The upper house of the UK Parliament is the House of Lords.
Contents
🏛️ House of Lords – Overview
- Function: Acts as the second chamber of the UK Parliament, reviewing legislation and holding the government to account.
- Location: Palace of Westminster, London.
- Membership: Currently around 780 members (the number changes as it’s not fixed).
- Main Role: Revising legislation, delaying non-financial bills, debating key issues, and providing expertise.
👥 Types of Members
- Life Peers (majority)
- Appointed for life.
- Titles are not hereditary.
- Appointed by the monarch on advice of the Prime Minister or House of Lords Appointments Commission.
- Hereditary Peers
- Title passed down through family.
- After 1999, only 92 hereditary peers remain, elected internally by other hereditary peers.
- Bishops
- 26 senior bishops from the Church of England (known as the Lords Spiritual).
- Reflects the Church of England’s official status in the UK.
🔍 Key Functions
- Scrutinizing Legislation:
- Reviews bills passed by the House of Commons.
- Can propose amendments.
- Can delay (but not permanently block) most legislation.
- Cannot block money bills (finance and taxation).
- Debating National Issues:
- Less partisan than the Commons, allowing for more detailed, expert debate.
- Holding Government to Account:
- Through questioning, debates, and select committees.
⚖️ Powers and Limitations
- The Lords is subordinate to the House of Commons.
- Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 limit their power:
- Cannot veto bills, only delay them (maximum one year).
- Cannot delay money bills beyond one month.
🏅 Notable Aspects
- Members are not elected — this is a frequent point of debate and proposed reform.
- Seen as a chamber of expertise and revision, often bringing legal, scientific, and academic experience.
- Plays a complementary role to the Commons, not a rival one.
Would you like to know more about House of Lords reform, key members, or how it works with the Commons?