Members of the House of Lords, knows as peers, are not elected and do not represent a
constituency. The role and membership of the House of Lords have recently undergone
big changes. Until 1958 all peers were either “hereditary”, meaning that their titles were
inherited, senior judges, or bishops of the Church of England. Since 1958 the Prime
Minister has had the power to appoint peers just for their own lifetime. These peers,
known as Life Peers, have usually had a distinguished career in politics, business, law or
some other profession. This means that debates in the House of Lords often draw on more
specialist knowledge that is available to the House of Commons. Life Peers are appointed
by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, but they include people nominated by
the leaders of the other main parties and by an independent Appointments Commission
for non-party peers.

In the last few years the hereditary peers have lost the automatic right to attend the House
of Lords, although the are allowed to elect a few of their number to represent them.

While the House of Lords is usually the less important of the two chambers of
Parliament, it is more independent of the government. It can suggest amendments or
propose new laws, which are then discussed by the House of Commons. The House of
Lords can become very important if the majority of its members will not agree to pass a
law for which the House of Commons has voted. The House of Commons has powers to
overrule the House of Lords, but these are very rarely used.

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