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The '''House of Lords''', or, more properly, ''The Right Honourable the House of Lords'', is the [[upper house]] of the [[British]] [[legislature]]. Together with the [[Queen]] and the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]], it comprises one of the three elements of the British [[Parliament]]. It also functions as the highest court of appeal in the UK, though in practice senior judges are appointed to the House to exercise this function independently of its other members.

The '''House of Lords''', or, more properly, ''The Right Honourable the House of Lords'', is the [[upper house]] of the [[British]] [[legislature]]. Together with the [[Queen]] and the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]], it comprises one of the three elements of the British [[Parliament]]. It was formerly the highest appellate court in the UK until October 2009; the Supreme Court, as created by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005<ref>http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/en/ukpgaen_20050004_en_1</ref>, has now taken over this function, although the Law Lords previously appointed to the House of Lords remain Lords and Supreme Court judges.

Reform of the House of Lords may be regarded as a second-tier current political issue in the UK.

Reform of the House of Lords may be regarded as a second-tier current political issue in the UK.