House of Lords and Democracy
Some background. The UK's system of government takes place in two 'houses'. The House of Commons which is a body of 650 elected MPs (members of parliament) and the House of Lords which has a variable number (currently 781) of Lords who are not elected. They are composed of 64 Bishops (there because of their religious position) plus a few hereditary peers (there because of their birth - 92 at the moment) and the rest appointed over time - usually on the say-so of a current PM. So, the HoL is bigger than the HoC and its political markup does not reflect that of the HoC (which has been elected, don't forget, by the people of the UK). Incredibly, it is the second largest legislative chamber in the world - second only to that bastion of democracy the Chinese National People's Congress. Also why the hell does the church have a privileged position in this day and age - particularly as the seats are exclusively Church of England?
The HoL scrutinises Bills (legislation) passed by the HoC. It debates these bills and can modify or outright reject the legislation. If it does the bill goes back to the HoC to be discussed again and the changes can be ignored or reversed. At this point the bill goes back to the HoL and the whole process repeats. However, this can only happen as long as it does nor results in an time extension of more than 2 parliamentary sessions or a time of 1 calendar year. So in theory the unelected chamber cannot over-rule the elected one.
The problem comes where the legislation is time bounded. So, as Brexit has to happen sharpish, we have problem if the HoL keeps bouncing the Brexit bill back to the HoC.
Currently this seems to be the intention of the majority of the HoL - and it really does seem that the voting is taking place mostly (although not entirely) along Party Political lines.
Now this really does seem to be possibly rather undemocratic. How can an unelected, unrepresentative body, effectively, overrule the elected chamber? It is obviously not possible to say that what is happening is party political but the voting patterns do look that way.
So, how to ensure this can't happen?
* Dissolve the HoL.
* Make it an elected body.
* Make it advisory only - with no delaying tactics possible.
Or how about this - Allow the Lords to debate as they already do with everyone able to contribute but ONLY allow the same proportion of party aligned or independent members as in the HoC to actually vote? These 'votes' could be allocated by party whips or ballot.
The HoL scrutinises Bills (legislation) passed by the HoC. It debates these bills and can modify or outright reject the legislation. If it does the bill goes back to the HoC to be discussed again and the changes can be ignored or reversed. At this point the bill goes back to the HoL and the whole process repeats. However, this can only happen as long as it does nor results in an time extension of more than 2 parliamentary sessions or a time of 1 calendar year. So in theory the unelected chamber cannot over-rule the elected one.
The problem comes where the legislation is time bounded. So, as Brexit has to happen sharpish, we have problem if the HoL keeps bouncing the Brexit bill back to the HoC.
Currently this seems to be the intention of the majority of the HoL - and it really does seem that the voting is taking place mostly (although not entirely) along Party Political lines.
Now this really does seem to be possibly rather undemocratic. How can an unelected, unrepresentative body, effectively, overrule the elected chamber? It is obviously not possible to say that what is happening is party political but the voting patterns do look that way.
So, how to ensure this can't happen?
* Dissolve the HoL.
* Make it an elected body.
* Make it advisory only - with no delaying tactics possible.
Or how about this - Allow the Lords to debate as they already do with everyone able to contribute but ONLY allow the same proportion of party aligned or independent members as in the HoC to actually vote? These 'votes' could be allocated by party whips or ballot.
