Notes on Parliament and Constitution

The Parliament and Constitution Centre provides a focus for the House of Commons Library's work on Parliament and the Constitution. While our primary objective is to provide Members and their staff with accurate, non partisan information which is timely and appropriate to their needs, we are also a point of contact for overseas and devolved parliaments as well as external academic and research bodies which require guidance on UK parliamentary history and procedure.

As part of our work, we produce a number of Research Papers and Standard Notes on the topics of Parliament and the Constitution. A selection of titles are available below in PDF format , under the following headings:

Central Government | Constitution | Crown | Devolution | Elections | Parliament | Political Parties

Research Papers are an occasional series of papers, numbered by year and sequence of publication, and usually deal with topics of current parliamentary interest. A full list of Research Papers including earlier Papers on these topics, as well as other subjects, is available on the Parliament website.

Standard Notes are generally shorter and more informal than Research Papers. They serve a variety of purposes, but are often used to supply a quick response on subjects raised frequently by Members of Parliament, or to provide an update on legislation or other important developments. They are usually evolving documents which are updated from time to time but we do not have the capacity to keep them all up-to-date, so please note the dates on them.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

CONSTITUTION

Act of Settlement and the Protestant Succession	28/01/2010
Citizens' Assemblies	25/11/2009
Thresholds in Referendums	25/11/2009
Governance of Britain: An update	16/10/2009
Bill of Rights 1689	05/10/2009
Power2010	30/09/2009
Judicial appointments	03/09/2009
Background to Proposals for a British Bill of Rights	03/02/2009
Royal marriages-constitutional issues	02/12/2008
The Coronation Oath	27/08/2008
The Law Officers	16/06/2008
Citizens' Initiatives	01/05/2008
The Central-Local Concordat	30/04/2008
Citizens' Juries	14/12/2007
The Political Process and Citizenship Education	17/08/2006
The Constitutional Reform Act 2005- the role of the Lord Chancellor	14/11/2005
House of Lords Reform - recent developments	21/02/2005
IGC 2004: issues surrounding UK ratification of the European Constitution	10/05/2004
The Draft Single European Currency (Referendum) Bill	08/01/2004
Role of the Lord Chancellor	01/12/2003

Research Papers
09/73	Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill [Bill 142 of 2008-2009]	06/10/2009
09/24	Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill [Bill 29 of 2008-09]	17/03/2009
07/72	The 'Governance of Britain' Green Paper	26/10/2007
05/06	The Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] - a Supreme Court for the United Kingdom and judicial appointments [Bill 18 of 2004-05]	13/01/2005
05/05	The Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] - the office of the Lord Chancellor [Bill 18 of 2004-05]	12/01/2005

CROWN

Act of Settlement and the Protestant Succession	28/01/2010
The Royal Prerogative	30/12/2009
Finances of the Monarchy	30/06/2009
Royal marriages-constitutional issues	02/12/2008
The Coronation Oath	27/08/2008
Honours	08/01/2008
Queen's Speech 2003	04/12/2003
Golden Jubilee 2002	13/01/2003
Lyings in State	12/04/2002

Parliamentary Data
PIL: Queen's Speech - Proposers and Seconders of the Loyal Address since 1900	18/11/2009
PIL: Attempts to Amend Crown Succession	09/04/2009

Research Papers
09/24	Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill [Bill 29 of 2008-09]	17/03/2009

