How does the UK elect its Parliament?
Parliament, the law-making body of the UK, consists of the monarchy, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. House of Commons The House of Commons comprises 659 Members of Parliament (MPs), whose main purpose is to make laws and to discuss current political issues. Election to the House of Commons is an important part of the UK’s democratic system. House of Lords The House of Lords currently consists of 669 non-elected members. Its main legislative function is to examine and revise bills from the Commons. It also acts in a legal capacity as the final court of appeal. The Lords cannot normally prevent proposed legislation from becoming law if the Commons insists on it. Members of Parliament For election purposes, the UK is divided into constituencies, each of which returns one MP to the Commons. MPs are elected by the relative majority method, which means the candidate with more votes than any other is elected. Voting All UK citizens, together with citizens of other Commonwealth co
