Citizenship · Year 10 · Constitutional Foundations and Parliament · Autumn Term

House of Lords: Composition & Functions

Students examine the composition and functions of the House of Lords, including debates around its reform.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• GCSE: Citizenship - The Role of Parliament

About This Topic

The House of Lords serves as the upper chamber of the UK Parliament, complementing the elected House of Commons. Its composition includes about 800 life peers appointed by the Prime Minister on advice from the House of Lords Appointments Commission, 92 hereditary peers elected by their group, and 26 Lords Spiritual from the Church of England. Functions focus on scrutinising and revising bills from the Commons, debating policy, and conducting select committee inquiries, without the power to veto legislation outright or initiate money bills.

This topic fits within the GCSE Citizenship curriculum on Parliament's role and constitutional foundations. Students differentiate Commons' democratic representation from Lords' expertise-driven review. They analyze reform debates: arguments for full election emphasise democratic legitimacy, while opposition values independence from electoral pressures and specialised knowledge. Predicting reform impacts, such as shifts in legislative balance, develops skills in evaluating constitutional change.

Active learning benefits this topic because constitutional concepts feel remote and abstract. Simulations of Lords debates or reform committees engage students directly, clarify power differences through negotiation, and make reform arguments personal and memorable.

Key Questions

1. Differentiate between the roles of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
2. Analyze the arguments for and against a fully elected House of Lords.
3. Predict the potential impact of further House of Lords reform on the UK constitution.

Learning Objectives

• Compare the legislative powers and appointment processes of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
• Analyze the primary arguments for and against reforming the House of Lords into a fully elected chamber.
• Evaluate the potential impact of different House of Lords reform proposals on the balance of power within the UK Parliament.
• Classify the current functions of the House of Lords, such as scrutiny, revision, and committee work.

Before You Start

The UK Parliament: Structure and Functions

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of Parliament as a whole, including the existence of two chambers, before examining the specific roles and composition of the House of Lords.

Democracy and Representation

Why: Understanding the principles of democracy and how citizens are represented is crucial for analyzing the arguments about the democratic legitimacy of the House of Lords.

Key Vocabulary

Life Peer	An individual appointed to the House of Lords for their lifetime, typically based on distinguished public service or expertise. They do not pass the title on.
Lords Spiritual	Twenty-six senior bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords. They represent the church and contribute to debates on moral and social issues.
Legislative Scrutiny	The process by which the House of Lords examines and scrutinizes bills proposed by the House of Commons, suggesting amendments and improvements.
Democratic Legitimacy	The idea that a government or institution derives its right to rule from the consent of the people, usually through elections. This is a key argument in Lords reform debates.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The House of Lords has the same legislative power as the Commons.

What to Teach Instead

The Lords can suggest amendments and delay bills, but the Parliament Acts limit vetoes on most legislation. Role-playing bill revisions shows students this balance in action, as groups experience Commons override limits through structured negotiation.

Common Misconception

Most members of the House of Lords are hereditary peers.

What to Teach Instead

Life peers form the majority, appointed for expertise; only 92 hereditary peers remain post-1999 reforms. Card sort activities reveal current composition data, prompting students to update assumptions via peer teaching.

Common Misconception

The House of Lords initiates and passes all major laws.

What to Teach Instead

It primarily revises Commons bills and debates policy; few public bills start there. Debate carousels clarify this by having students simulate initiation blocks, reinforcing functional differences.

Active Learning Ideas

Debate Carousel: Elected Lords Pros and Cons

Divide class into small groups to prepare two-minute speeches on arguments for or against an elected House of Lords. Groups rotate stations to present and rebut opposing views, with peers noting strengths. Conclude with a class vote on reform.

45 min·Small Groups

Role Play: Bill Revision Committee

Assign roles as life peers, bishops, or crossbenchers to small groups reviewing a mock bill on climate policy. Groups propose amendments, debate changes, and vote. Debrief on how this mirrors real Lords functions.

40 min·Small Groups

Composition Card Sort: Matching Peers

In pairs, students sort cards naming peer types (life, hereditary, spiritual) with descriptions of appointment and roles. Pairs justify sorts, then share with class. Extend to discuss reform implications.

25 min·Pairs

Scenario Analysis: Reform Impacts

Whole class examines three reform scenarios via projector. Students predict effects on legislation in pairs, then share in plenary. Teacher facilitates links to key questions.

30 min·Whole Class

Real-World Connections

• Members of the House of Lords, like Baroness Hale, a former President of the Supreme Court, contribute legal expertise to parliamentary debates, influencing legislation that affects citizens' rights and the justice system.
• The work of House of Lords select committees, such as the Constitution Committee, produces detailed reports that inform government policy on constitutional matters, impacting how laws are made and interpreted in the UK.
• Debates surrounding House of Lords reform, often reported in newspapers like The Guardian and The Times, involve politicians and commentators discussing the future structure of British democracy and the representation of different interests.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'If you were advising the Prime Minister on House of Lords reform, would you advocate for a fully elected chamber or maintain the current mix of appointed and hereditary peers? Justify your choice with at least two reasons, considering the arguments for democratic legitimacy and the value of expertise.'

Quick Check

Present students with three short scenarios describing parliamentary actions. Ask them to identify which chamber (Commons or Lords) is most likely responsible for each action and briefly explain why, focusing on the distinct roles and powers.

Exit Ticket

On a slip of paper, ask students to write down one function of the House of Lords and one argument for or against its reform. This helps gauge their recall of key concepts and understanding of the reform debate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the composition of the House of Lords?

The House of Lords has around 800 members: mostly life peers appointed for life based on expertise, 92 hereditary peers elected internally, and 26 bishops. Appointments follow recommendations to ensure diversity in skills like law, science, and business. This unelected structure provides scrutiny independent of elections, though size and party balance spark reform talks.

What are the main functions of the House of Lords?

Key functions include revising legislation from the Commons, conducting detailed select committee inquiries, and debating national issues. It offers a second check on policy without party whips dominating, as with many crossbenchers. This role ensures thorough examination, though it cannot block money bills or veto under the Parliament Acts.

What are arguments for and against reforming the House of Lords?

Pro-reform views stress democratic legitimacy through elections, reducing an oversized, unaccountable chamber. Critics argue elections would politicise expertise, introduce party loyalty, and disrupt constitutional balance. Ongoing debates weigh these against options like a smaller appointed or hybrid house, linking to GCSE analysis skills.

How can active learning help students understand the House of Lords?

Active methods like role-playing Lords committees or debate carousels make abstract functions tangible: students negotiate amendments, experiencing scrutiny limits firsthand. Pair sorts on composition correct myths through handling evidence. These approaches build critical analysis of reform arguments via peer debate, far beyond textbooks, and connect to real parliamentary processes students can track online.