DEVOLUTION

The Commission on Scottish Devolution - "the Calman Commission"	05/02/2010
Northern Ireland- political developments since October 2009	26/01/2010
Regional Accountability at Westminster	20/01/2010
The proposed Welsh language legislative competence order	14/12/2009
Thresholds in Referendums	25/11/2009
Political Developments in Northern Ireland since March 2009	27/10/2009
Political Developments in Northern Ireland since October 2008	23/03/2009
Developments in Northern Ireland Since April 2008	13/10/2008
The West Lothian question	18/07/2008
Parliamentary involvement in public appointments	06/06/2008
The Union Flag and Flags of the United Kingdom	03/06/2008
Political Developments in Northern Ireland Since November 2007	08/04/2008
The new Scottish Government	22/01/2008
Political Developments in Northern Ireland Since March 2007	15/11/2007
The UK devolved legislatures: some comparisons between their powers and work	09/11/2007
Greater London Authority Bill 2006-7- Progress of the Bill	10/10/2007
Devolution at the Centre (Update): January 2007 - August 2007	21/08/2007
The Welsh Assembly elections May 2007: the formation of the Welsh Assembly Government and recent developments in the Assembly	31/07/2007
The Scottish Parliamentary elections May 2007: The formation of the Scottish Executive and the election of a Presiding Officer	20/06/2007
The Arbuthnott report and Scottish elections	21/05/2007
Political Developments in Northern Ireland since February 2007	27/03/2007
Devolution at the Centre: January 2007	12/03/2007
Political Developments in Northern Ireland since June 2006	31/01/2007
Government of Wales Bill 2005: a note on the Bill's progress	28/07/2006
The Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005-06 - Major Amendments	26/07/2006
Political Developments in Northern Ireland since February 2006	12/06/2006
Sinn Fein, Allowances and Access to Commons Facilities	08/03/2006
Political Developments in Northern Ireland - since September 2005	01/02/2006
The "Sewel Convention"	25/11/2005
Concordats and Devolution Guidance Notes	07/10/2005
Political Developments in Northern Ireland since January 2005	22/09/2005
Better Governance for Wales: The White Paper	01/08/2005
Northern Ireland - political developments since November 2003	10/02/2005
The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill [HL] 2004-5	17/01/2005
Building the Scottish Parliament: The Holyrood Project	12/01/2005
Report of the Commission on the Powers and Electoral Arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales	22/04/2004
Devolution in Scotland	06/04/2004
Scottish Seats in the Commons and Number of Seats in the Scottish Parliament	30/05/2003

Parliamentary Data
PIL: Dual Mandate MPs	26/01/2010
PIL: Bills on devolution in Wales	12/06/2008
PIL: Bills on devolution in Scotland	12/06/2008

Parliamentary Data

Territorial coverage: 2008-09

Territorial coverage: 2007-08

Territorial coverage: 2006-07

Territorial coverage: 2005-06

Territorial coverage: 2004-05

Territorial coverage: 2003-04

Territorial coverage: 2002-03

Territorial coverage: 2001-02

Territorial coverage: 2000-01

Territorial Coverage of Westminster Bills: 2000-01 to present

Research Papers
09/18	Northern Ireland Bill [Bill 62 of 2008-09]	02/03/2009
07/32	The Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) (No 2) Bill [Bill 84 of 2006-07]	27/03/2007
07/24	The House of Commons (Participation) Bill [Bill 22 of 2006-07]	06/03/2007
07/17	The Greater London Authority Bill Committee Stage Report	20/02/2007
06/60	The Greater London Authority Bill [Bill 11 of 2006-07]	07/12/2006
06/56	The Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill 2006-07 [Bill 7 of 2006-07]	17/11/2006
06/23	The Northern Ireland Bill [Bill 169 of 2005-06]	21/04/2006
05/90	The Government of Wales Bill 2005 [Bill 100 of 2005-06]	19/12/2005
03/84	An introduction to devolution in the UK	17/11/2003

