Life in the UK Test Practice

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🗳️ Elections & Voting Cheat Sheet

The exact numbers and process facts examiners love to test: first past the post, voting age, standing for election, and Commons vs Lords.

18
Minimum voting age
Lowered from 21 in 1969
5 years
Max between elections
Was 3, then 7, now 5
7am–10pm
Polling station hours
On election day
1928
Fully democratic voting
Franchise extended to all over 21
1969
Voting age lowered
From 21 down to 18
18+
Minimum age to stand as MP
Same as most other public office

House of Commons vs House of Lords

🏛️ House of Commons
  • Members (MPs) are democratically elected by voters in a constituency, using first past the post.
  • The more important chamber: the Prime Minister and almost all cabinet members are MPs.
  • Can overrule the House of Lords, though this power is not used often.
👑 House of Lords
  • Peers are not elected and do not represent a constituency.
  • Since 1958, the PM can nominate 'life peers'; since 1999 hereditary peers lost the automatic right to sit, and they now elect a few to represent them.
  • More independent of government: suggests amendments, proposes new laws, checks Commons legislation, and holds government to account.

Process Facts

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