The House of Lords is the upper-chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest institutions in the world, its origins lie in the early 11th century and the emergence of bicameralism in the 13th crntury. In contrast to the House of Commons, membership of the Lords is not generally acquired by election. Most members are appointed for life, on either political or non-political basis. Hereditary membership was abolished in 1999, save for 92 excepted hereditary peers; 90 elected through internal by-election, plus the Earl Marshal and Lord Great Chamberlain as members ex officio. No members directly inherit their seats any longer. The House of Lords also includes up to 26 archbishops and bishops of the Church of England, known as Lords Spiritual. Since 2014, membership may be voluntarily relinquished or terminated upon expulsion. As the upper house of Parliament, the Hou