House of Lords vs. Parliament UK

Attribute	House of Lords	Parliament UK
Composition	Appointed members	Appointed and elected members
Role	Review and revise legislation	Make and pass laws
Size	Approximately 800 members	650 members in the House of Commons
Term length	Life peers serve for life	Members of Parliament serve for a maximum of 5 years
Leadership	Lord Speaker	Prime Minister

Composition

The House of Lords and Parliament UK are two important institutions in the British political system. The House of Lords is the upper house of Parliament, while Parliament UK consists of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Lords is made up of appointed members, including life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers. In contrast, the House of Commons is made up of elected Members of Parliament (MPs) who represent constituencies across the UK.

Functions

Both the House of Lords and Parliament UK play crucial roles in the legislative process. The House of Lords acts as a revising chamber, scrutinizing and amending legislation proposed by the House of Commons. It also provides expertise and experience on various issues. Parliament UK, on the other hand, is responsible for making laws, debating policies, and holding the government to account. It is the primary legislative body in the UK.

Power

When it comes to power, Parliament UK holds more authority than the House of Lords. While the House of Lords can delay legislation and suggest amendments, it cannot ultimately block laws passed by the House of Commons. Parliament UK, on the other hand, has the final say on all legislation and can override any objections raised by the House of Lords. This makes Parliament UK the more powerful institution in the British political system.

Role of the Monarch

Both the House of Lords and Parliament UK have a relationship with the British monarch. The monarch plays a ceremonial role in the opening of Parliament UK, delivering the Queen's Speech outlining the government's agenda for the upcoming session. The monarch also gives royal assent to bills passed by Parliament UK, turning them into law. While the House of Lords does not have a direct relationship with the monarch, it is still an integral part of the legislative process.

Accountability

One key difference between the House of Lords and Parliament UK is the issue of accountability. Members of the House of Lords are not elected by the public and therefore do not have the same level of accountability as MPs in the House of Commons. This has led to calls for reform of the House of Lords to make it more democratic and accountable to the public. Parliament UK, on the other hand, is directly accountable to the electorate through regular general elections.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the House of Lords and Parliament UK are both important institutions in the British political system, each with its own unique attributes and functions. While the House of Lords is a revising chamber made up of appointed members, Parliament UK is the primary legislative body consisting of elected MPs. Despite their differences, both institutions play crucial roles in the legislative process and the functioning of the UK government.