JUMP START: ‘WHO ANIMATION’ You can view and discuss the Jump Start animation in around 30 minutes. Extend this activity to up to two lessons by following on with the ‘Nominate a peer’ or ‘Public Pops’ exercises included in this pack. All timings approximate. You will need ‘who’ Jump Start animation ready to view – Step One – ten minutes Before you watch the Jump Start animation, ask the class to openly share their views on their understanding of the make-up of the House of Lords by asking a few key questions: – what do you think of when you hear the word ‘Lord’? – who do you think sits in the House of Lords and how do they get there? – what qualities might a member of the House of Lords have? – the House of Lords is appointed, not elected, what does this mean? Step Two – approx three minutes Now watch the Jump Start animation together (around three minutes).this short animation introduces the of Lords with a focus on who sits in the House and their routes in, as well as how this process has changed over time. Step Three – ten minutes once the film has finished, allow some time for the class to share their thoughts on the film: – did the make-up of the House match your expectations? – did anything surprise you about the various routes into the House? – did you agree or disagree with the pros and cons of an appointed House? – what do you think of now when you hear the word ‘Lord’? Step Four – optional extensions Run the ‘Nominate a peer’ activity (full instructions and worksheets included) to give the class an opportunity to consider who they might nominate for the role this will also support the class to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by the panel when considering nominations. Alternatively, go straight to the ‘Public Pops’ film to spark further debate about the membership of the House of Lords and use the debate cards in this pack to get your class talking . Who
What kind of person is a peer? What qualities are important for people who make and shape laws? What might you contact a peer about? What background do peers come from? Is it important to have peers from a range of backgrounds? How the House of Lords raise the number of female members? How do you become a peer? What are the pros and cons of having an appointed House? How might an election for membership of the House of Lords work in practice? Who
The Lords currently has around 800 active members, commonly called ‘peers’, who can take part and vote in any business of the House (an overview is included below or you can find exact up-to-date information online).there are three different types of peers: life peers, bishops and elected hereditary peers. Unlike MPs, the public do not elect the Lords. The majority are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister or the House of Lords Appointments Commission. The three main groups: Life Peers Around 700 members are appointed for their lifetime by the Queen. Their titles are not passed on to their children. Any British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen who is a UK resident and taxpayer over the age of 21 is eligible to be nominated or can apply to become a member, through the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission. Elected Hereditary Peers the House of Lords Act 1999 ended the right of most hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House. 92 remain having been chosen by the House itself. Archbishops and Bishops 26 Church of England archbishops and bishops sit in the House. When they retire their membership of the House ends and is passed on to the next most senior bishop. Party Life Peers Elected Hereditary Peers Bishops & Archbishops Total Conservative 164 49 213 Labour 222 4 226 Liberal democrat 86 4 90 Crossbench 146 31 177 Bishops 26 26 Other 32 1 33 Total 650 89 26 765 note:This table excludes 37 members who are on leave of absence, 13 disqualified as senior members of the judiciary and one disqualified as an MEP.