Question
How do the House of Commons and House of Lords differ?
Answer
The House of Commons and the House of Lords are the two chambers of the UK Parliament, each with distinct roles, compositions, and functions.
Composition and Membership:
House of Commons: Members of Parliament (MPs) are democratically elected every five years, representing the public’s interests. The Commons is characterized by its competitive and aggressive environment, often driven by party politics (Crewe, 2015; Николаевна, 2011; Forman and Baldwin, 1991).
House of Lords: Members are not elected but appointed, often based on patronage, and include life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers. The Lords is known for its wide-ranging expertise and less partisan nature, with a significant non-party or cross-bench element (Николаевна, 2011; Dennett, 2019; Ellesmere, 1997; Shell, 2005).
Functions and Roles:
House of Commons: It is the primary legislative body, holding significant power in scrutinizing government actions, controlling national expenditure, and sustaining the government. The Commons is the principal forum for party battles and public representation (Forman and Baldwin, 1991; Ellesmere, 1997).
House of Lords: Acts as a revising and scrutinizing chamber, focusing on detailed examination of legislation and public interest issues. It serves as a constitutional check on the Commons, ensuring legislation reflects the public will, especially on constitutional matters (Dennett, 2019; Dennett, 2021; Shell, 2005; Nursimulu, 2012).
Communication and Debate:
House of Commons: Debates are often emotional and modal, appealing to both the minds and emotions of listeners, with a focus on electoral politics (Николаевна, 2011).
House of Lords: Debates are more rational and informed, leveraging the expertise of its members to scrutinize legislation effectively (Николаевна, 2011; Bochel and Defty, 2010).
Conclusion:
The House of Commons and the House of Lords differ significantly in their composition, roles, and functions. The Commons is a democratic, elected body focused on representing public interests and party politics, while the Lords is an appointed chamber that provides expert scrutiny and acts as a constitutional check on the Commons.
References
Crewe, E., 2015. Commons and Lords. **. https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.10984406
Николаевна, С., 2011. Социальные факторы, определяющие использование просодических риторических приемов в выступлениях депутатов британского парламента. **.
Bochel, H., & Defty, A., 2010. A question of expertise: the House of Lords and welfare policy. Parliamentary Affairs, 63, pp. 66-84. https://doi.org/10.1093/PA/GSP019
Forman, F., & Baldwin, N., 1991. The House of Commons. **, pp. 148-167. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11203-6_11
Dennett, A., 2019. 10. The House of Lords. Public Law Directions. https://doi.org/10.1093/HE/9780198807315.003.0010
Ellesmere, P., 1997. Information Society: Agenda for Action in the UK. Journal of Information Science, 23, pp. 1 – 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/016555159702300101
Dennett, A., 2021. 10. The Legislature: membership, privileges, and standards. Public Law Directions. https://doi.org/10.1093/he/9780198870579.003.0010
Shell, D., 2005. The House of Lords: A Chamber of Scrutiny. **, pp. 107-114. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230523142_10
Nursimulu, B., 2012. The Lords’ Prayer – Thy Will Be Done in the Commons. **. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.2238976
