1. Introduction
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Topic: Explore how the UK government is structured, focusing on the Houses of Parliament and current reforms in the House of Lords.
The current House of Lords reform is the latest chapter in a long-running debate about democracy and modernization in the UK Parliament. For over a century, governments have tried to limit or remove hereditary peers, reduce patronage, and make the Lords more representative and accountable. Major changes include the 1999 Act, which reduced the number of hereditary peers to 92, and ongoing concerns about the size of the chamber and the Prime Minister’s powers to appoint new members. The new reform seeks to abolish hereditary peerages, introduce a retirement age, and curb political patronage—addressing criticisms that the Lords remains undemocratic and too large, despite decades of piecemeal reforms aimed at making it fit for a modern democracy.
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Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how the UK government is organized: Commons, Lords, Monarch, Prime Minister.
- Identify roles and responsibilities of key figures (MPs, PM, monarch, peers).
- Explain the process of how laws are made.
- Discuss and reflect on recent and proposed changes to the House of Lords.
2. Starter Activity
Show the Black Rod Video
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Optionally, supplement with: [Doorkeepers and State Opening of Parliament on YouTube]
Discussion Questions:
- What does the Black Rod do during the State Opening of Parliament?
- Why is the door of the House of Commons slammed in their face?
3. Lesson Activities
Activity 1: Structure of the British Government
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Present/discuss a diagram of the UK government structure:
- House of Commons: Elected MPs
- House of Lords: Appointed life peers, bishops, and until now) hereditary peers
- Prime Minister: Head of government (from the Commons)
- Monarch: Ceremonial head
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Hand out or display a simple flowchart of lawmaking:
Proposal → Commons debate/vote → Lords review/amend → Royal Assent
Activity 2: What’s Changing in the House of Lords (July 2025)
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Background: For centuries, the House of Lords included hereditary peers. Labour’s 2024 manifesto proposed removal as “immediate modernisation.”
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Recent developments:
- The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill 2024-25 will abolish hereditary peer places and set a retirement age (80) for Lords members.
- No more by-elections for hereditary peers; current ones may keep seats, but when they leave, no replacements join.
- New rules: Increased scrutiny on appointments, with some parties seeking term limits and greater regional representation, plus a cap to shrink the Lords to 650 members.
- The public strongly supports reforms limiting Prime Minister’s power to appoint new peers and reducing the size to match the Commons.
Reading and Understanding: Hereditary Peers Reform in the House of Lords
Task:
Read the following two articles as a class or in small groups:
- “Britain’s hereditary lords hatch a survival plan” (Politico)
- “Removing hereditary peers from the Lords ‘not enough’, poll finds” (The Guardian)
Article Access:
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Use the teacher-provided links or printouts for both articles.
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Review the key developments described: the provision to remove hereditary peers, possible loopholes, and public attitudes towards broader reform.
Read these two articles in groups of 4, where two and two read the same article, take notes, and share with the other.
- Poltico. Britain’s hereditary lords hatch a survival plan
- The Guardian; Removing hereditary peers is not enough to reform Lords, poll suggests
Comprehension Questions (Answer in complete sentences):
- What is the main proposal of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill discussed in the articles?
- How are some hereditary peers planning to remain in the Lords even after the Bill passes, according to the Politico article?
- Describe the concerns raised about Prime Ministerial patronage and life peerages as discussed in the readings.
- Summarize the findings of the new public poll on House of Lords reform reported by The Guardian. What did most respondents want to see happen?
- Why do critics say that simply removing hereditary peers is ‘not enough’ to modernize the Lords?
- How does public support for further reform go beyond the current government plans, based on the polling data?
- What are some possible additional reforms to the Lords mentioned by experts or campaigners in the articles?
- In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge in reforming the House of Lords? Explain your answer using evidence from the readings.
Optional small group work: Assign groups to role-play as different stakeholders—hereditary peer, reforming politician, party leader—debating reform.
Activity 3: Ceremonial Traditions
- Focus: Role of the Black Rod at the State Opening—summoning the Commons.
- Symbolizes the balance between monarchy, upper/lower chambers, and the independence of elected MPs.
- When Black Rod knocks (three times) to summon MPs, they follow to hear the King’s Speech.
Activity 4: Lawmaking and Democracy
- Recap stages of a bill.
- Why might it be important to have both an elected and a revising chamber?
- Discuss: Should all members of the House of Lords be elected? What are arguments for/against appointed experts vs. elected representatives?
4. Plenary
- Q&A: Quickfire questions about structure, roles, and current reforms.
- Discuss why voting and participation matter in a democracy.
Essay Question 1:
Discuss the arguments for and against further reform of the House of Lords, particularly the removal of hereditary peers and the introduction of a retirement age. In your answer, consider how these changes might affect the balance between tradition and democratic representation in the UK Parliament.
Essay Question 2:
The ceremonial roles—such as the Black Rod at the State Opening of Parliament—play a significant part in British political traditions. Analyze the significance of these traditions in modern British democracy. Do they strengthen or weaken the public’s understanding and engagement with politics? Give reasons for your answer.