The English peerage is a system of titles and ranks in the United Kingdom, traditionally associated with the nobility. It includes various ranks such as duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. These titles can be hereditary, passed down through generations, or life peerages, granted for an individual's lifetime. Members of the peerage often have seats in the House of Lords, one of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The peerage system has historical roots, dating back to the medieval period, and plays a role in the country's social and political structure.