House of Commons more powerful than the House of Lords
"Does the House of Commons possess greater authority compared to the House of Lords?"
"In terms of power, is the House of Commons considered stronger than the House of Lords?"
"Which of the two, the House of Commons or the House of Lords, holds a higher level of influence and power?"
1) Introduction
● The sovereignty of Parliament lives in the House of common as well as the House of common is the center of the English political system. The House of Parliament is lower and the popular chamber of the British parliament has an appreciative legislative assembly in the world and it is elected by the people in general elections. The House of Common is more powerful than House of lord under the Parliament act 1911. Moreover, the Government of the United Kingdom is answerable to the House of Commons; the Prime Minister stays in office only as long he holds the support of the lower house
2) Composition of house of Common
1. Strength
● The present strength of the House of Common is 650 members and they all are known as Member of Parliament
2. Term of House
● The members of the House of Common are elected for a term of five years unless the House is dissolved before completing his period by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister
3) Qualification and election of House of Commons
1. Qualifications of candidates Election
Following are the qualifications for a candidate to contest election for house of Common
1) Must be a British native
2) Must be 21 years of Age
3) And will be disqualified if the person:
Holds judicial officer Bankrupts
Civil servant
Member of the armed forces and the police force Director of the nationalized companies
Religious person especially Christian one
2. Election of candidates
Parliamentary elections are of two kinds
1) General elections in which a new house of common is to be elected and these elections must be held within 20 days of the dissolution of a sitting parliament
2) These elections holds when a vacancy occurs in the house after the death or resignation of a sitting member or when a new member is made member of the House of Lords
3. Adult franchise
According to the representation of the People Act as amended by the 1969 act, following are the qualifications of a person to cast his vote
1) Must be British native
2) Must be age of 18 years or above
3) Whose name has been registered in the voter’s list
4) Presiding officer
● The speaker is the presiding officer of the House of commons
● Speaker is elected by the members of House in their first session
5) Privileges of the house of common
Following are the privileges of the House of common
1) Freedom of speech
● The members of this house can openly express their views upon any issue without any kind of pressure
2) Freedom from arrest
● Member of the House of Commons cannot be arrested in civil cases for a period of 40 days before and after the session of the Parliament
● But in criminal case member would be arrested
3) Right to regulate
● House has the right to control its own constitution and also has the right to exclude the member from parliament
4) Right to prohibit publication
● The House has right to prohibit publications of its own debates. And no one can publish their debate on a certain matter
5) Exemption from jury duty
● All members of House of commons are exempted from performing duty as a juror
6) Exemption from appearing as witness
● All members of House of commons are exempted from appearing as witness they cannot appear as witness in any kind of case
7) Exclusion of strangers
● The House has right to exclude strangers from the House and there is no restriction upon them in this regard
6) Powers and functions of house of common
1. Legislative powers
● The House of common has vast powers in the field of law making. It can modify existing laws and can make or repeal any law. House of Common defines the national policy and has the right to change the constitution
2. Financial powers
● The House of common holds in hand a great power over the nation’s money. According to the Act of Parliament 1911, all money bills will be created in the House of Commons and the power of the Lords has been limited in this act
3. Administrative powers
● The House of common also has the powers of Administration because this House control the administration by way of questioning the cabinet member
● The house of common has involved itself in government related matters for better governance
● It is the duty of House of Common to exercise the day to day control over the Ministry
4. Delegated legislation
● Parliament being a supreme authority can delegate his legislation powers to Government department in order to implement, and apply statutes passed by the parliament. Parliament can retake the delegated legislation powers from departments on any account
7) Conclusion
● The House of common is the most vital part of the British Parliament since 1911 the House had been delegated a lot of powers which are shared from House of Lords. In reality Parliament means House of Common ,when a minister consults parliament he consults the House of Common. When Queen on the advice of Prime Minister dissolves
the parliament ,she dissolves the house of common when a parliament has made a law it means that house of common has legislated upon it