House of Lords

or "Upper House". Traditionally the part of Parliament reserved for all (male) members of the nobility, the so-called "Peers of the Realm". Every male member of the nobility used to have the right to sit in the House of Lords.

In 1958, women sat in the House of Lords for the first time. Since the House of Lords Act was passed in 1999, membership in the House of Lords has not been a right of birth of hereditary Peers (i.e. Peers who pass on their title to their descendants). All but 92 were removed from the House of Lords. Apart from the remaining hereditary Peers, 630 Life Peers (Peers whose title ceases at their death) are appointed to the House, as are 26 Lords Spiritual (in detail: the archbishops of Canterbury and York, the bishops of Durham, London and Winchester, plus a further 21 of the senior bishops of the Church of England).

Sources

• "House of Lords." UK Parliament. <http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/about-lords/>.