Members of the
House of
Commons are
elected by the
public. With the
country being
divided into
constituencies and
each of these votes
for one Member of
Parliament (MP)
Must be a general
election at least
once every five
years. The
government of the
day is formed by
the political party
which has a
majority in the
House of
Commons, and it is
the government
which has the main
say in formulating
new Acts of
Parliament
House of
Lords
Is a non elected
body.
In 1999, there were
over 1,100
members of whom
750 were
hereditary peers.
The rest consisted
of life peers, judges
and bishops.
In 1999, the
Labour
Government
reviewed
membership of
the House of Lords
and decided it
should consist of
some nominated
members and
some elected
members. And
decided a
inherited title
should not
automatically
allow that person
to take part in the
law making
process.
Temporary
changes were
made so that it
now consisted of: