On which basis should the house of lords be reformed
On which basis should the house of lords be reformed

Author: Saskia Mahlstede

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2007-04-18

Total Pages: 12

ISBN-13: 3638720012

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Essay from the year 2005 in the subject Politics - Region: Western Europe, grade: 66% (1,7), University of the West of England, Bristol, language: English, abstract: House of Lords reform has been talked about for over a century, but the subject has been of most recent attention as, in 1999, Tony Blair’s New Labour Party introduced a reform for the Upper Chamber to make it more representative and democratic. But the government only conducted the first stage of this reform, consisting in a merely partial abolition of the hereditary peers. Since then, the composition of the House of Lords is only temporary while proposals for a second reform stage are being discussed for five years now. The aim of this paper is to analyze on which basis the House of Lords should be reformed.

House of Lords Reform
House of Lords Reform

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 42

ISBN-13: 9780104001165

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This report by the Joint Committee on the House of Lords Reform sets out seven options for determining the composition of a reformed second chamber, to be decided by a free vote of MPs and Peers. The report seeks to inform the debate by clarifying the future role, powers and nature of the reformed House of Lords. The options include: a) a fully appointed House; b) a fully elected House; c) 20 per cent of members elected and 80 per cent appointed; and d) 60 per cent elected and 40 per cent appointed. Detailed work should be done on costing the options set out. The Committee proposes that the reformed House of Lords should have about 600 members, each with a tenure of 12 years. There should be a new Appointments Commission established on a statutory basis, whose principal function would be to ensure a quality of representativeness and regional balance in the reformed House. This body would scrutinise nominations by the Prime Minister, party leaders and members of the public.

The UK's Changing Democracy
The UK's Changing Democracy

Author: Patrick Dunleavy

Publisher: LSE Press

Published: 2018-11-01

Total Pages: 521

ISBN-13: 1909890464

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The UK’s Changing Democracy presents a uniquely democratic perspective on all aspects of UK politics, at the centre in Westminster and Whitehall, and in all the devolved nations. The 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU marked a turning point in the UK’s political system. In the previous two decades, the country had undergone a series of democratic reforms, during which it seemed to evolve into a more typical European liberal democracy. The establishment of a Supreme Court, adoption of the Human Rights Act, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, proportional electoral systems, executive mayors and the growth in multi-party competition all marked profound changes to the British political tradition. Brexit may now bring some of these developments to a juddering halt. The UK’s previous ‘exceptionalism’ from European patterns looks certain to continue indefinitely. ‘Taking back control’ of regulations, trade, immigration and much more is the biggest change in UK governance for half a century. It has already produced enduring crises for the party system, Parliament and the core executive, with uniquely contested governance over critical issues, and a rapidly changing political landscape. Other recent trends are no less fast-moving, such as the revival of two-party dominance in England, the re-creation of some mass membership parties and the disruptive challenges of social media. In this context, an in-depth assessment of the quality of the UK’s democracy is essential. Each of the 2018 Democratic Audit’s 37 short chapters starts with clear criteria for what democracy requires in that part of the nation’s political life and outlines key recent developments before a SWOT analysis (of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) crystallises the current situation. A small number of core issues are then explored in more depth. Set against the global rise of debased semi-democracies, the book’s approach returns our focus firmly to the big issues around the quality and sustainability of the UK’s liberal democracy.

House of Lords Reform Since 1911
House of Lords Reform Since 1911

Author: P. Dorey

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2011-04-05

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 0230306926

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Examines the debates and developments about House of Lords reform since 1911, and notes that disagreements have occurred within, as well as between, the main political parties and governments throughout this time. It draws attention to how various proposals for reform have raised a wider range constitutional and political problems.