ELECTIONS

AV and electoral reform	08/02/2010
Dissolution of Parliament	03/02/2010
Responsibilities of Returning Officers	28/01/2010
Timing of Parliamentary election counts	28/01/2010
General election timetables	26/01/2010
In Brief: General election - candidate spending limits	20/01/2010
2010 General Election: new constituencies; seats and swing	19/01/2010
Postal Voting and Electoral Fraud	19/01/2010
Party Election Broadcasts	13/01/2010
Pre-election contacts between civil servants and Opposition parties	13/01/2010
Purdah, or the pre-election period	04/01/2010
Televising leaders' debates	31/12/2009
Armed Forces Voting	16/12/2009
Election expenditure controls	16/12/2009
Referendum on electoral reform	14/12/2009
Speaker's Conferences	01/12/2009
Pre-candidacy election expenditure limits	01/12/2009
Thresholds in Referendums	25/11/2009
By elections since 2005	17/11/2009
Convicted Prisoners and the Franchise	11/11/2009
All-women shortlists	21/10/2009
Recall Elections	20/10/2009
Candidate selection-Primaries	23/09/2009
Progress of the Political Parties and Elections Bill 2008-09	27/07/2009
Reduction in voting age	27/07/2009
Women in Parliament and Government	30/06/2009
Electoral performance of the British National Party in the UK	08/05/2009
Interim reviews of Parliamentary boundaries	31/03/2009
European Parliament Political Groups	26/03/2009
European Parliament Elections: EU and national campaigns	19/03/2009
Candidates' addresses on the ballot paper	16/03/2009
2009 European Parliament Elections: parties, polls and recent developments	29/01/2009
Marginal seats	29/01/2009
2009 European Parliament Elections	27/01/2009
Election publications: printer and publisher details	09/12/2008
3-way marginal seats	05/09/2008
Recess Elections Act 1975	01/09/2008
The Electoral Commission	21/07/2008
Third parties donations and expenditure: regulation by PPERA	16/07/2008
Supply and sale of the electoral register	15/07/2008
Weekend voting	25/06/2008
Progress of the fifth Periodical Review of Parliamentary Constituencies	11/06/2008
Voting systems in the UK	10/03/2008
Electoral Pilot Schemes	04/03/2008
General Election Dates 1832-2005	15/11/2007
Fixed term parliaments	06/11/2007
Compulsory voting	04/10/2007
The Welsh Assembly elections May 2007: the formation of the Welsh Assembly Government and recent developments in the Assembly	31/07/2007
The Arbuthnott report and Scottish elections	21/05/2007
Postal voting: new regulations requiring the provision of personal identifiers	26/04/2007
The Electoral Administration Bill 2005-06 a note on the Bill's progress	12/07/2006
Power to the People: the report of Power, an Independent Inquiry into Britain's Democracy.	14/03/2006
Changing the General Election deposit threshold	18/10/2005
Franchise and immigration status	11/10/2005
Death of a Candidate in a Parliamentary Election	16/05/2005
All-postal voting	30/03/2005
General Election 2005: Swingometer	18/03/2005
Election expense limits	18/03/2005
Electoral register	10/03/2005
Electorates - 2004/05	09/03/2005
Electoral franchise: who can vote?	01/03/2005
Registering to Vote - deadlines	31/01/2005
Disqualification for membership of the House of Commons	13/10/2004
The "Grey" Vote - Social Indicators Page	08/10/2004
Social statistics: Key sources	13/07/2004
The electoral performance of far-right parties in the UK	29/06/2004
Proposals for a referendum on the new European constitution	27/05/2004
The European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill: recent developments	30/03/2004
Secondary Mandate	20/02/2004
The Draft Single European Currency (Referendum) Bill	08/01/2004
Parliamentary Boundary Commissions	21/08/2003
Scottish Seats in the Commons and Number of Seats in the Scottish Parliament	30/05/2003

Parliamentary Data
PIL: All-women Shortlists	02/02/2010
PIL: By-elections since 1959	25/11/2009
PIL: New Parliamentary Constituencies for England	05/11/2009
PIL: New Parliamentary Constituencies for Wales	19/04/2007

Research Papers
09/44	Election timetables	13/05/2009
08/91	Political Parties and Elections Bill: Committee Stage Report	16/12/2008
08/74	The Political Parties and Elections Bill [Bill 141 of 2007-08]	30/09/2008
07/31	Election timetables	22/03/2007
06/14	The Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill [Bill 131 of 2005-06]	06/03/2006
05/65	The Electoral Administration Bill 2005-06 [Bill 50 of 2005-06]	19/10/2005
05/33	General Election 2005	17/05/2005
05/34	By-election results 2001-05	11/05/2005
05/15	The Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL] [Bill 64 of 2004-05]	23/02/2005
05/12	The European Union Bill [Bill 45 of 2004-05]	03/02/2005
04/81	US Presidential and Congressional Election Results 2004	10/11/2004
04/61	UK Election Statistics: 1918-2004	28/07/2004
04/50	European Parliament elections 2004	23/06/2004
04/49	Local elections 2004	23/06/2004
04/48	2004 London elections	18/06/2004
04/38	Election Timetables	05/05/2004

PARLIAMENT

POLITICAL PARTIES