Research Briefing
The House of Lords is due to debate the Queen’s Speech over four days between 19 and 25 May 2016. This briefing is one of four prepared by the House of Lords Library to cover the themes of each day of debate.
Research Briefing
This Lords Library briefing provides information on ministerial collective responsibility in the light of the 2016 EU referendum.
Research Briefing
On 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning sovereign in British history. This House of Lords Library briefing focuses on the Sovereign as part of the constitution of Parliament. It captures key aspects of the role of the Sovereign as it relates, in practice, to Parliament today, with an emphasis on the House of Lords. It does this through addressing a selection of the ceremonial and formal roles of the Sovereign: the State Opening of Parliament and its prorogation and dissolution; the calling of a new Parliament, in light of the Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011; Royal Commissions and royal assent; and Queen’s consent. The briefing also addresses a number of aspects of the Sovereign’s communications and relationship with Parliament more broadly, through Addresses and messages and the Palace of Westminster itself. It provides facts and figures relating to Queen Elizabeth II including: the number of Acts that have received Royal Assent during her reign, Addresses given by the Queen to both Houses in Westminster Hall, and the wording of Queen Elizabeth II’s first message to Parliament on her accession to the throne in 1952.
Research Briefing
This House of Lords Library briefing provides an overview of the work of the five ad hoc Lords Select Committees which reported in the 2013–14 session.
Research Briefing
This In Focus article provides material in support of the Question for Short Debate in the House of Lords on the Government's Official History Programme.
Research Briefing
This briefing provides information in support of the House of Lords consideration of the Scotland Bill.
Research Briefing
Following the publication of the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List, this In Focus note examines the workings of the honours system and proposals for its reform.
Research Briefing
The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill would introduce time limited provisions to enable female diocesan bishops to be fast-tracked into the House of Lords as members of the Lords Spiritual. This Library Note provides a brief summary of the process by which English diocesan bishops are appointed to the House of Lords. It then discusses the provisions of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill and the Bill’s House of Commons Stages.
Research Briefing
This Library Note provides an overview of the main arguments of the ResPublica report and provides broad context to some of the issues and themes raised in it.
Research Briefing
The Succession to the Crown Bill makes changes to the laws of succession to the Crown. This Library Note summarises the proceedings which have taken place on the Bill during its passage through the House of Commons, ahead of the Bill’s second reading debate in the House of Lords on 14 February 2013.
Research Briefing
This Library Note looks at the role of Ministers in the House of Lords in the context of current proposals for reform of the House.
Research Briefing
This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Protection of Freedoms Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords.
Research Briefing
This Library Note provides background information for the debate on 28 April 2011 on co-ordination between Government departments on the use of soft power.
Research Briefing
This Library Note aims to provide background reading for the debate on 20 January 2011: "To call attention to the constitutional and parliamentary effect of Coalition Government".
Research Briefing
Public Bodies Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2010/027
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