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'Any proposal for the reform of the composition of the House of Lords ought logically to begin by asking what it is we expect the House of Lords to do and to tailor composition to function' - Discuss.
Member rating: No Rating | Words: | Submitted: Mon Jun 19 2006
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The upper house of the United Kingdom, its "revising and leisured legislature1", is an unelected, democratically unaccountable institution. The origins of the House of Lords can be traced back to the eleventh century. The original purpose of having two chambers at Westminster was to allow for representation of different interests within the country. Until 1999 the composition of the Upper House was comprised largely of Hereditary Peers, whose eligibility for membership was determined by accident of birth. Until 1911 Lords enjoyed equal power with Commons in all but financial measures. The reforms introduced by the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 altered this power balance. Apart from retaining the veto power over Bills purporting to extend the life of Parliament the veto power held by the Upper House over legislation was curtailed to a mere delaying power. Apart from the 1852 addition of the Law Lords the composition of the house...
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