What does the House of Lords do?

The House of Lords is one of the most enigmatic institutions in the British establishment. Often misunderstood and sometimes controversial due to its unelected nature, its value is consistently proven by the depth of its work and the profound influence its members have on national policy and legislation.

For a senior leader or executive seeking to cement a legacy of public service, understanding the true function of the Lords reveals it as the ultimate platform for turning a lifetime of professional achievement into lasting national change.

This article will demystify the House of Lords, providing a breakdown of the common query, ‘what does the House of Lords do?’ by exploring its three core functions: legislative refinement, government scrutiny, and expert policy committee work.

What The House Of Lords Does at a Glance

The House of Lords has three core functions that form the bedrock of its contribution to British governance:

Legislation – The Lords acts as a ‘revising chamber’, examining Bills line-by-line and proposing amendments
Scrutiny and Accountability – Peers hold the government to account through oral questions, written questions, and debates
Committee Work – Select Committees investigate complex policy challenges, publishing authoritative reports
How Peerage Translates to Impact – How Life Peers balance parliamentary duties with professional interests
The Route to Influence – How appointments are made and what the Appointments Commission looks for

Watch: What Does the House of Lords Do?

Mark Llewellyn-Slade, Founder and CEO of Awards Intelligence, outlines the three core functions of the House of Lords, from holding the government to account and scrutinising legislation, to the influential work of its subcommittees.

Understanding the House of Lords: What do the House of Lords do?

The House of Lords, or the upper house of the UK Parliament, is not an alternative to the elected House of Commons, but a complement to it. The Commons provides the democratic mandate, while the Lords provides the expertise, scrutiny, and time to ensure that legislation is sound and that the government’s policies are thoroughly examined.

The House of Lords has three core, non-negotiable functions that together form the bedrock of its contribution to British governance:

Making and refining laws (Legislation)
Checking and challenging the work of the government (Scrutiny and Accountability)
In-depth consideration and investigation of public policy (Committee Work)

The first pillar: Legislation

The most time-consuming and arguably most vital work undertaken in the Lords is the detailed scrutiny of proposed laws, known as Bills. While a Bill may pass through the Commons relatively quickly due to the governing party’s majority and party discipline, it is in the Lords where it faces its most forensic examination.

This is where the Lords earns its nickname as the “revising chamber.” Peers examine Bills line-by-line, often proposing thousands of amendments to improve the quality of the legislation. These amendments are not usually designed to block a Bill outright, but to:

Correct poor drafting or technical errors.
Ensure the law’s unintended consequences are addressed.
Integrate specialist knowledge and real-world implications into the text of the law.
Ask the elected chamber (the Commons) to “think again” on specific policy aspects.

This process, sometimes known as “parliamentary ping-pong” when Bills shuttle between the two Houses, ensures that the final legislation is robust, workable, and reflects a wide range of expert input.

The second pillar: Scrutiny and accountability

Holding the government to account is a function shared with the House of Commons, but the non-elected nature of the Lords affords it a unique independence. Because Peers are not campaigning for re-election, they can challenge the government without fear of local political backlash, providing an independent check on executive power.

The rules of the House also discourage Peers from “profiting from membership,” which helps maintain this level of impartiality.

Scrutiny takes several forms:

Oral Questions: Every sitting day begins with questions to Ministers, providing a platform for Peers to seek clarification or challenge government decisions on any topic, from global affairs to domestic welfare policies.
Written Questions: Peers can submit detailed written questions to government departments, compelling Ministers to provide facts, statistics, and justifications for their decisions in writing within a fixed timeframe. Over 4,000 written questions are asked annually, ensuring continuous government accountability.
Debates: The Lords frequently hold general debates on major national and international issues, providing a space for a nuanced discussion that draws heavily on the professional expertise of its members.

This constant, expert pressure ensures transparency and accountability. Ministers in the Lords are frequently cross-examined by former senior civil servants, judges, chief executives, and academics, ensuring that the government’s explanations and justifications are held to the highest standard of evidence and logic.

The third pillar: Policy and committee work

Beyond the main chamber, the most influential work of the House of Lords is conducted in its Select Committees. This is where the concentrated expertise of the membership is brought to bear on complex, long-term policy challenges that may not receive sufficient attention in the politically charged atmosphere of the Commons.

House of Lords Select Committees do not shadow government departments like their Commons counterparts. Instead, they investigate specialist subjects, leveraging the unique, high-level professional expertise within the House.