The Standing Orders of the House of Lords Relating to Public Business [2005]
The Standing Orders of the House of Lords Relating to Public Business [2005]

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2005-05-23

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13: 9780104007082

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This publication contains the Standing Orders of the House of Lords which set out information on the procedure and working of the House, under a range of headings including: Lords and the manner of their introduction; excepted hereditary peers; the Speaker; general observances; debates; arrangement of business; bills; divisions; committees; parliamentary papers; public petitions; privilege; making or suspending of Standing Orders.

The Contemporary House of Lords
The Contemporary House of Lords

Author: Meg Russell

Publisher:

Published: 2013-07-11

Total Pages: 349

ISBN-13: 0199671567

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Painting a detailed portrait of the House of Lords since reform removed most hereditary members in 1999, this book demonstrates the chamber's newly diverse membership and substantial policy impact in British politics. It also places the Lords in a comparative context, asks if it can be considered 'legitimate', and examines the likelihood of reform.

Draft House of Lords Reform Bill
Draft House of Lords Reform Bill

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: Joint Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2012-04-23

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 9780108475818

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The history of reform of the House of Lords has a long history since the Parliament Act 1911, and since the House of Lords Act 1999 removed the right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit in the Lords, there has been a number of initiatives to further the debate on reform. The latest proposals are contained in the draft Bill (Cm. 8077, ISBN 9780101807722) published in May 2011, which was referred to the Joint Committee. In this report the Joint Committee acknowledges the controversial aspects of certain of the proposals and the members of the Committee reflect wider differences of opinion, many of the report's recommendations being decided by a majority. The majority supports the need for an electoral mandate, provided the House has commensurate powers. The current functions and role would continue, but the House would probably seek to be more assertive, to an extent that cannot be predicted. The Committee recommends a House of 450 members, 80% elected on a system of Single Transferable Voting (preferably that used in New South Wales, not the one proposed in the Bill) for a 15 year term.The main sections of the report cover: functions, role, primacy of the Commons and conventions; electoral system, size, voting system and constituencies; appointments, bishops and ministers; transition, salaries, IPSA, disqualification. The Committee recommends that, in view of the significance of the constitutional change, the Government should submit the decision to a referendum.

Reforming the House of Lords
Reforming the House of Lords

Author: Meg Russell

Publisher: Oxford University Press on Demand

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 9780198298311

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'Meg Russell's book is a valuable contribution to the debate on the further stages of House of Lords reform. It is always useful to gain a greater understanding from the experience of other countries.' -Baroness Jay, Leader of the House of Lords'The debate on the future of the House of Lords has so far been insular and backward-looking. Meg Russell provides and overdue and authoritative corrective in showing the lessons to be learnt from second chamber overseas in the balanced, analytical and highly readable manner that the Constitution Unit has made its trademark. She outlines how an independent and distinctive second chamber could form a central part of the developing constitutional settlement, complementing but not threatening the Commons.' -Peter Riddell, The Times'An excellent addition to the comparative literature on bicameralism which will be of great use to those interested in parliaments, parliamentary reform and comparative government generally' -Campbell Sharman, University of Western Australia'excellent new survey' -The Guardian'Ms Russell's thorough book goes straight to the heart of the hardest questions and gives a sober, efficient account of what is to be said on each side... sound, sensible, and well-researched study.' -Michael Fry, Glasgow Herald, 24/2/00'Russell should be thanked for a valuable, laborious and exhaustive study carried out in a fair and honest spirit... provides a thorough professional exercise... shrewd political judgments.' -John Vincent, LRB, 16/3/00The constitution of Britain is changing rapidly, and the House of Lords is next on the agenda for reform. This book provides an international context, using material as yet unpublished in the UK. What can we learn from the appointed Canadian Senate, the elected Australian Senate, the German federal Bundesrat, or our other European neighbours.

A House for the Future
A House for the Future

Author: Great Britain. Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords

Publisher:

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13:

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The departure of most of the hereditary peers from the House of Lords has made it necessary to focus on the basic questions: what is the role of the second chamber, and what is the rational base on which it should be constructed?