The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-04-03
THE BRITISH PARLIAlHNT
How the Members Of the House Of Com.
mons are Chosen.

mons are Chosen.
The House of Commons consists of
six hundred and fifty-two members. OF
these, four hundred and eighty seven
represent England and Wales, sixty
Scotland, and one hundred and five Ire
land.
The constituencies are of three kinds
-boroughs, (Which comprise the cities,
as well as most of the large and some
small towns) universities and counties.
The boroughs are represented by three
hundred and sixty members, the coun:
ties by two hundred and eighty three
members, and the universities by nine
members.
A House Of Commons, unless sooner
dissolved, lasts for a period of seven
years. But the Cabinet can at any time,
by SO advising the Queen, cause dis
solution of the House, and a new
general election. As matter of fact,
the House rarely lives longer than four
or five years.
Every householder or lodger in an
English borough can vote for members
of the House. But in the counties no
man can thus vote, unless he pays an
annual poor rate tax of the value of
twelve pounds, or sixty dollars.
A candidate for the House need not
be a resident of the constituency which
he seeks to represent. Any Englishman
can contest any district in Great Britain
no matter where he lives.
Until recently, candidates for Parlia-
ment were not nominated" at all.
they presented themselves, or were
urged by their friends to come forward !.
or they were recommended by one of
the London political clubs. But few
years ago form of the American eau
Gus system crept into some of the large
English boroughs, and is extending.
When a general election of House
of Commons takes place, the voting
continues daily in different parts of the
Kingdom for about two weeks. It is
not, as with us, all done on the same
day. The election officers of each coun-
ty and borough appoint day for that
special locality.
All the voting is done, as with US, by
secret ballot; but the ballot, in England,
is more carefully guarded, as to safety
and secrecy. than it is in the United
| States.
The English ballot is furnished by
the election officers, and has the names
of all the candidates printed in alpha
betical order. The voter makes q cross
against the name of the person for
whom he wishes to VOTE
Each ballot has number stamped on
the back, and attached to the ballet is a
| "counterfoil, which is what we call q
stub" or coupon" which bears the
same number.
AT the time of voting" says the law,
the ballot paper shall be marked on
both sides with an official mark, and de-
| livered to the voter within the polling
place; and the number of such voter
shall be marked on the counterfoil; and
the voter having secretly marked his
vote on the paper, shall place it in q
closed box in the presence of the officer,
after having shown to him the official
mark at the back"
The only qualification in England for
| a member of Parliament is, that he shall
be twenty one years of age. A natur-
allied foreigner could formerly only be
admitted to q seat in the house bv vir-
tue of q special act of Parliament, but
since 1870 the restriction is removed.
But certain officials and classes are
excluded from the house of commons.
Judges ;clergymen of the English, Scotch
and Roman Catholic churches; govern.
ment contractors, sheriffs, and election
officers for the localities for which they
act, are disqualified from being mem
bers.
No English or Scotch peer can be q
member; but Irish peers are qualified
to sit in the house of Commons
Youths Companion.