removed all but 92 hereditary peers from the Lords
allowed for nominated peers called ‘people’s peers/life peers’
did not allow elected members to the Lords
constitutional reform act 2005
a separate Supreme Court was introduced; the highest court in the land
replaced the Law Lords
created a general sense of judicial independence. and separation of power
succession to the crown act 2013
allowed the eldest child of the monarch to ascend the throne regardless of gender
house of lords reform act 2014
allowing existing peers to retire their seats in the HOL and remove any that commit serious crimes or do not attend
what are the strengths of modernisation?
HOL is smaller, more diverse and less conservative-dominated; easier to remove peers for misconduct and absence
creation of the SC gave a clear separation between the executive and judiciary; corporate identity and higher public profile. it is politically neutral and apolitical compared to the USA SC
more gender equality even in royal ascension
what are the weaknesses of modernisation?
reform of the HOL is still incomplete: the UK still has an unelected chamber
an independent SC led to too much power with the unelected and unaccountable justices - undermined parliament
alteration of royal succession is a minor tweak - still illegal to be a Roman Catholic monarch
