Gay marriage passes in England and Wales!

[Fidel_Castronaut]

So? Where does it say that being a pompous old douchebag has to be hereditary?

Nowhere.

But if that's the categorisation methodology we're using then pretty every parliament in the world can be labeled as such.

The HOL works in many ways similar to the two houses of the US government. It's a balance of power on the HOC, Which has supreme legitimate authority.

The worst aspect of it is the continuation of the lords spiritual, but many life peers who are in the HOL are actually people at the top of their profession, such as scientists, businessmen and academics who advise on policy and put forward worthwhile amendments.

It's not perfect, but then, when is any system? The idea that the HOL are all heredity old men is a couple of decades out of date.

The more you know :-)