Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Acting Returning Officer
Abbreviation: ARO
The official who runs a UK parliamentary election in a constituency.
All-Party Parliamentary Group
Abbreviation: APPG
An informal cross-party group of MPs and peers with no official status within Parliament.
Ballot Paper
The paper on which a voter marks their choice in an election.
Boundary Commission
An independent body involved in reviewing parliamentary constituency boundaries.
Boundary Review
A review of parliamentary constituency boundaries.
By-election
An election held to fill a seat that becomes vacant between general elections.
Candidate
A person standing for election to public office.
Chamber
A formal debating space in Parliament, such as the House of Commons chamber or the House of Lords chamber.
Chiltern Hundreds
A Crown office used as a formal device allowing an MP to leave the House of Commons.
Clerk of the Crown
The official involved in issuing election writs for parliamentary elections.
Constituency
A geographical area represented by an elected representative, such as an MP.
Consultancy
Advisory or professional work provided to another organisation, often for payment.
Count
The process of counting ballot papers after polling closes.
Declaration
The formal announcement of an election result.
Declaration of Interests
A statement by an MP about a relevant interest when taking part in parliamentary proceedings or communications.
Deposit
A sum of money a parliamentary candidate must pay when standing for election.
Dissolution of Parliament
The formal end of a Parliament before a general election.
Donations and Other Support
Financial or material support received by an MP for activities as a Member of Parliament.
E-petition
An online petition submitted through the UK Government and Parliament petitions website.
Election Agent
The person legally responsible for managing a candidate’s election campaign finances and administration.
Electoral Commission
Abbreviation: Electoral Commission
The independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance in the UK.
Electoral Register
The official list of people registered to vote in an area.
Electoral Registration Officer
Abbreviation: ERO
The official responsible for maintaining the electoral register in a local area.
Family Members Employed
A register category covering certain family members employed and paid through parliamentary expenses.
Family Members Engaged in Lobbying
A register category covering certain family members whose work involves lobbying.
First Past the Post
Abbreviation: FPTP
An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
General Election
An election in which voters choose MPs for all House of Commons constituencies.
Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality
A category of MPs’ financial interests covering gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources.
House of Commons
Abbreviation: Commons
The elected chamber of the UK Parliament, made up of Members of Parliament.
House of Commons Code of Conduct
The rules setting expected standards of conduct for MPs in their public role.
House of Lords
Abbreviation: Lords
The unelected second chamber of the UK Parliament, which scrutinises bills and government policy.
Independent Candidate
A candidate standing for election without a registered political party label.
Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme
Abbreviation: ICGS
Parliament’s independent mechanism for complaints about bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct.
Independent Expert Panel
Abbreviation: IEP
The independent panel that determines appeals and sanctions in certain cases involving MPs.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Abbreviation: IPSA
The independent body that regulates and administers MPs’ business costs and decides MPs’ pay and pensions.
King’s Speech
The speech at the State Opening of Parliament setting out the government’s planned legislative programme.
Land and Property Interests
A category of MPs’ financial interests covering certain land and property holdings or income.
Lobbying for Reward or Consideration
The Commons rules restricting MPs from using parliamentary activity to benefit outside interests that reward them.
Main Chamber
The principal debating chamber of either House of Parliament.
Majority
The difference between the winning side and the next closest side in an election or vote.
Manor of Northstead
A Crown office used as a formal device allowing an MP to leave the House of Commons.
Member of Parliament
Abbreviation: MP
An elected representative who sits in the House of Commons.
Members’ Financial Interests
Financial interests or benefits held by an MP that may need to be registered or declared.
Motion for a New Writ
A Commons motion used to start the formal process for filling a vacant parliamentary seat.
MPs’ Business Costs
The costs funded through IPSA to support MPs in carrying out parliamentary functions.
Nomination Paper
A formal document used to nominate a candidate for election.
Northern Ireland Assembly
The devolved legislature for Northern Ireland.
