Research briefings

Displaying 1-20 out of 213

Sort by: Most recent first Most recent last

• The Quebec referendums Published 25 July 2013 | Research papers RP13/47 This paper gives a brief outline of separatism in Quebec, showing that many of the arguments in Canada are already being echoed in the debate about Scotland’s future relationship with the rest of the UK. Topic: Elections, International politics and government, North America
• Timetables for the UK Parliamentary General election Published 19 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06574 This Note sets out the timetable for a general election on 7 May 2015, as provided for under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 extended the length of the timetable to 25 working days. There is no date for the commencement of these provisions. Topic: Elections, Parliament
• By-election timetables Published 19 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06609 This Note gives details of model timetables for by-elections. Topic: By-elections, Elections
• Recall Elections Published 18 July 2013 | Standard notes SN05089 Recall is a term used to describe a process whereby the electorate can petition to trigger a vote on the suitability of an existing elected representative to continue in office. There is no recall procedure in the UK. The Government has stated that it will legislate to introduce a power of recall. This note explains the process of recall as commonly understood and briefly examines its usage in different countries. Topic: Elections, Members of Parliament
• The Budget and the annual Finance Bill Published 16 July 2013 | Standard notes SN00813 This note discusses the way that Parliament scrutinises the Government's proposals for taxation, set out in the annual Budget statement. It looks at how this procedure may be affected by the timing of a General Election, and gives some suggestions for further reading. Topic: Elections, Taxation
• Electoral Statistics 2012 Published 10 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06258 This note provides data on electorates of parliamentary constituencies at December 2011. There were 46.3 million people registered to vote in UK parliamentary elections at 1 December 2012, an increase of 247,000 on December 2011. Topic: Elections, Electoral register
• Prisoners’ voting rights – in brief Published 04 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06480 On 6 October 2005 the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Hirst case, found that the UK’s current ban on all serving prisoners from voting contravenes Article 3 of Protocol No 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The issue of prisoner voting has become linked with the overall question of compliance with the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights. This note briefly draws together Library material on the issue and summarises Standard Note 1764, Prisoners’ voting rights, which provides a narrative of events following the judgment. Topic: Elections, Electoral franchise, General elections, Prisons
• Prisoners' voting rights Published 04 July 2013 | Standard notes SN01764 Prisoners serving a custodial sentence do not have the right to vote. Prisoners on remand are able to vote under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 2000. This Standard Note provides a narrative of events following the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on 6 October 2005, the Hirst case, that the UK’s current ban on all serving prisoners from voting contravenes Article 3 of Protocol No 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Topic: Elections, Electoral franchise, General elections, Prisons
• European Union (Referendum) Bill Published 28 June 2013 | Research papers RP13/41 Amended 09 July 2013 This Private Member’s Bill was introduced to the Commons on 19 June 2013 and is designed to require the holding of a referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union (EU) before the end of 2017. This Paper has been prepared as a guide in advance of the second reading on Friday 5 July. Topic: Elections, Europe
• Obama and Iran’s 2013 elections: The role of presidents in the nuclear crisis Published 03 June 2013 | Standard notes SN06655 Iran's presidential election, due on 14 june, is unlikely to change Iranian policy over nuclear enrichment. Topic: Arms control, Elections, Iran
• PIL: Number of by-elections since 1959 Published 20 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02383 The PIL lists the number of by-elections in each year since 1959. It also gives details of by-elections since 2005 Topic: Elections
• Election Timetables Published 15 May 2013 | Research papers RP13/27 This Research Paper sets out the model timetables for Parliamentary general elections and by-elections. Topic: Elections
• Electoral arrangements in Wales Published 14 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06641 This standard note briefly discusses electoral arrangements in Wales Topic: Elections, National Assembly for Wales
• By-elections since 2010 General Election Published 10 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05833 Amended 13 May 2013 This note sets out results of by elections since the 2010 General Election. It will be updated as by-elections occur. Topic: By-elections, Election results : UK, Elections
• Overseas voters Published 08 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05923 This Note provides background to the provisions relating to overseas voters in the Representation of the People Act 1985 which was subsequently amended by the Representation of the People Act 1989 and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Information is also given about the procedure for registering to vote as an overseas elector and the means of voting, either by post or by proxy. Topic: Elections, Electoral franchise, General elections
• Party Political Broadcasts Published 02 May 2013 | Standard notes SN03354 Amended 07 May 2013 This note sets out the current arrangements for party political broadcasts including such matters as their allocation, frequency, length and content. Topic: Elections, General elections
• Scottish referendum- the campaign rules Published 11 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06604 This Note covers the rules which have been proposed in the Scottish independence referendum bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 21 March 2013. Topic: Devolution, Elections, Scottish Parliament
• Election ‘purdah’ or the pre-election period Published 20 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05262 The period of time from when an election is announced until after the election is held has been known as 'purdah' but is now more often referred to as the pre-election period. This note examines the guidance that has been issued in the past to civil servants before general and local elections, and to local authorities on their activities during the period before local elections. Topic: Civil Service, Elections, General elections
• PIL: By-elections more than 3 months after vacancy Published 12 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06576 Amended 19 March 2013 This PIL notes by-elections that have taken place more than three months after the vacancy. Topic: Elections, House of Commons
• Women in Parliament and Government Published 06 March 2013 | Standard notes SN01250 Amended 26 July 2013 This note shows how the number of women in Parliament has changed since 1918, when women first became eligible to be elected as MPs. It presents comparative data for women in Parliament and other elected bodies in the UK and internationally. It also looks at some milestones over the last 100 years for women in Parliament and Government in the UK. Topic: Elections, Equality, Members of Parliament, Parliament