| − | The '''Houses of Parliament''' in [[London]] are where the [[Britain|British]] Parliament meets. It is a bicarnel legisltive body consisting of a lower house, called the [[House of Commons]] made up of elected members and an upper house called the [[House of Lords]] that historically was made up of heriditary peers and some bishops (Lords Spirtitual), but is now predominantly made up of members who have received a Life Peerage (a non heriditary title) following service in the House of Coomons or through achievement in other fields. | + | The '''Houses of Parliament''' in [[London]] are where the [[Britain|British]] Parliament meets. It is a bicarmel legisltive body consisting of a lower house, called the [[House of Commons]] made up of elected members and an upper house called the [[House of Lords]] that historically was made up of heriditary peers and some bishops (Lords Spirtitual), but is now predominantly made up of members who have received a Life Peerage (a non heriditary title) following service in the House of Coomons or through achievement in other fields. |
| | The House of Parliament are located in the Palace of Westminster in the heart of London. The building is so named as it is officially a royal palace, although no monarch has set foot in the House of Commons, the lower house, since [[Charles I]] attempted to arrest five members in 1642. The building of the Houses of Parliament, a well-known symbol of London, is relatively new, being opened only in 1840. The Commons chamber is even newer, being bombed in 1941 and reconstructed after the [[Second World War]]. The clock tower at the northern end of the Palace is often referred to as '[[Big Ben]]', although that name, strictly speaking, applies only to the main bell of the clock in the tower. | | The House of Parliament are located in the Palace of Westminster in the heart of London. The building is so named as it is officially a royal palace, although no monarch has set foot in the House of Commons, the lower house, since [[Charles I]] attempted to arrest five members in 1642. The building of the Houses of Parliament, a well-known symbol of London, is relatively new, being opened only in 1840. The Commons chamber is even newer, being bombed in 1941 and reconstructed after the [[Second World War]]. The clock tower at the northern end of the Palace is often referred to as '[[Big Ben]]', although that name, strictly speaking, applies only to the main bell of the clock in the tower. |