Notice of Election
A formal notice published by the returning officer to start the local election timetable.
Order in Council
A type of legal instrument formally made through the Privy Council.
Outside Employment
Paid work or roles held by an MP outside their parliamentary duties.
Paid Advocacy
A broad term for using a public position to promote an outside interest in return for payment or reward.
Paid Parliamentary Advice
A prohibited arrangement where an MP provides paid advice on parliamentary strategy, procedure or influence.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Abbreviation: PCS
The independent House of Commons officer responsible for monitoring the Code of Conduct and registers.
Parliamentary Constituency
Abbreviation: Constituency
A geographical area represented by one MP in the House of Commons.
Party Breakdown
A summary showing how recorded votes are distributed between political parties.
Peer
A member of the House of Lords.
Petition
A formal request asking Parliament or one of its Houses to take action or consider an issue.
Petition Debate
A Westminster Hall debate on issues raised by one or more petitions.
Petitioner
A person or body that submits a petition to Parliament.
Petitions Committee
A Commons committee that considers e-petitions and public petitions.
Poll Card
A card sent to a registered voter with information about where and when to vote.
Polling Day
The day on which voters cast their votes in an election.
Polling Place
The building or location where one or more polling stations are situated.
Polling Station
A place where voters go to cast their vote in person.
Postal Vote
A vote cast by post instead of in person at a polling station.
Prime Minister
Abbreviation: PM
The head of the UK Government.
Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Abbreviation: No. 10
The office supporting the Prime Minister and issuing official statements from 10 Downing Street.
Privy Council
A formal body that advises the monarch and handles certain constitutional and legal functions.
Prorogation
The formal end of a parliamentary session.
Proxy Vote
A voting arrangement where someone votes on behalf of another registered voter.
Public Petition
A paper petition presented to the House of Commons by an MP.
Recall of MPs Act 2015
The Act setting out when a recall petition can be opened for an MP.
Recall Petition
A process that can lead to an MP losing their seat and a by-election being held.
Rectification
A process used to resolve less serious breaches of the Commons standards rules.
Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups
The authoritative list of All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
Register of Members’ Financial Interests
The public register showing MPs’ relevant financial interests and benefits.
Registered Political Party
A political party registered to use a party name or description on ballot papers.
Registered Voter
A person whose name appears on the electoral register and who can vote if they meet the relevant rules.
Registrable Interest
An interest that an MP is required to place in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
Relevant Interest
An interest that might reasonably be thought to influence an MP’s actions or words.
Returning Officer
Abbreviation: RO
The official responsible for running an election in a local area.
Royal Prerogative
Executive powers that historically belong to the Crown and are now usually exercised by ministers.
Scottish Parliament
The devolved legislature for Scotland.
Second Job
A public-facing term for paid work an MP does outside their parliamentary role.
Senedd Cymru
Abbreviation: Senedd
The devolved legislature for Wales.
Shareholdings
A category of MPs’ financial interests covering certain company shares or securities.
Speaker of the House of Commons
Abbreviation: Speaker
The MP elected by the House of Commons to chair debates and maintain order.
Speaker’s Warrant
The formal instruction from the Speaker that leads to a new writ for a Commons by-election.
Standards Investigation
An inquiry into whether an MP may have breached the House of Commons Code of Conduct or related rules.
Suspension from the House
A sanction preventing an MP from sitting in the House for a specified period.
Turnout
The proportion of eligible or registered voters who vote in an election.
UK Parliament
The institution made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Crown.
Visits Outside the UK
A category of MPs’ financial interests covering certain overseas visits funded by others.
Voter ID
The requirement to show accepted photo identification when voting in person in some UK elections.
Votes Cast
The total number of recorded votes on all sides of a division or election result.
Westminster Hall Debate
A Commons debate held away from the main chamber, usually on a general motion without a vote.
Writ
A formal legal document used to authorise an election or other official action.
Writ of Election
The formal document that authorises an election to fill a seat in the House of Commons.