Permanent Select Committees regularly scrutinise areas such as the Constitution, Science and Technology, Economics, Industry and Regulators, and Environment and Climate Change.
Special Inquiry Committees are formed to investigate a specific, urgent topic for a finite period, such as Food, Diet and Obesity or AI in Weapon Systems.

Members of these committees – typically small, cross-party groups of Peers – use their extensive careers in medicine, law, finance, academia, and industry to conduct in-depth inquiries. They interview ministers, civil servants, leading experts, and members of the public, culminating in the production of highly authoritative, non-partisan reports. In 2023-24, Lords committees published 57 reports, often leading to tangible policy changes.

These reports often become the de facto national reference point for the policy area in question, forcing the government to respond and frequently leading to significant, tangible policy shifts and the adoption of new long-term strategies.

How Peerage Translates to Impact

To truly appreciate the opportunity a peerage offers, it is essential to understand the rhythm of parliamentary life for a Member of the Lords. The role of a Life Peer is not usually that of a full-time politician, but one of a committed contributor, balancing their Lords work with other professional or charitable interests.

A sitting day is characterised by measured industry:

Morning: Scrutiny: The day often begins with attendance at Oral Questions or a Select Committee meeting, perhaps taking evidence from a leading academic or industry chief on a new Bill. This is the intellectual core of the work, involving the gathering of external evidence.
Afternoon: On the Floor: The main business in the chamber begins, typically focusing on the line-by-line scrutiny of a Bill at the Committee or Report stage. Here, a former CEO might propose an amendment to the regulatory framework of a finance bill, or a retired judge might argue for a change to the wording of a criminal justice bill. Unlike the Commons, all members can attend and participate fully in the Committee Stage of a Bill.
Evening: Debating and Drafting: The day concludes with wider debates or more legislative scrutiny. Time is also spent preparing for upcoming debates, working with the House of Lords Library, or drafting amendments and committee reports.

The atmosphere is less confrontational than the Commons. The culture is one of collegial expertise, where contributions are valued based on the quality of the argument and the depth of professional experience behind it, rather than political grandstanding.

The large cohort of Crossbenchers (Peers with no political party affiliation) plays a crucial role in ensuring independent, expert input and preventing any single political party from dominating proceedings.

The Route to Influence

The critical difference between the Houses is how one gets there. While the Commons requires success at the ballot box, the House of Lords requires a lifetime of distinguished achievement.

Most Peers are appointed as Life Peers under the Life Peerages Act 1958, granting them a seat for life. These appointments are made by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister, but nominations are often vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) for non-party political nominees, particularly the respected and numerous Crossbenchers.

HOLAC, and indeed the political parties making nominations, look for individuals who have:

Exceptional Professional Expertise: A proven track record as a leader, innovator, or specialist in their field.
Demonstrated Independence: A capacity for clear, independent thought that is not solely constrained by party lines.
Commitment to Public Service: A clear desire to contribute time and knowledge to the national legislative and policy process.

For a senior figure – a retired Chief Justice, a FTSE 100 CEO, a pioneering scientist, or a leading public health advocate – a peerage is the ultimate mechanism to leverage their success for national good, transforming personal accomplishment into enduring policy influence.

To learn more about how a comprehensive and professional approach can significantly enhance your chances of securing such a prestigious appointment, we encourage you to read our articles on the difference between a Peerage and an Honour, and applying to the House of Lords.

The Final Step: Expert Guidance From Awards Intelligence

The House of Lords is not a relic of a bygone era; it is a modern engine of expert governance, constantly working to refine and improve the laws that shape the United Kingdom. Its strength lies in its independence and the unparalleled reservoir of professional knowledge held by its members.

For those whose careers have reached the pinnacle of influence and expertise, the next logical step in public service is to be in a position to be considered for an appointment to the House of Lords.

However, appointments at this level are rare and highly competitive. While a lifetime of professional excellence is essential, successful candidates often possess a publicly validated profile demonstrating exceptional contributions to the nation.

If you possess the necessary wealth of experience, the most effective strategy to position yourself for future high-level appointments is to first secure the public recognition you deserve. To explore the initial avenues of recognition, we highly recommend gaining insight into how to elevate your national profile by achieving an honour, prestigious personal or business award via our knowledge hub.

These accolades provide the irrefutable, independent validation of your impact and commitment to service, significantly strengthening your case for any major public appointment down the line.

Contact the Awards Intelligence team for a confidential and complimentary assessment of the best path to achieving national recognition, ensuring your expertise translates into the highest possible influence.