178 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

organisations in tracing these removals and providing cars to
bring them to the poll.

In University constituencies officials of the University itself
compile the list* The usual qualification is the holding of a
degree from the University concerned, though sometimes other
formalities are required. So a person may possess a residence,
business, and University qualification for voting: but at an
Election no one may give two votes in the same constituency,
nor more than two votes in all.

All who are qualified to vote are also qualified to stand and
be elected, except clergymen of the Established Churches of
England and Scotland, and of the Roman Catholic Church, and
persons holding a salaried office from the Crown, though this
does not, of course, apply to Members of the Government,
The Sheriffs and Mayors who, in Counties and Boroughs
respectively, act as Returning Officers in charge of the election,,
cannot vote unless there is a tie between two candidates, when
the Returning Officer's casting vote decides the issue.

CRITICISMS OF PRESENT LAW.

The rights of voting and standing are thus so widely extended
that the system seems certain to produce a House representative
of the people's will. It is criticised, however, from four points
of view.

(i) It does not give complete equality to all voters. The
business qualification gives some advantage to wealth, and the
allocation of two Members to the City of London, with an
electorate of about 40,000, has the same effect. There is some
force in these objections since it is no longer a principle of British'
Government that property owners should have exceptional
voting power, and the business qualification is a relic of the days
when property was a necessary qualification for all voters.
But since the total effect on the result of an election is not very
great, the question is not of first-class importance. The extra,
vote in University constituencies is inore vigorously attacked.