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The House of Commons is the more important chamber

Study note

Parliament has two chambers, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, but they are not equal in importance. The House of Commons is regarded as the more important of the two. The main reason is that its members, the MPs, are elected by the public, which gives the Commons democratic authority. Its greater age or where it meets is not the reason.

The Commons is also where the leaders of government sit. The Prime Minister and almost all members of the Cabinet are MPs in the House of Commons, so the people who run the country are answerable to the elected House. For the test, remember that the Commons is the more important chamber because it is elected, and that the Prime Minister and most of the Cabinet are members of the Commons.

Memory tip: Commons is more important because it is elected; the PM and most of the Cabinet sit there.

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Question 1 of 2

Why is the House of Commons regarded as more important than the House of Lords?

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The House of Commons is the more important chamber: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Why is the House of Commons regarded as more important than the House of Lords?

    • Its members are all bishops
    • It is older than the Lords
    • Its members are elected by the public
    • It meets in Scotland

    Correct answer: Its members are elected by the public

    The Commons is the more important chamber because its members are democratically elected.

  2. 2. The Prime Minister and almost all members of the Cabinet are members of the House of Commons.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: True

    True. The PM and most Cabinet ministers are MPs in the House of Commons.

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