Parliament can run for a maximum of 5 years, it needs to be dissolved by the Queen before an election. It can be dissolved at any time if the government no longer has a majority or an election can be triggered if the government loses a vote of confidence in the commons. Jim Callaghan lost by one vote in 1979- winter of discontent. The coalition government passed a law fixing the date of elections every 5 years so the next one is due on the 7th May 2015. Up until now the Prime Minister fixed the date of elections, it has always been traditional to hold them on a Thursday (since 1935). In order to vote you have to register on the electoral register in your constituency. There are around 45 million people on the electoral registers today.
In England there are 37,912,549 Scotland- 3,885,148
Wales- 2,262,769 N/Ireland- 1,134,983 Source= BBC
Citizens living overseas can vote but less than 15,000 of the estimated 5.5 million actually do. 15% of all votes in 2005 were via postal as we saw a rise in the amount of people voting through post. You cant vote however if you are under the age of 18, if you are a member of the House of Lords, if you are a European citizen- citizens from any country apart from the Irish, if you are serving a prison sentence or if you are from Republic or Commonwealth countries.
Representation of the people's Act
1918- men over 21 and women over 30
1928- Universal suffrage - all adults over 21
1969- All adults over the age of 18 have the right to vote, it isn't compulsory in England however it is in Australia and if you do not vote you get fined!
How do you win?
First you pass the vote- not PR whoever gains a majority in the constituency is elected. This means that national voting percentages are not reflected in seats. This means that the election comes down to marginals because most votes in safe seats are wasted. Labour won half the seats in 2005 with 35% of the votes. This has lead to people voting tactically trying to prevent the party they dislike from winning.
Cobbett idea of the Closure Act was where working class were forced off of the land and into working factories that were all based in the cities. Therefore most people in the cities are working class and will vote Labour.
Each candidate puts down a deposit of £500 to become an MP this is to show you are serious and prevents men dressed as chickens for a laugh taking part. If you get at least 5% of the votes this deposit is returned to you. Spoilt ballots are disqualified the returning officer will try to work out what the voter intended but if they cannot it will be rejected. If the votes are close there will be a re count.
Winchester 1977 saw Mark Oaten beat Tory MP Gerry Malone by 2 votes. This went to the high court and was granted a by- election which lead to Oaten winning by lots- proportional representation (PR).
Independence Referendum- 2014 is the biggest vote as it could see the end of the UK if England are beaten by Scotland. It is held then as it is the anniversary of Bannockburn 1314.
In England there are 37,912,549 Scotland- 3,885,148
Wales- 2,262,769 N/Ireland- 1,134,983 Source= BBC
Citizens living overseas can vote but less than 15,000 of the estimated 5.5 million actually do. 15% of all votes in 2005 were via postal as we saw a rise in the amount of people voting through post. You cant vote however if you are under the age of 18, if you are a member of the House of Lords, if you are a European citizen- citizens from any country apart from the Irish, if you are serving a prison sentence or if you are from Republic or Commonwealth countries.
Representation of the people's Act
1918- men over 21 and women over 30
1928- Universal suffrage - all adults over 21
1969- All adults over the age of 18 have the right to vote, it isn't compulsory in England however it is in Australia and if you do not vote you get fined!
How do you win?
First you pass the vote- not PR whoever gains a majority in the constituency is elected. This means that national voting percentages are not reflected in seats. This means that the election comes down to marginals because most votes in safe seats are wasted. Labour won half the seats in 2005 with 35% of the votes. This has lead to people voting tactically trying to prevent the party they dislike from winning.
Cobbett idea of the Closure Act was where working class were forced off of the land and into working factories that were all based in the cities. Therefore most people in the cities are working class and will vote Labour.
Each candidate puts down a deposit of £500 to become an MP this is to show you are serious and prevents men dressed as chickens for a laugh taking part. If you get at least 5% of the votes this deposit is returned to you. Spoilt ballots are disqualified the returning officer will try to work out what the voter intended but if they cannot it will be rejected. If the votes are close there will be a re count.
Winchester 1977 saw Mark Oaten beat Tory MP Gerry Malone by 2 votes. This went to the high court and was granted a by- election which lead to Oaten winning by lots- proportional representation (PR).
Independence Referendum- 2014 is the biggest vote as it could see the end of the UK if England are beaten by Scotland. It is held then as it is the anniversary of Bannockburn 1314.
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