Introducing Politics for AS level

Student Resources - Chapter eleven

• Chapter Summary
• Matching Exercise
• Further reading
• Internet links
• Multiple Choice Quiz

Chapter 11: Parliament: The House of Commons

SETTING THE SCENE

The previous chapter mainly dealt with the House of Commons, the most important chamber of Parliament. But much of what was said there applies to both Houses, to the Lords as well as the Commons. This chapter focuses on the Lords all by itself. Although definitely inferior to the Commons, the House of Lords is of great interest to political scientists at the moment because it is in the process of being substantially reformed, constituting, arguably, the most significant part of the Labour government's constitutional reforms.

KEY TOPICS

• The House of Lords as a part of Parliament
• The House of Lords in historical perspective
• The composition of the House of Lords
• The functions and powers of the House of Lords

Are any of the terms below unclear to you? If so, perhaps you should look over this chapter or use the searchable glossary to familiarise yourself with these terms.

• Bicameralism
• Unicameralism

Matching Exercise: Chapter Eleven

Matching Exercise - Match the terms on the left with the most appropriate description on the right

Bicameralism	A system with only one chamber or house in the representative assembly.
Unicameralism	The system which operates when a representative assembly has two distinct houses or chambers.

Further reading for Chapter Eleven

Philip Norton, Parliament in British Politics (Palgrave, 2005): written by an academic who is also a member of the House of Lords.

M. Russell, Reforming the House of Lords (Oxford University Press, 2000): looks at the recent developments and possible trends for reform.

D. Shell, The House of Lords (Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992): straightforward account of the politics of the Lords, pre-Blair.

The House of Lords: Reform (Cm.7027, HMSO, Feb. 2007): the White Paper on Lords reform, available online from the Stationary Office website.

Websites

• www.official-documenmts.gov.uk (Stationary Office: for White Paper)

• www.parliament.uk (Parliament)

Multiple Choice Quiz 11

Click here to access the Multiple Choice Quiz for this Chapter.