The British Parliament and the electoral system

B

‘backbenchers’ – the rank and file MPs occupying the back benches in the House of Commons

bill – a draft of a law presented to a legislation for enactment

Buckingham Palace – the Queen’s residence

By-elections – follow the death or retirement of an MP

C

Cabinet of Ministers – MPs and peers chosen by the Prime Minister including heads of the departments (20 MPs)

Chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords

The Commonwealth - the association of former members of the British Empire and Great Britain founded in 1949

the Conservative Party – otherwise the Tory Party, the most powerful and is often called a party of business directors, advocates support of established institutions

Constitutional monarchy – a monarch reigns with the support of Parliament

D

Downing Street – the place where the Cabinet meets

F

‘frontbenchers’ – the leading members of both parties who occupy the first two rows of seats in the House of Commons

G

General elections – held every five years

Government – the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization

H

the House of Commons – the center of parliamentary power (659 elected MPs)

the House of Lords – made up of 1, 185 hereditary and life peers and peeresses

L

the Labour Party – represents the interests of workers or made up largely of organized labour groups

Leader of the Opposition – a recognized post in the House of Commons

the Liberal Party – otherwise ‘Whigs’, associated with ideals of individual esp. economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives

Lord Chancellor – the Speaker of the House of Lords, the Head of the legal system, a member of the Cabinet

M

Member of Parliament (MP) – anelected member who represents an area in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Monarch – the Head of State (a king or a queen)

P

Parliament – Britain’s legislature, comprises the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Queen

Prime Minister – the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, Chairman of the Cabinet

S

Secret ballot – an official ballot printed at public expense on which the names of all the candidates and proposals appear and which is distributed only at the polling place and marked in secret

“Shadow cabinet” – the official opposition with its own leader of the second largest party in the House of Commons

Speaker – a parliamentary official elected by MPs

W

Westminster Palace – the seat of Parliament