And, in an autonomous way, the House of Peers exercises the supreme judicial function. Membership in the House of Peers is birthright of hereditary peers, partly mitigated by the Emperor's right of appointment for life and participation rights of some figures. The members of the House of Peers who sit by virtue of their ecslesiastical offices are known as Peers of the Church. The 12 General Orders of Monastic Fathers, Patriarch of the Empire and 12 Cardinal Priests elected for life by the Synod of the Church are members of Peers. Secular Peers are the largest group in the House of Peers. Unlike like the Church ones, can openly take sides politically. Saecular Peers also include Lords of Appeal, a group of peers appointed by the Chamber to carry out the functions of the Constitutional High