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

To evaluate the view that the House of Lords has less power than the House of Commons but can exert more influence, we can break this down into several key points.

Agreement with the View

1. Lack of Majority in the Lords: The House of Lords does not hold a majority, meaning that the government typically faces less resistance from this chamber in terms of direct votes on legislation. This can allow it to advance its agenda more smoothly compared to the Commons where party loyalty affects voting.

2. Nature of Party Loyalty: Party loyalty in the House of Lords is generally less strong than in the House of Commons. Peers are often appointed based on expertise or independence rather than party affiliation, allowing them to evaluate legislation more freely.

3. Influence through Patronage: The role of patronage in the House of Lords can influence legislative outcomes. Since peers are not elected, they might be more willing to push for changes based on their expertise and the broader impact of policies rather than party lines.

Disagreement with the View

1. Commons Holds More Power: The House of Commons is fundamentally more powerful; it has the ability to initiate and consent to most legislation. The Lords cannot ultimately prevent legislation that the Commons insists upon.

2. Salisbury Convention: This convention states that the House of Lords should not block legislation promised in the government's election manifesto, thereby limiting its ability to influence government policy directly.

3. Government Defeats: The government usually experiences more defeats in the Commons than in the Lords, indicating the effectiveness of Commons in holding the government accountable.

Summary

In conclusion, while the House of Lords possesses mechanisms that enable it to exert influence, particularly through its independence and expertise, the structural powers lie largely with the House of Commons. Therefore, while it is arguable that the Lords may exert more influence at times, particularly in scrutinizing legislation, their lack of formal power means that their influence is often indirect.