Overview
This lecture explains the structure and main functions of the UK Parliament, focusing on how the House of Commons and House of Lords are selected and how effectively Parliament represents the electorate.
Structure of Parliament
- Parliament comprises the elected House of Commons (more powerful) and the unelected House of Lords (less powerful).
- UK government operates under parliamentary government with fused legislative and executive branches.
- The party with a Commons majority forms the government; ministers, including the Prime Minister, are MPs or Lords.
Selection of Members
- House of Commons: 650 MPs are elected by constituencies using first-past-the-post; constituency sizes vary.
- Most MPs are chosen by local party branches; some are "parachuted" in by central parties.
- House of Lords: No fixed number; most are appointed, not elected; 800+ total members.
- Types of Lords: life peers (appointed for lifetime), hereditary peers (92 remain), lord spiritual (26 bishops).
- Life peer appointments overseen by the House of Lords Appointments Commission; some appointments are politically motivated.
- Controversies include accusations of cronyism, party donors becoming peers, and lack of attendance among some peers.
Main Functions of Parliament
- Passing Legislation: Parliament is the supreme legislative body; government usually passes laws easily due to Commons majority and party whips.
- Scrutiny: Parliament holds the government to account via ministerial questions, select committees, and debates.
- Providing Ministers: Ministers are usually MPs, with some Lords; appointment can reflect party loyalty over expertise.
- Representing the Electorate: MPs represent local constituents, handle their issues, and can be held accountable or removed at elections.
Effectiveness of Representation
- Parliament is representative in that MPs are regularly elected and accountable, e.g., pro-Gaza independents winning in 2024.
- House of Lords is not democratically accountable but influences policy and legislation.
- Commons is unrepresentative due to first-past-the-post—majorities can be won with less than a majority of the vote.
- MPs often follow party lines more than constituents' wishes due to party whips and career incentives.
- Many MPs have second jobs, raising concerns about prioritization.
- Descriptive representation is limited: women, minorities, and state-educated people are underrepresented compared to the general population.
- Reforms and efforts have increased diversity, but Parliament still does not mirror society.
Key Terms & Definitions
- House of Commons — Elected chamber of Parliament, primary legislative authority.
- House of Lords — Unelected chamber of Parliament, mostly appointed members, reviews legislation.
- First-Past-the-Post — Voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins.
- Life Peer — An appointed member of the Lords serving for life.
- Hereditary Peer — A member of the Lords who inherits their position.
- Whip — MP or instruction enforcing party discipline in parliamentary votes.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples and arguments for Parliament’s representative role for potential essay questions.
- Study legislative and scrutiny functions in more depth using recommended videos and resources.
- Read up on recent and proposed reforms to the House of Lords.