2.1 Vocabulary

to convene/ to dissolve parliament; dissolution of Parliament; parliamentary term; provisions for parliament to be dissolved and an early election to be held; vote of no confidence

general elections; to hold general elections; to call an election; by-elections / pre-term election / off-year election; run-off election; elections to devolved parliaments and assemblies, elections to the European Parliament, local elections

Electoral Commission; electoral register; Returning Officers; Electoral Registration Officers

annual canvass; canvass forms that are sent to all households; election campaign, to launch a campaign

be eligible to vote; be qualified to vote; voter; electorate; to cast one’s vote; to vote in person; postal vote, postal ballot paper; proxy vote

poll card; polling station; polling day/ election day; presiding officer, poll clerk, poll watchers; polling agents appointed by candidates

ballot paper; ballot box; (polling/voting) booth; secret ballot system; maintain the secrecy of the vote; to mark the ballot paper (If the ballot paper has been spoilt, the presiding officer/poll clerk can issue a new one after the old ballot paper is cancelled);

to seal the slot at the top of the ballot box; the ballot box is transported by the presiding officer to the central counting location; to count votes; to declare the results

high/low turnout; voter apathy

seat; safe seats; to win a majority of seats; a seat falls vacant

simple majority; overwhelming majority; absolute majority

to remain in office, to engage in a major or minor reshuffle of ministers; to dismiss the incumbent Prime Minister, to form a new government; coalition government, coalition deal; suspended parliament

candidate; Member of Parliament (MP); Chief Whip;

Reform Act 1832 (the Great Reform Act) – abolishing rotten boroughs

House of Lords: hereditary peers; life peers; Lords Spiritual, Lords Temporal

2.2 Read the texts about elections in Britain and discuss the following issues:

• What are pros and cons of the fact that the general election can be called by the prime minister before the end of the five years term? How can this be used by the governing party to maximise political advantage?

• Why can the outcome of a by-election be important? Think about direct political consequences as well as a psychological impact.

• What are qualifications that make you eligible to vote in the UK? Do you know about any other voting qualifications that were used / are being used in various countries? Do you think any of them may be useful for some reason? How can these requirements be used for discrimination of some population groups?

• What is your opinion about postal and proxy voting options? Is there anything similar in Russia?

• What are the reasons for the election turnout decline in many western democracies? What are the possible measures to increase turnout? What do you think about pros and cons of compulsory voting?

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting

General elections

When Parliament is dissolved every seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant and a general election is held. Each constituency in the UK elects one MP (Member of Parliament) to a seat in the House of Commons. The political party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons usually forms the Government.

How often are general elections held?

The date of the next general election is set at 7 May 2015 after the Fixed Term Parliament Act was passed on 15 September 2011. The act provides for general elections to be held on the first Thursday in May every five years. There are two provisions that trigger an election other than at five year intervals:

• A motion of no confidence is passed in Her Majesty's Government by a simple majority and 14 days elapses without the House passing a confidence motion in any new Government formed;

• A motion for a general election is agreed by two thirds of the total number of seats in the Commons including vacant seats (currently 434 out of 650).

Previous to this act, the duration of a Parliament was set at five years, although many were dissolved before that, at the request of the Prime Minister to the Queen.

How does it work?

MPs are elected from a choice of candidates by a simple majority system in which each person casts one vote. The candidate with the most votes then becomes the MP for that constituency.

Candidates may be from a political party registered with the Electoral Commission or they may stand as an 'Independent' rather than represent a registered party.

Where do people vote?

Most voting takes place in polling stations but anyone eligible to vote can apply for a postal vote. British citizens living abroad are also entitled to a postal vote as long as they have been living abroad for less than 15 years.

By-elections

A by-election takes place when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections.

Reasons for by-elections

A seat becomes vacant during the lifetime of a Parliament either when an MP resigns from Parliament, for example to take up a job which by law cannot be done by an MP, or because an MP has died. The law also allows a seat to be declared vacant because of a Member's bankruptcy, mental illness or conviction for a serious criminal offence. A by-election does not automatically take place if an MP changes political party. Until a new MP is elected, constituency matters are handled by an MP of the same party in a neighbouring constituency.

'Moving the Writ'

Traditionally the Chief Whip of the political party whose MP held the vacant seat will begin the procedure for a by-election. This is known as 'moving the Writ' and takes the form of a motion in the House of Commons.

By-election timetable

A new Writ is moved within three months of the vacancy occurring. There have been a few instances of seats remaining vacant longer than six months before a by-election was called. Seats have also been left vacant towards the end of a Parliament to be filled at the general election. If there are several vacant seats then a number of by-elections can take place on the same day.

Parliamentary constituencies

The UK is currently divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies, each of which is represented by one MP in the House of Commons. Although constituencies vary widely in area, the average number of voters in each constituency is approximately 68,175.

Constituency breakdown

There are currently 533 constituencies in England, 59 in Scotland, 40 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland.

Boundary Commissions 

Constituency boundaries were kept under review by four permanent Boundary Commissions, one each for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Commissions made reports at regular intervals recommending any necessary changes due to population change or changes in local government boundaries.