Members of the Houses of Commons and Lords during the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023. Like his ancestors for centuries, the Earl of Devon serves in Parliament, helping to make the laws of the land. British lawmakers will vote Tuesday on a bill to strip hereditary aristocrats of the right to sit and vote in House of Lords after more than 700 years. AdvertisementHe noted that Britain is one of only two countries — the other is Lesotho — with a hereditary element to its parliament. AdvertisementBritain’s Parliament has two chambers: the House of Commons, whose members are directly elected by voters in 650 constituencies across the U.K.; and the unelected Lords.

Source: The Times October 16, 2024 11:33 UTC