Comparative Powers of the Houses

• How can the House of Commons remove a governemnt?

  Vote of no confidence
• A motion is put forward by MPs for a vote in the House of Commons on whether the house still has confidence in the government
• If a vote of no confidence is successful what will happen?

  There will be a period of 14 days for a new government to form and win a confidence motion
• What happens if no new government forms and wins a confidence motion?

  A general election will take place
• Example of a PM who was removed after a Vote of no confidence

  James Callaghan in 1979
• The House of Commons has law making powers
• The Commons has the power to reject legislation by voting against it and has final approval over any proposed amendments to bills by the House of Lords
• The House of Lords has the power to propose amendments and revisions to bills which the House of Commons can review
• How will the House of Lords scrutinise legislation?

  Through debates and select committees
• A recent example of a parliamentary ping pong would be the Rwanda bill amendments being rejected by the Commons
• What type of legislation can the Lords veto?

  Secondary legislation however this power is rarely used
• Both chambers can scrutinise the government and hold it to account
• Both chambers debate and vote on bills
• A bill must go through readings in both chambers and pass in both chambers to become law.
• What does the Salisbury convention mean?


  The Lords do not oppose bills proposed in the government’s election manifesto
• The Commons can overrule/veto legislation but the Lords can only delay it
• The Commons has a public mandate whereas the Lords is unelected
• What are advantages the Lords has over the Commons?

  Lords do not have the same constituency duties as MPs so can devote more time to scrutiny. They are also not bound by a party manifesto, so can act more independently
• Member of the Lords who offers constitutional insights that greatly inform political debate

  Lord Norton (Professor of Politics)
• Prominent peer who was a Conservative MP under Thatcher, Major and Cameron

  Kenneth Clarke
• How could the Lords protect civil liberties in the UK?


  If the House of Commons voted to extend the life of a parliament beyond 5 years, the House of Lords could constitutionally reject this proposal.