Elections

Parliament can run for a maximum of 6 years, once these 6 years are up the current parliament is dissolved by the Queen before an election. It can be dissolved at any time if the government no longer has the majority. Also an election can be triggered if the government loses a vote of confidence in the Commons.

The Queen is the head of the State. The Coalition government passed a law fixing the date of elections to be held every 6 years, the next one occurring on the 7th of May 2015. Up until the law was passed it was the Prime Minister's decision to fix the date of elections. It has been tradition to hold them on a Thursday since 1935.

In order to vote you must register and therefore be put on the electoral register in your constituency. You are not automatically put on the register even though you may already pay council tax.

Those who can't vote are:

• Lords
• Under 18s
• Members of the European Union
• Any Citizen from any country apart from Ireland and the Commonwealth countries.
• Prisoners

Whoever gains a majority in the constituency is elected and this means that national voting percentages are not reflected in the amount of seats. This means the election comes down to marginals because most voters in safe seats are wasted.

Each candidate must put down a deposit of £500 which is returned if they get at least 5% of the votes cast.

Spoilt ballots are disqualified and there will be a recount if the votes are very close.