mandate) | Low (Appointed/Hereditary) |
Scrutiny Methods: While both houses use Select Committees, the Commons committees often focus on government departments, whereas Lords committees are often cross-cutting and focus on broad thematic areas like science, technology, or the constitution.
Party Discipline: The Commons is highly partisan with strong 'whips' enforcing party lines, whereas the Lords has a significant number of 'Crossbenchers' who are not affiliated with any political party, allowing for more independent scrutiny.
Focus on the Parliament Acts: When discussing the relationship between the houses, always cite the and Acts as the legal basis for Commons supremacy. These are the most common 'evidence points' required in essays.
Analyze the 'Ping-Pong': Understand the process where a bill moves back and forth between houses as they negotiate amendments. Note that the Commons usually wins because it can threaten to use the Parliament Acts.
Evaluate Legitimacy: Be prepared to argue both sides of the 'Lords Reform' debate. The Lords' lack of legitimacy is its weakness, but its independence and expertise are often cited as its greatest strengths.
Check for Financial Privilege: Always remember that the Lords cannot touch the Budget. If a question asks about the Lords' influence on the economy, their role is purely advisory and non-binding.
The Veto Myth: A common mistake is thinking the House of Lords can permanently stop a bill from becoming law. In reality, they can only delay it; the Commons has the final word.
Equal Power Assumption: Students often assume that because it is a 'bicameral' system, the houses are equal. In the UK, this is a 'weighted' bicameralism where the lower house is significantly more powerful.
Confusing Membership: Do not confuse 'Life Peers' (appointed for their lifetime) with 'Hereditary Peers' (who inherit their titles). While most are now Life Peers, a small number () of hereditary peers remain.