House of Lords

House of Lords visit - March 15, 2007

Our politics class took a field trip to Westminster on Monday and sat in the "Strangers Gallery" to listen to the House of Lords debate their very existence, really. [Click here for my professor's post on the issue.] It’s so exciting to be here in the UK right now in terms of what is happening politically. The devolved assemblies of Northern Ireland and Wales have had or will have elections soon as will the Scottish Parliament and it looks like Tony Blair will be stepping down soon too. I find that it’s easy to assume that aspects of British culture, history, politics and etcetera are very similar to what I know in America. I hear English spoken all around me, I’ve grown up learning about British history and I read so many British authors. Regarding politics too – sure, Britain has a parliament, but doesn’t it function much the same way the congress does? Not at all! It’s been so fascinating to study comparative politics in general and British politics more specifically. There are certainly similarities between US and UK politics but fundamental differences.