Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Hereditary Peer
- Representative Peer of Scotland
- Representative Peer of Ireland
- Lords of Appeal
- Spiritual Peer
- Princess of Royal Blood
- Life Peer
- Nature
- Disqualification
- Presiding Officer
- Privileges of House of Lords
- Power and Function of House of Lords
- Conclusion
Introduction
House of Lords is the oldest house among the world. Mostly this house consists of inherited representation. It is also called the upper house of the UK parliament. This house is a center of peerage, which includes various types of members.
Hereditary Peer
This peer consists of the sons of the queen and king, numbering about nine, and other members below this category. They are nominated by the king and Prime Minister. Generally, the sons of the royal family become representatives of this house after the age of one year. Females are not eligible for this house. A significant number of representatives in the House of Lords come from this peerage.
Representative Peer of Scotland
There are sixteen representatives elected by Scotland, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Union 1707.
Representative Peer of Ireland
When Ireland was united with England, the Irish peers were entitled to elect twenty-eight members.
Lords of Appeal
There are nine Lords of Appeal appointed by the crown under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to assist this house in judicial activities.
Spiritual Peer
Spiritual peers consist of twenty-six members from three regions. Two of them are the Archbishops of Canterbury, and the remaining twenty-four are senior bishops of the Church of England. They serve religious activities.
Princess of Royal Blood
Male adult members of the royal family who have attained majority and have a specified degree of relationship or appointed as representatives of the House of Lords.
Life Peer
Life peers are appointed under the provisions of the Life Peerage Act 1988. They are individuals who have held the highest offices in the state and possess sufficient education, such as ex-ministers, speakers, educationists, etc. The number of life peers is not fixed and varies over time.
Nature
The nature of the House of Lords is called conservative or the "old chamber" because it is the oldest house of parliament in the world. Most of its representatives are nominated, which is why it is also called the hereditary chamber. It is a combination of hereditary and democratic composition.
Disqualification
The following persons cannot become members of the House of Lords:
- Insane individuals
- Minors
- Convicts
- Bankrupts (insolvency)
Presiding Officer
The House of Lords is presided over by the Lord Chancellor, who is a member of the cabinet.
Privileges of House of Lords
Following are the privileges of the House of Lords:
- Freedom of speech: Lords can express their views freely without any restrictions on time.
- Free access to the conversation: Members can access and discuss public affairs.
- Right to determine its own composition: Members can express their concepts and views freely.
- Right to publish opinion: Lords can publish their opinions in official papers and government documents.
- Freedom from arrest: Members cannot be arrested during parliamentary sessions.
- Right to receive summons: Members have the right to receive individual summons to attend the parliament.
- Trial of impeachment: The House of Lords has the right to decide impeachment cases.
- Exemption: Members enjoy exemption from serving as jurors.
Power and Function of House of Lords
Under the UK constitution, the House of Lords has the following powers and functions:
- Legislative Power:
- Regarding money bills: The House of Lords has no jurisdiction over money bills, but it accepts non-money bills passed by the House of Commons.
- Judicial Power:
- The House of Lords has jurisdiction over judicial matters, including trying peers in cases involving national interest.
- Other Powers:
- The House of Lords has an important function in discussing social and political questions that are not ready for legislation.
Conclusion
To conclude, the composition and power of the House of Lords have been severely criticized. However, its undemocratic composition has also paved the way for democratic development in Great Britain. If the House of Lords had been made democratic in composition and equal in powers with the House of Commons, the results would have been undemocratic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the House of Lords?
The House of Lords is the oldest house among the world and is the upper house of the UK parliament.
2. Who are the Hereditary Peers?
Hereditary peers are the sons of the queen and king, who become representatives of the House of Lords. Females are not eligible for this category.
3. How are Representative Peers of Scotland elected?
There are sixteen representatives elected by Scotland according to the provisions of the Treaty of Union 1707.
4. How many Representative Peers are there from Ireland?
When Ireland was united with England, twenty-eight Irish peers were entitled to elect representatives.
5. Who are the Lords of Appeal?
Lords of Appeal are nine individuals appointed by the crown to assist the House of Lords in judicial activities.
6. What is the composition of the Spiritual Peers?
Spiritual peers consist of twenty-six members, including two Archbishops of Canterbury and twenty-four senior bishops of the Church of England.
7. Who are the Princesses of Royal Blood in the House of Lords?
Princesses of Royal Blood refer to male adult members of the royal family who have attained majority and have a specified degree of relationship or appointment as representatives of the House of Lords.
8. What are Life Peers?
Life peers are individuals appointed under the provisions of the Life Peerage Act 1988. They are distinguished individuals who have held high offices in the state and possess sufficient education and expertise.
9. What is the nature of the House of Lords?
The House of Lords is referred to as the "old chamber" due to its status as the oldest house of parliament in the world. It has a combination of hereditary and democratic composition.
10. Who presides over the House of Lords?
The House of Lords is presided over by the Lord Chancellor, who is a member of the cabinet.
11. What privileges does the House of Lords enjoy?
The privileges of the House of Lords include freedom of speech, free access to conversations, the right to determine its own composition, the right to publish opinions, freedom from arrest during parliamentary sessions, the right to receive summons, the power to conduct impeachment trials, and exemption from serving as jurors.
12. What powers does the House of Lords possess?
The House of Lords has legislative power, except for money bills, and it has judicial power, including trying peers in cases involving national interest. Additionally, the House of Lords has the power to discuss and address social and political questions that are not ready for legislation.
13. What is the conclusion regarding the House of Lords' power and composition?
The composition and power of the House of Lords have been subject to criticism. However, its undemocratic composition has also played a role in democratic development in Great Britain. Making the House of Lords more democratic and equal in powers with the House of Commons could have yielded different results.