<P> In modern times, the vast majority of ministers belong to the Commons rather than the Lords . Few major cabinet positions (except Lord Privy Seal, Lord Chancellor and Leader of the House of Lords) have been filled by a peer in recent times . Notable exceptions are Peter, Lord Carrington, who served as Foreign Secretary from 1979 to 1982, and David, Lord Young, who was appointed Employment Secretary in 1985 . Peter Mandelson was appointed Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in October 2008; he was also briefly a member of neither the Lords nor the Commons while serving in this capacity . The elected status of members of the Commons, as opposed to the unelected nature of members of the Lords, is seen to lend more legitimacy to ministers . It is also considered important for ministers, and especially senior ministers, to be responsible to the elected house . The prime minister chooses the ministers, and may decide to remove them at any time; the formal appointment or dismissal, however, is made by the Sovereign . </P> <P> The House of Commons scrutinises HM Government through "Prime Minister's Questions", when members have the opportunity to ask questions of the prime minister; there are other opportunities to question other cabinet ministers . Prime Minister's Questions occurs once each week, normally for half an hour each Wednesday . Questions must relate to the responding minister's official government activities, not to his or her activities as a party leader or as a private Member of Parliament . Customarily, members of the Government party and members of the Opposition alternate when asking questions . In addition to questions asked orally during Question Time, Members of Parliament may also make inquiries in writing . </P> <P> In practice, the House of Commons' scrutiny of the Government is fairly weak . Since the first - past - the - post electoral system is employed, the governing party often enjoys a large majority in the Commons, and there is often little need to compromise with other parties . Modern British political parties are so tightly organised that they leave relatively little room for free action by their MPs . Also, many ruling party MPs are paid members of the Government . Thus, during the 20th century, the Government has lost confidence issues only three times--twice in 1924, and once in 1979 . However, the threat of rebellions by their own party's backbench MPs often forces Governments to make concessions (under the Coalition, over foundation hospitals and under Labour over top - up fees and compensation for failed company pension schemes). Occasionally the Government is defeated by backbench rebellions (Terrorism Act 2006). However, the scrutiny provided by the Select Committees is more serious . </P> <P> The House of Commons technically retains the power to impeach Ministers of the Crown (or any other subject, even if not a public officer) for their crimes . Impeachments are tried by the House of Lords, where a simple majority is necessary to convict . The power of impeachment, however, has fallen into disuse: the House of Commons exercises its checks on the Government through other means, such as No Confidence Motions; the last impeachment was that of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville in 1806 . </P>

What electoral system is used to elect the united kingdom house of commons