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Evaluate the view that although the House of Lords has less power than the House of Commons, in practice it exerts more influence on government decisions - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 2
Question 2
Evaluate the view that although the House of Lords has less power than the House of Commons, in practice it exerts more influence on government decisions. In your a... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Evaluate the view that although the House of Lords has less power than the House of Commons, in practice it exerts more influence on government decisions - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 2
Step 1
Agree that the House of Lords exerts more influence on government decisions.
Answer
The argument can be made that the House of Lords does exert more influence despite its lack of formal power. It does not have a majority, meaning that the government is more likely to face challenges from its decisions in the Lords. For example, the power of peers to revise legislation ensures that more viewpoints are considered before policies are implemented.
Step 2
Discuss the role of party loyalty.
Answer
In the House of Lords, party loyalty is generally weaker than in the House of Commons. This means that peers may be less likely to blindly support their party line, allowing for more independent scrutiny of the government's decisions. As a result, this independence can lead to a more thorough examination of proposed legislation.
Step 3
Highlight the impact of the unelected status of peers.
Answer
Members of the House of Lords are unelected, which removes them from the immediate pressures of constituents and electoral outcomes. This allows them to focus on the merits of legislation rather than political popularity, potentially leading to decisions that are more informed by policy than by political expediency.
Step 4
Consider disagreements: The Commons being more powerful.
Answer
Despite the influence of the House of Lords, it is crucial to acknowledge that the Commons holds more formal power. The Commons has the ability to legislate and finance bills without the Lords' consent, which means that ultimately, the elected House can push through its agenda regardless of the Lords' objections.
Step 5
The limitations of the House of Lords in challenging government.
Answer
Furthermore, the House of Lords lacks the authority to challenge the government effectively. Many critics argue that the Lords can only delay legislation but cannot block it in the face of Commons opposition. This limitation reduces its ability to exert meaningful influence in certain scenarios.
Step 6
Evaluate the compromises.
Answer
In conclusion, while the House of Lords may at times exert significant influence on government decisions through its unique characteristics, the reality is that the House of Commons retains the upper hand in terms of formal legislative and financial power. Thus, both Houses play essential yet differing roles in the UK political framework.