Parliament and elections Archives

Research Briefing

The establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Thursday, 10 June, 2010

This note briefly describes the background to the decision to create the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and a Commissioner for Parliamentary Investigations. It then outlines the functions given to IPSA and to the Commissioner for Parliamentary Investigations by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009. It also sets out the steps taken in establishing IPSA, including the appointment of the Speaker's Committee and the Chair of IPSA, Sir Ian Kennedy.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

The Commission on Scottish Devolution – “the Calman Commission”

Friday, 04 June, 2010

This note gives some the background on the Commission on Scottish Devolution, chaired by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman.
- Research Briefing
- Devolution
Research Briefing

Fixed term parliaments- early dissolution arrangements

Wednesday, 02 June, 2010

This Note is intended to be a companion to Library Standard Note 831 Fixed Term Parliaments. It explains how fixed term parliaments operate in a number of other advanced democracies, both parliamentary and presidential.
Research Briefing

Coalition statistics

Tuesday, 25 May, 2010

Following the May 2010 elections, the UK has a coalition government for the first time in decades. This note shows that coalitions are an established form of government in western Europe and the UK.
Research Briefing

Women in Parliament and public service

Tuesday, 25 May, 2010

Women make up 51% of the population of the UK, but only 22% of MPs are women. This note looks at women in Parliament, Government and other areas of public life.
Research Briefing

Public conveniences

Thursday, 13 May, 2010

This note sets out the law relating to the provision of public conveniences and the powers of local authorities.
Research Briefing

Proposals for an e-petitions system for the House of Commons

Wednesday, 12 May, 2010

In April 2008 the House of Commons Procedure Committee published a report on e-Petitions. This note looks at the benefits and risks that the Procedure Committee identified in their report, and sets out some information about e-petitions systems in Queensland, Australia, the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. It also includes information about the No. 10 Downing Street e-petitions system, introduced in November 2006.
Research Briefing

Regulation of tattooing and body piercing businesses

Wednesday, 12 May, 2010

This note summarises the law under which tattooing and body piercing business are licensed and regulated
Research Briefing

House of Lords Reform: the 2008 White Paper and developments to April 2010

Tuesday, 11 May, 2010

This note sets out a brief history of reform of the House of Lords before summarising the proposals made in the 2008 White Paper and the measures on Lords reform included in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill 2008-09 introduced in the Commons in July 2009.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

House of Lords reform: proposals to end the by-elections for the hereditary peers

Tuesday, 11 May, 2010

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill 2008-09 introduced in July 2009 included a clause which would end the process of by-elections to fill the vacancies for hereditary peers. This would allow the number of hereditary peers in the Lords to reduce over time to zero. This note sets out the Government's proposals and some background information on the House of Lords Act 1999.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

Members 1979-2010

Wednesday, 28 April, 2010

This paper provides a complete list of all Members who have served in the House of Commons from the General Election of 1979 to the dissolution of Parliament on 12 April 2010. It also provides basic biographical and parliamentary data. The paper is based on data collated from published sources by the House of Commons Library and Information Office. It replaces an earlier version, Research Paper 09/31.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

Timing of Parliamentary election counts

Friday, 23 April, 2010

There has been speculation in the press about the timing of counts at the general election. This note looks at the statutory requirements concerning the count and summarises recent reports suggesting that the count will be moved from Thursday night to Friday in certain areas.
Research Briefing

Remaining stages of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill 2009-10

Wednesday, 14 April, 2010

This Note outlines the changes made to the Bill during report stage and third reading in the House of Commons, seconf reading in the Lords and during wash up.
Research Briefing

Pre-legislative scrutiny

Friday, 09 April, 2010

Note: Appendix 2 was last updated on 9 February 2011 This note provides a brief background to the introduction of pre-legislative scrutiny and the establishment of the Committee Office Scrutiny Unit. It then sets out the procedures followed in allocating draft bills to committees and by the committees in examining draft bills. Details of draft bills announced since the 2010 general election can be found in the Library Standard Note SN/PC/5859, Pre-legislative scrutiny under the Coalition Government.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

Regulation of standards of conduct in the House of Lords

Wednesday, 07 April, 2010

This Note sets out the new procedures to be used in the House of Lords to investigate allegations of misconduct against peers, which replace the system in operation since 2002. The changes are based on the report of the (Eames) Leader's Group which recommended reforms to the Code of Conduct and the appointment of an independent House of Lords Commissioner for Standards.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament

Total results (page 139 of 162)