St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-07-26
From the CUngregati"ualist.
The British Constitution.
BY CHARLES FAIRBANKS.


THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The House of Commons, or Lower
House of Parliament. is chosen by the
people. and is known as the Third Es-
tate of the Realm. The representative
system of England, as it now exists.
was settled 10y the Reform Bill passed
i'll IS;}2, chiefly through the persever-
ance of Earl (then Lord john Russell
and the late Lord Gray. The Hous,
consists at present of GJS members. OF
these England and Wales are repre-
scented 10y 5OO; Ireland by lO5: and
Scotland 10y 53. Members are elected
for counties, cities, and horoughs. and
for the Universities of oxford, Cam
bridge and Dublin.
For the qualification of voters it MAY
be briefly stated. that i'll counties all
persons who POSSESS an estate i'll their
own right of the value of forty shlll-
ings. OF who hold one on ii lease of the
| lord of the manor of the value of ten
pounds Il year. are entitled to Vote. In
cities and bOruughs the tenants ofhouSes
and holdings of the clear annual value
of ten pounds, and persons claiming
| (under certain conditions) privileges lis
| freentcn and bHJyesseS. and also IL certain
class of dodgers. are voters. Ireland
and Scotland have each separate
franchise law, varying i'll some respects
from that of England. The degree of
Master of Arts. without Il property
qualification. cOnterS vote in the | nj
versities.
The following are djsqualticationS
No person can vote who
. |. Is an alien, foreigner. OF minor.
,. Has been convicted of perjury.
3. Has been Il public pauper within
the year.
!. Is concerned III managing the
duties of customs or excise. or in col
lecting taxes.
,. Who is employed either in the
Stamp Office or General Post Office, or
is police constable.
Il. Who is Il peer of the realm and
:. Who has been convicted of brib-
cry, treating. OF using undue influence
at an election.
In every county. city and borough ii
register of qualified voters is kept; and
this list is revised every year.
Formerly the members of Parliament
were required to possess a property of
Il certain value; but this qualification
WAS abolished in lS5S.
| The following, however, are disqual-
flied.
/. Aliens and minors.
=. Judges, police magistrates, and
revising barristers.
3. Clergymen Protestant and Ro-
man Catholic. (This does not include
dissenting ministers, who are not rec
ognized in England as Clergyme).
/. Candidates reported guilty of
bribery, or of treating" at an election,
disqualified only for the existing Par
liamcnt.)
). The returning officer of the coun
ty, city, or borough of which he is such
officer.
Il. Persons concerned in the man
agement of taxes. OF holding places of
profit under the Crown.
Z. Pensioners of the Crown. and
:. Army agents, government con-
| tractors. and sheritfs' officers.
| Seven wears is the extreme limit of
any Parliament. 1t is always dissolved
six months after the death of the Soy
ereign, and may he put an end to at
/ any moment by royal command.
For the creation of Il new Parliament,
royal warrant is directed to the Lord
! Chancellor. requiring him to issue writs
for the election of members. a Re
turning Officer is appointed i'll each
representative district for managing the
election i'll counties this office is con-
terred upon-~the Sheriff, and i'll cities
and bor"ughs upon the mayor, bailitf,,
ol some other person. The writs are
despatched to these Returning Officers.
and the election must take place in
boroughs within six days; while twelve
days are allowed in counties. Upon
the day fixed. called the nomination dan.
a covered platform called the hastings.
is erected in Il public street or square
in the principal town, upon which
(plattorm) the candidates with their
friends assemble. The candidates are
nominated by one supporter, and sec
onded by another. They then-that is,
the candidates of both opposing parties
in turn address the multitude of cleo
tors, setting forth their political faith,
and their claims to represent them.
The Returning Officer then calls for "a
show of hands," and declares which
candidate has the greatest number of
supporters; if both candidates accept