Eleanor Finch
The House of Lords, which developed from the Great Council that advised the king during medieval times, has been a prominent part of the UK's political landscape since the early 17th century. The House of Lords was more powerful than the House of Commons, but the latter's influence grew over time, and by the middle of the 17th century, it had become the most important branch of Parliament. The House of Lords was abolished in 1649, along with the monarchy, but both were restored in 1660. The UK is now a constitutional monarchy, with the Crown as the Head of State, but the monarch's role is largely ceremonial. The House of Lords, which currently has around 800 members, continues to be a part of the bicameral Parliament, along with the House of Commons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Development | The House of Lords developed from the "Great Council" (Magnum Concilium) that advised the king during medieval times, dating back to the early 11th century. |
| Composition | Archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, and representatives of the shires and boroughs. |
| Power | The House of Lords was more powerful than the House of Commons, but the lower house continued to grow in influence. |
| Abolition | On 19 March 1649, the House of Lords was abolished by an act of Parliament, which declared that "The Commons of England [find] by too long experience that the House of Lords is useless and dangerous to the people of England." |
| Restoration | The House of Lords was restored in 1660 along with the monarchy. |
| Reform | The House of Lords has undergone various reforms over the years, including the removal of the right of most hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House in 1999, and the inclusion of hereditary peeresses in 1963. |
| Current Role | The House of Lords serves as a 'revising' chamber, considering draft government bills and proposing changes or amendments. It also holds the government to account through question time and debates. |
| Membership | The House of Lords has around 800 members, including appointed life peers, hereditary peers, and Church of England Archbishops and Bishops. |
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What You'll Learn
The House of Lords developed from the Great Council
The House of Lords, the upper chamber of the British Parliament, developed from the "Great Council" (Magnum Concilium) that advised the king during medieval times, dating back to the early 11th century. This royal council was composed of ecclesiastics, noblemen, and representatives of the counties of England and Wales (and later, representatives of the boroughs as well).
The first English Parliament is often considered to be either Simon de Montfort's Parliament (held in 1265) or the "Model Parliament" (held in 1295). This included archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, and representatives of the shires and boroughs. The power of Parliament grew slowly, fluctuating as the strength of the monarchy waxed and waned.
During the reign of King Edward II's successor, Edward III, Parliament clearly separated into two distinct chambers: the House of Commons (consisting of the shire and borough representatives) and the House of Lords (consisting of the archbishops, bishops, abbots and nobility). The authority of Parliament continued to grow, and during the early 15th century, both Houses exercised powers to an extent not seen before. The Lords were far more powerful than the Commons due to the great influence of the large landowners and the prelates of the realm.
The power of the nobility declined during the civil wars of the late 15th century, known as the Wars of the Roses. The nobility was decimated on the battlefield or executed for participation in the war, and many aristocratic estates were lost to the Crown. The rise of the Tudor monarchs in the 16th century saw the continued growth of the domination of the Sovereign. The Crown was at the height of its power during the reign of Henry VIII (1509–1547). The House of Lords remained more powerful than the House of Commons, but the lower house continued to grow in influence, reaching a zenith in relation to the House of Lords during the middle of the 17th century.
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The House of Lords was abolished in 1649
The House of Lords had developed from the "Great Council" that advised the king during medieval times. It was composed of ecclesiastics, noblemen, and representatives of the counties of England and Wales. Over time, the power of the House of Lords waxed and waned, often in opposition to the power of the monarchy. During the reign of Edward III, the Parliament separated into two distinct chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Lords were generally more powerful than the Commons due to the influence of landowners and prelates of the realm.
However, the power of the nobility declined during the Wars of the Roses in the late 15th century, and the monarchy gained more power under Henry VII. The House of Commons continued to grow in influence, and by the middle of the 17th century, it had reached its zenith in relation to the House of Lords. Conflicts between the king and Parliament ultimately led to the English Civil War in the 1640s. After the war ended, the monarchy and the House of Lords were abolished, and the nation was under the control of Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The House of Lords did not assemble again until 1660 when the monarchy was restored, and it returned to its former position as the more powerful chamber of Parliament.
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The House of Lords was reinstated in 1660
The House of Lords was restored to its former position as the more powerful chamber of Parliament, a position it would hold until the 19th century. The Convention Parliament of 1660 marked the return of the monarchy, and the House of Lords once again became a key player in English and British constitutional and political history.
