Reforming the House of Lords

Meg Russell is Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit since August 1998. Previously National Womens Officer of the Labour Party and before that parliamentary researcher to Clare Short MP. Also spent several years prior to that as a researcher in academia.

• Introduction ; PART ONE: CONTEXTS ; 1. Reforming the House of Lords ; 2. Second chambers worldwide ; PART TWO: SEVEN SECOND CHAMBERS ; 3. The composition and context of the chamber ; 4. Politics and personalities in the chamber ; 5. Organisation and administration ; 6. The legislative role of the chamber ; 7. Committees and investigative work ; 8. Constitutional and constituency ; 9. Government and the second chamber ; 10. Binding different levels of government together ; 11. Public Perceptions and calls for reform ; PART THREE: LESSONS FOR LORDS REFORM ; 12. Principles of reform ; 13. The role and functions of the new chamber ; 14. The composition of the new chamber ; Epilogue: Prospects for reform

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.