It is the seat of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons).

UNESCO: Culture

Lord Richard said that his committee had "discussed and discussed and discussed the primacy of the House of Commons" over the Lords and, while it was thought that "the balance of power would shift", he believed that the primacy of the Lower House would continue.

BBC: Ashdown: Peers are 'creatures of patronage'

"Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords who are non-doms should not sit in Parliament, " he said.

BBC: Tax attack on Tory peer Ashcroft

The application was approved in February, with the House of Commons and House of Lords backing the final plans in March.

BBC: Contenders clash on Norwich's unitary decision

And Labour peer, ex-Commons speaker Baroness Boothroyd, said the House of Lords "worked" in its current form and there was "little appetite" for reform.

BBC: Clegg unveils plans for elected House of Lords

First, we propose that the House of Commons - and then subsequently the House of Lords - move from the old system of self-regulation to independent, statutory regulation.

BBC: In full: Constitution proposals

The bill has been passed by MPs in the House of Commons and now proceeds to committee stage in the Lords.

BBC: Local Government Finance Bill

Monday's vote means the bill has completed its main Commons stages and the bill now proceeds to the House of Lords where peers will debate and vote on it.

BBC: Planned 1% benefits rises cap backed by MPs

Alternatively, the Commons can use its powers to present a bill originating in the House of Commons for Royal Assent after one year and in a new session, even if the Lords' objections are maintained.

BBC: Passage through the other House