The period following the reinstatement of the House of Lords in 1660 was marked by critical confrontations and significant political shifts. The peers, or members of the House of Lords, actively engaged with and sought to influence key issues of the time. They were particularly concerned with maintaining their longstanding legislative and judicial powers. The House of Lords also played a crucial role in shaping the constitutional position of the Church of England and navigating the implications of the succession to the throne of the Catholic prince James, Duke of York, who later became James II.
The House of Lords, as the upper house of Parliament, has functions similar to those of the House of Commons. It scrutinises legislation, holds the government accountable, and considers and reports on public policy. The House of Lords acts as a "revising chamber", focusing on legislative detail and occasionally asking the House of Commons to reconsider its plans. While it cannot prevent bills from becoming laws, it can propose amendments and delay the enactment of bills for up to a year in certain circumstances.
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The House of Lords has over 800 members
The House of Lords, which developed from the "'Great Council' that advised the king during medieval times, has over 800 members. The number of members in the House of Lords has changed over time, with the House having only about 50 members in the 19th century. The individual influence of a Lord of Parliament was diminished as the House was enlarged by the liberality of George III and his successors in creating peerages.
The House of Lords includes members who are appointed as 'life peers' by the monarch on the advice of consecutive prime ministers, as well as 92 hereditary peers and 26 Church of England archbishops and bishops. The process of appointing new peers has been a subject of debate, with some calling for reform to restrict the prime minister's power in this area.
The large number of members in the House of Lords, with their diverse expertise and experiences, contributes to its role as a "revising" chamber. The House of Lords scrutinizes legislation, holds the government accountable, and considers and reports on public policy. While it cannot prevent bills from becoming laws, it can propose amendments and delay the enactment of bills for a limited time.
The House of Lords has a long history, dating back to the early 11th century, and has undergone various changes over the centuries. During the reign of King Edward II, the nobility was supreme, while the Crown was weak, and shire and borough representatives were powerless. However, during the civil wars of the late 15th century, known as the Wars of the Roses, the power of the nobility declined, and many aristocratic estates were lost to the Crown. The House of Lords was abolished in 1649 but was later reinstated in 1660, along with the restoration of the monarchy.
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The House of Lords is a 'revising' chamber
The House of Lords is a revising chamber, with its primary function being to ask the House of Commons to reconsider its plans. Members of the House of Lords spend a lot of their time considering draft government bills before they become law, and they are equipped to perform this role due to the wide range of expertise and experiences of their members, as well as their independence of thought. While the House of Lords can propose changes, any amendments to legislation must also be agreed upon by the House of Commons. It is very rare for peers to try to overrule legislation passed by the House of Commons as a whole.
The House of Lords developed from the "Great Council" (Magnum Concilium) that advised the king during medieval times, dating back to the early 11th century. This royal council was composed of ecclesiastics, noblemen, and representatives of the counties of England and Wales. The power of Parliament grew slowly, fluctuating as the strength of the monarchy grew or declined. During the reign of Edward III, Parliament clearly separated into two distinct chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Lords were far more powerful than the Commons due to the influence of the great landowners and the prelates of the realm.
The authority of Parliament continued to grow during the early 15th century, and the domination of the Sovereign continued to grow during the reigns of the Tudor monarchs in the 16th century. The House of Lords remained more powerful than the House of Commons, but the lower house continued to gain influence, reaching its zenith in relation to the House of Lords during the middle of the 17th century. The final transition to a constitutional monarchy was made during the long reign of Queen Victoria.
In modern times, the House of Lords has faced calls for reform, primarily due to it not being elected by popular vote. The House of Lords Act 1999 removed the right of most hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House, and in 2006, the House held its first election for a Lord Speaker. The House of Lords is still a powerful chamber of Parliament, and it continues to play a significant role in shaping the country's legislation and holding the government to account.
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Frequently asked questions
The House of Lords was made up of archbishops, bishops, abbots and nobility.
The House of Lords' primary function was as a 'revising' chamber, asking the House of Commons to reconsider its plans. Members of the House of Lords spent a lot of their time considering draft government bills before they became law.
Yes, the House of Lords was more powerful than the House of Commons, but the latter continued to grow in influence, reaching a zenith in relation to the House of Lords in the middle of the 17th century.
The House of Lords was abolished in 1649, along with the monarchy. It was reinstated in 1660 when the monarchy was restored.
The House of Lords continues to be a part of the bicameral Parliament of the UK, along with the House of Commons. However, its role is now largely ceremonial.
