Scrutiny of the Executive: As governments tend to enjoy large parliamentary majorities, Parliamentary approval is rarely withheld. However, the House of Commons plays an important role in scrutinising the policies and actions of the government, in debates, parliamentary questions and within the influential cross-party select committees.
The House of Lords
Prior to its reform in 1999, the House of Lords (the upper House) had over 1,200 members, although only one third to one half attended regularly.
Its unique feature was that its membership was largely based on inheritance.
Almost two thirds of those entitled to sit in the House of Lords had inherited their peerage, while around one third were appointed by the government to serve as 'Life Peers' until their death.
There are also a small number of Law Lords and Bishops. The House of Lords is not only unelected, it is also politically unrepresenative.
In 1997, almost half of all Peers sat on the Conservative benches, while just 12% represented the Labour Party, and 6% represented the Liberal Democrats.
The remaining third, known as 'cross-benchers', had no political affiliation (Coxall and Robins, 1998: 321-5).
The House of Lords shares many of the functions of the lower House, especially in scrutinising the government and providing its remaining personnel.
However, it is much weaker, and its powers diminished considerably during the twentieth century.
Uncontroversial legislation can be initiated in the House of Lords, but more important is its role in revising and refining legislation introduced in the House of Commons.
Peers tend to be more interested in the detail rather than the principle of legislation and, by a convention known as the Salisbury Convention, do not vote on the principle of measures included in the government's election manifesto.
Peers lost the power to delay or amend money bills in 1911, but they can still amend and delay non-money bills.
In addition to its legislative and scrutinising function, the House of Lords has an important judicial function, as the highest court of appeal.
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