Evaluate the view that the House of Commons plays a more significant OR effective role during the
legislative process than the House of Lords [30]
Introduction Define: p Argument:
Paragraph 1: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Proposal 56 Bills were introduced in the House of
Commons from 2017-19, compared to 93
in the House of Lords – suggests Lords
more significant role in the ‘First reading’
where bill is formally introduced.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
BUT most significant bills begin in the Equally, 52/56 Commons bills received
Commons. Between the 2010 General royal assent, compared to just 67/149 for
Election and October 2021 there were 407 the Lords. In proposing bills, then, (first
Acts of Parliament passed. Of these, 104 reading) it is clear that the Commons’ role
(25.5%) originated in the House of Lords. is more significant.
This is primarily as the Government often
uses the House of Lords to begin the
passage of lower profile bills and therefore
avoid a logjam in the House of Commons.
Paragraph 2: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Debating and
voting In the House of Commons, EU bill received Only the Commons can veto a bill outright
just 4 hours and 37 minutes debate. – Lords remains constitutionally limited.
Similarly, the Internal Markets Bill that set
out how trade would operate within the
UK after Brexit was debated for just 11
hours by the House of Commons.
Between 2016 and 2017 115 peers did not
speak once in the House of Lords – lack of
political engagement limits effectiveness in
debating legislation. The existence of non-
working peers undermines the credibility
and effectiveness of the House.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
As a result of these factors, backbench
In the house of lords more time spent rebellions are rare and Governments can
scrutinizing legislation – backbenchers usually rely on the support of their own
often experts in their fields e.g. Lord MPs. Since the 2019 General Election, of
Adonis is an expert on education – 650 MPs there are 321 who have never
previous academic. Can devote more time: once voted against their own party. Power
whilst the Commons spent just 10 hours of patronage – there are over 100 junior
scrutinizing Agriculture Act (2020), Lords minister roles available as ‘lobbying
spent 96 hours – can go through bills line- fodder’ for which MPs will readily toe the
by-line. party line. Between 1945 and 2019 there
Many peers will only debate and were 19,909 divisions in the House of
contribute to issues they have some level Commons, of which the Government won
legislative process than the House of Lords [30]
Introduction Define: p Argument:
Paragraph 1: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Proposal 56 Bills were introduced in the House of
Commons from 2017-19, compared to 93
in the House of Lords – suggests Lords
more significant role in the ‘First reading’
where bill is formally introduced.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
BUT most significant bills begin in the Equally, 52/56 Commons bills received
Commons. Between the 2010 General royal assent, compared to just 67/149 for
Election and October 2021 there were 407 the Lords. In proposing bills, then, (first
Acts of Parliament passed. Of these, 104 reading) it is clear that the Commons’ role
(25.5%) originated in the House of Lords. is more significant.
This is primarily as the Government often
uses the House of Lords to begin the
passage of lower profile bills and therefore
avoid a logjam in the House of Commons.
Paragraph 2: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Debating and
voting In the House of Commons, EU bill received Only the Commons can veto a bill outright
just 4 hours and 37 minutes debate. – Lords remains constitutionally limited.
Similarly, the Internal Markets Bill that set
out how trade would operate within the
UK after Brexit was debated for just 11
hours by the House of Commons.
Between 2016 and 2017 115 peers did not
speak once in the House of Lords – lack of
political engagement limits effectiveness in
debating legislation. The existence of non-
working peers undermines the credibility
and effectiveness of the House.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
As a result of these factors, backbench
In the house of lords more time spent rebellions are rare and Governments can
scrutinizing legislation – backbenchers usually rely on the support of their own
often experts in their fields e.g. Lord MPs. Since the 2019 General Election, of
Adonis is an expert on education – 650 MPs there are 321 who have never
previous academic. Can devote more time: once voted against their own party. Power
whilst the Commons spent just 10 hours of patronage – there are over 100 junior
scrutinizing Agriculture Act (2020), Lords minister roles available as ‘lobbying
spent 96 hours – can go through bills line- fodder’ for which MPs will readily toe the
by-line. party line. Between 1945 and 2019 there
Many peers will only debate and were 19,909 divisions in the House of
contribute to issues they have some level Commons, of which the Government won
