Politics: Does the House of Lords have too much power over the House of Commons?

3 functions of the House of Lords:

power to amend and delay legislations, democratic legitimacy, scrutiny

Yes - for Amending and delaying legislations:

The Lords can delay bills for up to a year 

It frequently forces the Commons to reconsider legislation by making amendments. and can propose changes that necessitate further debate in the Commons.

Yes for amending and delaying legislations example

EX 1 The Lords repeatedly challenged Brexit-related bills, influencing government policy. 

EX 2 The House of Lords managed to influence the legislation: Tax credits cut 2003 --- convention, but the amendments were imposed on secondary legislation, election manifesto – uncertainty in how the plans were written in the manifesto allowed the  

No - the power to amend and delay legislation

House of Commons has financial privilege (means that it has total power over tax and government spending, can't be amended by the Lords) -- due to a convention   

2 other resons for no - legitimacy and 1 year

The House of Commons has the right to insist on legislation as it has greater legitimacy  

The House of Lords can only delay the non-money bills up to 1 year 

No Convention that doesn't allow to amend the legislations which are in the government's manifesto  

Salisbury convention

Yes - Democratic legitimacy and more power

The Lords are unelected, and it means that they might overrule the decisions made by the elected House of Commons. Peers are either hereditary or appointed rather than chosen by the public. The appointment of the peers is made by the PM, which may increase the PMs’ power, as they can choose more peers from their own party

No - Democratic legitimacy and the power:

The Lords is appointed based on expertise, allowing for informed and independent scrutiny of legislation. 

 The expertise of Lords members has improved legislation in areas like human rights and welfare reform.

So, the House of Lords has sufficient power in in regard to their limited legitimacy compared to teh House of Commons and can’t overrule them, rather prividing scrutiny

No - democratic ligitimacy and too much power Example

Example: Baroness Helena Kennedy (Labour, lawyer) Has worked on issues related to gender equality, criminal justice, and refugee rights. 

Yes - Scrutiny

The House of Lords plays an important part in scrutinising the legislations 

Many Lords amendments are accepted, because MPs respect the fact that the House functions well as a revising chamber.  

Yes - Scrutiny Example

The Lords blocked welfare cuts proposed by the Conservative government in 2015. 

Yes - Scrutiny Example 2

The Investigatory Powers Act (which expanded surveillance powers) was heavily scrutinized by the Lords, leading to amendments protecting privacy rights.

No - scrutiny

The Parliament Acts allow the Commons to pass laws without Lords’ approval in cases of repeated rejection (To avoid parliamentary ping-pong) 

The final decision is made by the House of Commons, as the House of Lords can't stop legislation. 

Parliamentary ping-pong is

When the bill bounces back between two chambers - the House of Lords and the House of Commons