Peerage: Encyclopedia II - Peerage - Life peers

Peerage - Life peers

Main article: Life peer

Two acts—the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 and the Life Peerages Act 1958—authorise the regular creation of life peerages. Life peers created under both acts are of baronial rank. They are always created under letters patent, and not by writs of summons. While succession to hereditary peerage dignities is mostly restricted to males, many women hold life peerage dignities.

Life peers created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act are known as "lords of Appeal in Ordinary." They perform the judicial functions of the House of Lords and serve on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. They remain peers for life, but cease to receive judicial salaries at the age of seventy-five. At most, there may be twelve Lords of Appeal in Ordinary under the age of seventy-five at one time.

Under the Life Peerages Act, however, there is no limit on the number of peerages the Sovereign may create. Unlike lords of Appeal, such peers have no judicial duties. Normally, life peerages are granted to individuals nominated by the various political parties or by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Furthermore, they are normally granted to honour important government figures—such as the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Prime Minister—upon their retirement.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Life peers", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki