9 and the Asquith Resolutions.*--The
rejection of the Finance Bill in 1909,[154] following as it did the
rejection of other important measures which the Liberal majority in
the Commons had approved, raised in an acute form the question of the
power of the Lords over money bills and precipitated a crisis in (p. 108)
the relations between the two houses. On the one hand the House of
Commons adopted, by a vote of 349 to 134, a memorable resolution to
the effect that "the action of the House of Lords in refusing to pass
into law the provision made by the House of Commons for the finances
of the year is a breach of the constitution, and a usurpation of the
privileges of the House of Commons"; and, on the other, the Asquith
ministry came instantly to the decision that the situation demanded an
appeal to the country. In January, 1910, a general election took
place, with the result that the Government was continued in power,
though with a reduced majority; and at the convening of the new
parliament, in February, the Speech from the Throne promised that
proposals should speedily be submitted "to define the relations
between the houses of Parliament, so as to secure the undivided
authority of the House of Commons over finance, and its predominance
in legislation." The Finance Bill of the year was reintroduced and
this time successfully carried through; but in advance of its
reappearance the premier laid before the House of Commons a series of
resolutions to the following effect:[155] (1) that the House of Lords
should be disabled by law from rejecting or amending a money bill; (2)
that the power of the chamber to veto other bills should be restricted
by law; and (3) that the duration of a parliament should be limited to
a maximum period of five years. During the course of the debate upon
these resolutions it was made clear that the Government did not desire
the abolition of the Lords, but wished merely to have the legislative
competence of the house confined to consultation, revision, and,
subject to proper safeguards, delay. April 14, 1910, the resolutions
were adopted in the Commons by substantial majorities,[156] and with
them as a basis the Government proceeded with the framing of its bill
upon the subject.

[Footnote 154: Strictly, the Lords declined to
assent to the Budget until it should have been
submitted to the judgment of the people. On the