A brief history of the House of Lords -- Bicameralism in theory and comparative perspective -- A brief introduction to the contemporary House of Lords -- Political actors in the Lords -- The Lords as a barrier to government : legislative defeats -- Negotiated outcomes and the wider legislative impact of the Lords -- Non-legislative policy work -- Is the House of Lords 'legitimate'? : attitudes towards the chamber -- The politics of Lords reform -- Conclusions : the House of Lords, British politics and legislative bicameralism.