On which basis should the house of lords be reformed

House of Lords reform has been talked about for over a century, but the subject has been of most recent attention as, in 1999, Tony Blair’s New Labour Party introduced a reform for the Upper Chamber to make it more representative and democratic. But the government only conducted the first stage of this reform, consisting in a merely partial abolition of the hereditary peers. Since then, the composition of the House of Lords is only temporary while proposals for a second reform stage are being discussed for five years now.
The aim of this paper is to analyze on which basis the House of Lords should be reformed.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• The House of Lords Reform
• Proposals for a Second Stage of Reform
• Composition and Functions
• The Need for a Democratically Elected Second Chamber
• The Debate on the Future of the House of Lords
• The Case for an Elected Second Chamber
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines the political debates surrounding the ongoing reform of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, specifically focusing on the second stage of the reform. It analyzes the arguments for and against a democratically elected Second Chamber and discusses the potential impact of different reform options on the composition and functions of the House of Lords.

• House of Lords Reform and its Historical Context
• The Debate on Composition and Functions of the House of Lords
• Arguments for and against a Democratically Elected Second Chamber
• The Impact of Reform Options on the British Parliamentary System
• The Future of the House of Lords in a Modern Democracy

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The essay begins by outlining the history of House of Lords reform and the current political debates surrounding the second stage of the reform. It discusses the reasons for the need for reform, including the lack of democratic legitimacy and representativeness of the current system.
• The second chapter delves into the different proposals for reforming the House of Lords, focusing on its composition and functions. It examines the arguments for and against different options, including a wholly elected, a wholly appointed, and a mixed system.
• The third chapter examines the case for a democratically elected Second Chamber. It argues that such a chamber would enhance the democratic legitimacy of the House of Lords and provide a more effective counterweight to the House of Commons.
• The fourth chapter discusses the potential impact of different reform options on the British parliamentary system. It considers the arguments for and against a unicameral legislature and explores the challenges and opportunities associated with reforming the House of Lords.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key topics and concepts explored in this essay include House of Lords reform, bicameralism, democratic legitimacy, representativeness, composition, functions, elected versus appointed chambers, parliamentary system, and the future of the House of Lords in a modern democracy.

Details

• Hochschule: University of the West of England, Bristol
• Note: 66% (1,7)
• Autor: Saskia Mahlstede (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2005
• Seiten: 9
• Katalognummer: V72197
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638720014
• Sprache: Englisch