Examines the debates and developments about House of Lords reform since 1911, and notes that disagreements have occurred within, as well as between, the main political parties and governments throughout this time. It draws attention to how various proposals for reform have raised a wider range constitutional and political problems.

'Meg Russell's book is a valuable contribution to the debate on the further stages of House of Lords reform. It is always useful to gain a greater understanding from the experience of other countries.' -Baroness Jay, Leader of the House of Lords'The debate on the future of the House of Lords has so far been insular and backward-looking. Meg Russell provides and overdue and authoritative corrective in showing the lessons to be learnt from second chamber overseas in the balanced, analytical and highly readable manner that the Constitution Unit has made its trademark. She outlines how an independent and distinctive second chamber could form a central part of the developing constitutional settlement, complementing but not threatening the Commons.' -Peter Riddell, The Times'An excellent addition to the comparative literature on bicameralism which will be of great use to those interested in parliaments, parliamentary reform and comparative government generally' -Campbell Sharman, University of Western Australia'excellent new survey' -The Guardian'Ms Russell's thorough book goes straight to the heart of the hardest questions and gives a sober, efficient account of what is to be said on each side... sound, sensible, and well-researched study.' -Michael Fry, Glasgow Herald, 24/2/00'Russell should be thanked for a valuable, laborious and exhaustive study carried out in a fair and honest spirit... provides a thorough professional exercise... shrewd political judgments.' -John Vincent, LRB, 16/3/00The constitution of Britain is changing rapidly, and the House of Lords is next on the agenda for reform. This book provides an international context, using material as yet unpublished in the UK. What can we learn from the appointed Canadian Senate, the elected Australian Senate, the German federal Bundesrat, or our other European neighbours.

This timely book explores the debate on the reform of the House of Lords and analyzes its work in the wider context of constitutional reform. Donald Shell examines the considerable changes that the House has undergone and looks at ways in which it might be further reformed. The book provides a clear overview and a critical analysis of proposals for its reform. It looks at the legislative work of the House and considers its relationship with the Commons and the Government. Arguments for and against a unicameral system are considered and comparisons made with second chambers in other countries. Finally, past and present proposals for reform are examined, as are the obstacles in the way of reform and the future of the Constitution.

Essay from the year 2005 in the subject Politics - Region: Western Europe, grade: 66% (1,7), University of the West of England, Bristol, language: English, abstract: House of Lords reform has been talked about for over a century, but the subject has been of most recent attention as, in 1999, Tony Blair’s New Labour Party introduced a reform for the Upper Chamber to make it more representative and democratic. But the government only conducted the first stage of this reform, consisting in a merely partial abolition of the hereditary peers. Since then, the composition of the House of Lords is only temporary while proposals for a second reform stage are being discussed for five years now. The aim of this paper is to analyze on which basis the House of Lords should be reformed.

The White Paper aims to set the stage for the upcoming free votes on the composition of a future House of Lords. It has therefore been drafted to reflect arguments in a balanced way and take account of discussions in the Cross-party Working Group on Lords Reform. It also sets out the way a hybrid House (where 50% of the members were elected and 50% appointed) might work. The Paper is organised under the following sections: background; current steps towards reform of the House of Lords; international comparisons; a reformed chamber: principles of composition; a reformed chamber: elected, appointed or hybrid; a reformed chamber: a statutory appointments commission; a reformed chamber: membership; a reformed chamber: transition.

The UK’s Changing Democracy presents a uniquely democratic perspective on all aspects of UK politics, at the centre in Westminster and Whitehall, and in all the devolved nations. The 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU marked a turning point in the UK’s political system. In the previous two decades, the country had undergone a series of democratic reforms, during which it seemed to evolve into a more typical European liberal democracy. The establishment of a Supreme Court, adoption of the Human Rights Act, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, proportional electoral systems, executive mayors and the growth in multi-party competition all marked profound changes to the British political tradition. Brexit may now bring some of these developments to a juddering halt. The UK’s previous ‘exceptionalism’ from European patterns looks certain to continue indefinitely. ‘Taking back control’ of regulations, trade, immigration and much more is the biggest change in UK governance for half a century. It has already produced enduring crises for the party system, Parliament and the core executive, with uniquely contested governance over critical issues, and a rapidly changing political landscape. Other recent trends are no less fast-moving, such as the revival of two-party dominance in England, the re-creation of some mass membership parties and the disruptive challenges of social media. In this context, an in-depth assessment of the quality of the UK’s democracy is essential. Each of the 2018 Democratic Audit’s 37 short chapters starts with clear criteria for what democracy requires in that part of the nation’s political life and outlines key recent developments before a SWOT analysis (of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) crystallises the current situation. A small number of core issues are then explored in more depth. Set against the global rise of debased semi-democracies, the book’s approach returns our focus firmly to the big issues around the quality and sustainability of the UK’s liberal democracy.