House of Commons vs. House of Lords

Attribute	House of Commons	House of Lords
Number of members	650	Approximately 800
Method of appointment	Elected	Appointed
Role	Primary legislative body	Review and revise legislation
Term length	5 years	Life peerage
Speaker	Speaker of the House of Commons	Lord Speaker

Composition

The House of Commons and the House of Lords are the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The House of Commons is the lower house, consisting of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the public in general elections. There are currently 650 MPs in the House of Commons. On the other hand, the House of Lords is the upper house, made up of appointed members known as Lords. The House of Lords is not elected by the public; instead, members are appointed based on various criteria such as hereditary peerage, life peerage, and bishops of the Church of England.

Functions

Both houses of Parliament play important roles in the legislative process in the UK. The House of Commons is responsible for proposing and debating new laws, as well as scrutinizing the work of the government. It is also where the Prime Minister and the majority of government ministers sit. The House of Lords, on the other hand, acts as a revising chamber, reviewing and suggesting amendments to legislation proposed by the House of Commons. While the House of Lords can delay legislation, it cannot ultimately block it.

Power

When it comes to power, the House of Commons holds more influence than the House of Lords. This is because the House of Commons is directly elected by the public and is seen as the more democratic of the two houses. The government is formed by the party or coalition with the majority of seats in the House of Commons, giving it the authority to govern. The House of Lords, on the other hand, has limited power and cannot veto legislation passed by the House of Commons. However, it can delay bills and propose amendments for further consideration.

Term Length

Members of the House of Commons are elected to serve a term of five years, after which a general election is held to elect new MPs. This fixed term ensures that the government cannot continue indefinitely without seeking a fresh mandate from the public. In contrast, members of the House of Lords do not have fixed terms. Life peers are appointed for life, while hereditary peers inherit their titles and can pass them down through generations. Bishops of the Church of England also serve for life.

Size

The House of Commons is larger in size compared to the House of Lords. As mentioned earlier, there are currently 650 MPs in the House of Commons, representing constituencies across the UK. In contrast, the House of Lords is made up of around 800 members, including life peers, hereditary peers, and bishops. The size of the House of Lords has led to calls for reform to reduce the number of members and make it more efficient.

Role of the Speaker

Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords have a Speaker who presides over debates and maintains order during proceedings. In the House of Commons, the Speaker is elected by MPs and is expected to be impartial, representing the interests of all members. The Speaker of the House of Commons is responsible for ensuring that debates are conducted fairly and that parliamentary rules are followed. In the House of Lords, the Lord Speaker is elected by members of the House and performs a similar role in maintaining order and facilitating debates.

Public Perception

The House of Commons is often seen as the more powerful and influential of the two houses, given its direct link to the electorate through general elections. MPs in the House of Commons are accountable to their constituents and are expected to represent their interests in Parliament. The House of Lords, on the other hand, is sometimes viewed as outdated and undemocratic due to its unelected nature and the presence of hereditary peers. Calls for reform of the House of Lords have been ongoing for many years, with proposals to make it more representative and accountable to the public.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have distinct attributes that set them apart in terms of composition, functions, power, term length, size, role of the Speaker, and public perception. While the House of Commons is the more democratic and powerful of the two houses, the House of Lords plays a crucial role in the legislative process as a revising chamber. Both houses have their strengths and weaknesses, and ongoing debates about their roles and functions continue to shape the future of the UK Parliament.