How are members of the House of Commons selected?

Question 1

1. What electoral system is used to elect them?

Answer 1

1. First-Past-The-Post

Question 2

1. How many constituencies were there at the 2015 general elections?
2. How will this change over time?

Answer 2

1. 650 constituencies

2. Will eventually be reduced to 600

Question 3

1. Prior to the 2015 general elections, how much did the number of constituents seeking election grow?
2. How many candidates per constituency?

Answer 3

1. Grew to 3971

2. Average of 6

Question 4

1. What is the Fixed Term Parliaments Act?

2. Year?

Answer 4

1. General elections must be held at the end of a fixed five-year period.
2. 2011

Question 5

1. What are two situations that allow for early elections?

Answer 5

1a. There is a vote of no confidence, and the prime minister can’t form a new administration within 14 days.
1b. Two-thirds of MPs support a motion for an early election.

Question 6

1. How did Theresa May call an early election?

2. Date?

Answer 6

1. Had the support of the necessary proportion of MPs.

2. June 2017

Question 7

1. What happens if an MP dies or retires?

Answer 7

1. The vacancy is filled by holding by-elections

Question 8

1. Who was the one MP that won as an independent, in the 2010 and 2015 general elections?

Answer 8

1. Lady Hermon - MP for North Down in Northern Ireland.

Question 9

1. Which MP continued as an independent, after leaving the party?
2. Date?

Answer 9

1. Douglas Carswell, UKIP’s only MP, left the party to become an independent.
2. March 2017

Question 10

1.How many MP’s are backbenchers?

Answer 10

1. Roughly 3/4

Question 11

1. How are the frontbenchers sub-divided?

Answer 11

1. They are divided into the government, ‘shadow ministers’ and members of the opposition.

Question 12

1. Who is the Shadow Cabinet headed by?

2. Since when?

Answer 12

1. It is led by the leader of the opposition - Keir Starmer.

2. Since April 2020.