Understanding the House of Lords Structure
The House of Lords might seem like an outdated institution, but it's actually been through major reforms that make it more relevant today. Unlike MPs, Lords aren't elected, which means they don't have the same democratic legitimacy as the Commons.
The Parliament Act of 1911 stripped away the Lords' power to completely block laws, while the Life Peerages Act of 1958 allowed Prime Ministers to appoint experts based on public service rather than just inherited titles. Tony Blair's 1999 reforms were massive - he kicked out most hereditary peers, leaving only 92.
Today's House of Lords has about 800 members: 26 Church of England bishops, 92 hereditary peers, and the rest are life peers appointed for their expertise. Many choose to sit as crossbenchers (politically neutral), which actually makes the Lords less partisan than the Commons in some ways.
Key Point: Life peers bring professional expertise to Parliament, but critics argue that governments can stack the Lords with their supporters - Tony Blair appointed 374 new peers during his time in office.