Comparative Powers of the
Commons and Lords
Exclusive Powers of the House of Commons
The Commons can hold a vote of no confidence and bring down a government
A government must resign if it loses a vote of no confidence.
In 2019, Johson wanted to trigger an election and essentially dared the other parties to push the
Conservatives out with a vote of no confidence to do this, since he couldn’t do so under the
Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011.
A vote of no confidence brought down the minority Labour government in 1979
Governments can make ‘confidence and supply’ agreements
From 2017 to 2019 there was a minority Conservative government that used a ‘confidence and
supply’ agreement with the DUP
The DUP agreed to back Conservative budgets and support them in a no confidence vote in
exchange for an extra £1 billion pledge to Northern Ireland
The Commons can insist on legislation
If the Commons votes for a bill, it will become law
The Lords can delay a bill for one year, as of the 1949 Parliament Act (was two years from the
1911 Parliament Act until 1949)
The Lords have not been able to veto bills since the 1911 Parliament Act
The Commons can’t veto bills; if the Commons reject a bill, it dies, as seen in Theresa May’s
many attempts to pass BREXIT legislation
The Lords can’t block a bill which reflects a government’s manifesto pledge under the Salisbury
Convention 1945
The Commons can reject such bill, however
Finance Bills cannot be amended by the Lords, and so the Commons have complete control over
taxation and public spending
The Commons used this power for the Welfare Reform Bill 2012, and occasionally on bills which
aren't fully financial such as with the Identity Cards Act 2006 under the Labour government
Secondary legislation (changes to the law made in previous Acts of Parliament) is normally the
sole job of the Commons and not objected to in the Lords
There are some exceptions such as the Lords amendments to Tax Credit Regulations 2015
This led to the Strathclyde review of the Lords’ role which stated that they may ask the House of
Commons to think again when a disagreement exists but gives the final say to the elected House
of Commons
This reinforced the supremacy of the commons
The Limitations of the House of Lords
Commons and Lords
Exclusive Powers of the House of Commons
The Commons can hold a vote of no confidence and bring down a government
A government must resign if it loses a vote of no confidence.
In 2019, Johson wanted to trigger an election and essentially dared the other parties to push the
Conservatives out with a vote of no confidence to do this, since he couldn’t do so under the
Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011.
A vote of no confidence brought down the minority Labour government in 1979
Governments can make ‘confidence and supply’ agreements
From 2017 to 2019 there was a minority Conservative government that used a ‘confidence and
supply’ agreement with the DUP
The DUP agreed to back Conservative budgets and support them in a no confidence vote in
exchange for an extra £1 billion pledge to Northern Ireland
The Commons can insist on legislation
If the Commons votes for a bill, it will become law
The Lords can delay a bill for one year, as of the 1949 Parliament Act (was two years from the
1911 Parliament Act until 1949)
The Lords have not been able to veto bills since the 1911 Parliament Act
The Commons can’t veto bills; if the Commons reject a bill, it dies, as seen in Theresa May’s
many attempts to pass BREXIT legislation
The Lords can’t block a bill which reflects a government’s manifesto pledge under the Salisbury
Convention 1945
The Commons can reject such bill, however
Finance Bills cannot be amended by the Lords, and so the Commons have complete control over
taxation and public spending
The Commons used this power for the Welfare Reform Bill 2012, and occasionally on bills which
aren't fully financial such as with the Identity Cards Act 2006 under the Labour government
Secondary legislation (changes to the law made in previous Acts of Parliament) is normally the
sole job of the Commons and not objected to in the Lords
There are some exceptions such as the Lords amendments to Tax Credit Regulations 2015
This led to the Strathclyde review of the Lords’ role which stated that they may ask the House of
Commons to think again when a disagreement exists but gives the final say to the elected House
of Commons
This reinforced the supremacy of the commons
The Limitations of the House of Lords
