House of Lords | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Upper house |
| Members | Lords (appointed for life) |
| Role | Revising and scrutinising bills |
| Meeting place | Palace of Westminster, London |
| Website | hol.ukogb.co.uk |
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament. Unlike the House of Commons, its members are appointed rather than elected. The Lords revise and scrutinise the bills passed by the Commons, propose amendments, and bring the experience of people from many walks of life to the work of Parliament.
Role
Every bill that passes the Commons is sent to the Lords, which examines it in detail and may send it back with amendments. The Commons can accept or reject them. By convention the Lords do not block a measure that the government promised in its election manifesto, and on matters of tax and spending the elected Commons has the final word.
The Lords also hold the government to account through questions and debates, and its committees carry out inquiries into public policy.
Members
Members of the House of Lords are known as Lords, or peers, and are appointed for life. They include former ministers, judges, business leaders, scientists and others with expertise to offer. A member of the Lords cannot also sit in the Commons. The House's business is on the website at hol.ukogb.co.uk.
This page was last edited on 3 November 2026.