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direct taxation levied on income or earnings and indirect taxation such as VAT and fuel duty and it is the money which is used for running the country.

The election process

The electorate vote a single Member of Parliament using the First past the Post (FPTP) system to represent approximately 65,000 electors in a single defined geographical area. There are in effect 659 elections in a general election. Candidates must have the support of ten electors registered voters in their prospective constituency on their nomination form which is submitted to the (Acting Returning Officer. They must also find a deposit of 500 to stand which they will lose if the do not acquire five percent of the vote.

Alternative electoral systems

Most countries use a a system called Proportional Representation (PR) which more closely represents the proportion of votes cast. It is used as most electors are voting for a particular party rather than a specific candidate for a seat. Other alternatives include:

Additional Member System (AMS) - a proportion of candidates are elected using FPTP with a further block of seats elected based on proportional voting for parties.
Single Transferable Vote (STV) - electors list candidates in order of preference.
(Closed) Party List System - used mainly to elect MEPs

Pressure Groups

A pressure group tries to influence the policy making making of a political party, as it is through the latter that changes are made possible at central local and international level.

QUANGOs

QUANGO stands for Quasi Autonomous Non Governmental Organisation and are basically bodies involved in carrying out work for Parliament but is not part of a government department. These include public bodies (Environment Agency), executive agencies (DVLA), regulatory bodies (utilities) and commissions and advisory bodies (English Heritage). By far the biggest QUANGO is the National Health Service.

The European Union

The UK joined the European Economic Community (ECC) or Common Market in 1973. The institutions of European Union include the Commission which proposes agreements, policies, directives and laws, the Council of the European Union or Council of Ministers (CM) and the European Parliament. This consists of 626 MEPs who meet in Brussels and Strasbourg with the role of scrutinizing and debating decisions of the Council of Ministers.

The main policy and spending areas of the EU include the Common Agricultural Policy, Common Fisheries policy and the Structural Fund.

Summary

The Houses of Parliament have long been known as 'the mother of parliaments' and historically form the basis for democratic government across the world. Much of the British system however is seen as outdated and reforms are being proposed to the House of Lords and the electoral process on a regular basis.

It remains to be seen if these will be implemented or what the long-term effects of any changes may be but it looks certain that British government will retain is place at the political top table for many years to come.

Learn more about this author, Jeremy Orbell.
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