The House of Lords traces its origins to councils of nobles that were called by the kings of England before the Conquest. English monarchs continued to assemble the barons at intervals until Edward I called the first meeting of the modern Parliament in 1265. Over the centuries, power has shifted to the House of Commons. Until recently, any peer could claim the right to sit in the House of Lords, but recent reforms have made membership in that house selective.
Like the House of Commons, the House of Lords meets in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.
