Citizenship · Year 8 · Democracy and the British State · Autumn Term

Parliament: House of Lords

Investigate the composition, functions, and reform debates surrounding the House of Lords.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS3: Citizenship - Democracy and Government
• KS3: Citizenship - Parliament

About This Topic

The House of Lords serves as the upper chamber of the UK Parliament, offering a check on the elected House of Commons. Year 8 students investigate its composition: approximately 800 members, mostly life peers appointed by the Prime Minister on advice from the House of Lords Appointments Commission for their expertise; 92 hereditary peers elected internally; and 26 Lords Spiritual, senior Church of England bishops. Selection emphasizes independence and knowledge over popularity. Students also analyze core functions, including revising bills line-by-line, scrutinizing government policies via select committees, and delaying legislation to encourage reflection.

This topic aligns with KS3 Citizenship standards on democracy, government, and Parliament. It builds skills in evaluating institutions, as students justify arguments for reform: proponents seek an elected chamber for legitimacy, while opponents value non-partisan scrutiny that hereditary and appointed members provide. Historical context, from the 1911 Parliament Act limiting powers to recent Life Peerages Act, shows evolution toward modernity.

Active learning excels here. Role-playing debates or card-sorting membership types makes constitutional roles concrete, encourages peer justification of views, and deepens retention of reform complexities through collaborative analysis.

Key Questions

1. Explain the different types of members in the House of Lords and their selection.
2. Analyze the revising and scrutinizing functions of the House of Lords.
3. Justify arguments for and against further reform of the House of Lords.

Learning Objectives

• Classify the different types of members within the House of Lords based on their appointment or selection method.
• Analyze the specific roles and functions of the House of Lords in scrutinizing legislation and government actions.
• Evaluate arguments for and against reforming the composition and powers of the House of Lords.
• Compare the legislative powers of the House of Lords with those of the House of Commons.

Before You Start

Introduction to UK Parliament

Why: Students need a basic understanding of the two houses of Parliament and their general roles before investigating the specific functions of the House of Lords.

Forms of Government

Why: Understanding concepts like democracy and monarchy provides context for the House of Lords' place within the British state.

Key Vocabulary

Life Peer	An individual appointed to the House of Lords for their lifetime, typically recognized for significant public service or expertise. They are the largest group of members.
Lords Spiritual	Senior bishops of the Church of England who hold seats in the House of Lords. There are 26 such members.
Hereditary Peer	A member who inherits their title and seat in the House of Lords. Only a small number remain, elected by other hereditary peers.
Scrutiny	The detailed examination of government policies, proposed laws, and actions by the House of Lords to ensure accountability and effectiveness. This often involves select committees.
Revising Chamber	A term used to describe the House of Lords' function of reviewing and amending bills passed by the House of Commons, aiming to improve legislation.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The House of Lords is elected like the House of Commons.

What to Teach Instead

Membership relies on appointment, heredity, or church role, not public vote, ensuring diverse expertise. Card-sorting activities help students compare chamber structures visually, while peer discussions clarify selection differences and democratic balance.

Common Misconception

The Lords can overrule or veto the Commons.

What to Teach Instead

Lords revises and delays but yields under Salisbury Convention on manifesto pledges. Role-play bill scrutiny reveals ping-pong process limits, building understanding through enacted power dynamics.

Common Misconception

Most Lords are out-of-touch aristocrats with no expertise.

What to Teach Instead

Over 90% are life peers chosen for professional skills in law, science, business. Analyzing real peer biographies in groups dispels this, highlighting modern composition via evidence-based classification.

Active Learning Ideas

Card Sort: Lords Membership Types

Distribute cards describing real and fictional peers with selection methods and backgrounds. In groups, students sort into life peers, hereditary peers, and bishops, then justify placements using criteria sheets. Conclude with a class share-out to verify accuracy.

25 min·Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Lords Functions

Set up stations for revising (annotate a bill excerpt), scrutinizing (review committee report cards), and delaying (timeline power changes). Groups rotate every 10 minutes, noting evidence of each function. Discuss how functions complement Commons.

40 min·Small Groups

Debate Pairs: Reform Arguments

Pair students to prepare one pro-reform (e.g., elected for democracy) and one anti-reform (e.g., expertise over politics) case using provided sources. Pairs debate, then switch sides. Vote and reflect on strongest points.

35 min·Pairs

Timeline Build: Lords Reforms

Provide event cards on key reforms like 1958 Life Peerages Act. Individually or in pairs, sequence and annotate impacts on composition. Groups present one reform's significance to the class.

30 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• Constitutional lawyers and political journalists regularly analyze the impact of House of Lords debates and amendments on upcoming legislation, such as the recent Online Safety Bill. Their commentary shapes public understanding of parliamentary processes.
• The House of Lords Appointments Commission, an independent body, vets potential life peers, recommending individuals based on merit and public service, similar to how other professional bodies assess candidates for prestigious roles.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with three brief descriptions of individuals. Ask them to identify which type of peer (Life Peer, Lord Spiritual, Hereditary Peer) each person might be, and to briefly explain their reasoning based on the provided characteristics.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Should the House of Lords be elected?' Facilitate a class debate where students must use evidence from their research to support their arguments, considering points like legitimacy, expertise, and potential party politics.

Exit Ticket

Students write down one key function of the House of Lords and one argument for or against its reform. They should aim to use at least two key vocabulary terms in their response.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of members in the House of Lords?

The House of Lords has life peers (most numerous, appointed for life based on expertise), 92 hereditary peers (elected by peers after 1999 reforms), and 26 Lords Spiritual (Church of England bishops). Appointments follow vetting by an independent commission to ensure integrity. This mix provides non-partisan input absent in the party-dominated Commons, totaling around 800 members.

What functions does the House of Lords perform in Parliament?

Primary roles include detailed revision of Commons bills, often suggesting thousands of amendments yearly; scrutiny of policies through specialist committees; and delaying non-manifesto legislation up to one year. These functions improve law quality without overriding elected will, as seen in blocking poorly drafted bills like the 2004 Hunting Act delays.

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

Reform supporters argue for an elected chamber to match democratic principles and reduce costs; critics favor retention for independent expertise free from election pressures. Options like full election risk party politicization, while abolition ignores scrutiny value. Students weigh these in balanced debates using historical precedents.

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

Activities like role-playing bill revisions or debating reforms immerse students in processes, making abstract governance relatable. Group card sorts on membership reveal composition nuances, while station rotations build evidence-based arguments. These approaches boost engagement, critical thinking, and retention by connecting theory to practice, outperforming lectures.