The House of Lords Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The House of Lords - Essay Example Membership of the Lords Temporal had by 15th century, become almost entirely hereditary and male, members usually being summoned by writ rather than chosen by the monarch. Lords Temporal became to be known as Peers and until the suppression of the monasteries in 1539 the Lords spiritual consisted of Bishops, abbots and priors. After 1839, only bishops attended and the Lords Temporal formed a majority for the first time. During the civil war of 1642, Bishops were excluded from the House of Lords but returned by the clergy act of 1661. The house itself ceased to exist in 1649 but resumed separate sittings in 1660. Legal backing, in 1671 and 1678 resolutions gave pre-eminence in financial matters to the House of Commons after attempts by the House of Lords to breach the convention. Also the bill of rights was initiated in 1689, by the Commons, to establish authority of the parliament over the king. A lot of reforms, in the House followed over time. In 1999, the House of Lords act removed the right of most hereditary Peers to sit and vote in the House. An amendment to the bill, tabled by the Lord Weatherill and accepted by the government enabled 92 hereditary peers to remain until the House was fully reformed. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the United Kingdom parliament.