| Parliament name |
UK Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
House of Commons |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
House of Lords
|
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
8 February 1983
Last amendment:11 July 2006 |
| Mode of designation |
directly elected 650 |
| Constituencies |
650 single-member constituencies:
- 533 for England
- 59 for Scotland
- 40 for Wales
- 18 for Northern Ireland |
| Voting system |
Majority:
Single member plurality systems ("first past the post").
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by elections.
Voting is not compulsory. |
| Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years
- British, Irish or Commonwealth citizenship
- disqualifications: imprisonment, detention in mental health institutions, members of the House of Lords, conviction for electoral offence (disqualification for a period of five years)
|
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
Qualified electors
- age: 18 years
- British, Irish or Commonwealth citizenship
- ineligibility: insanity, undischarged bankruptcy, imprisonment exceeding one year |
| Incompatibilities |
- members of the armed forces
- policemen
- civil servants
- holders of certain judicial offices
- clergymen (except of non-conformist churches)
- peers
- members of a large number of public boards and tribunals |
| Candidacy requirements |
- lists must be supported by at least 10 electors
- deposit of £500, reimbursed if candidate obtains at least 5% of the total votes in the constituency concerned |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
