PREFACE This monograph is the result of the extension of a Master's thesis which was submitted to the Department of Political Science of the University of Wisconsin on 1925. The present work is divided into three parts. The first four chapters which deal with the legal procedure of Parliamentary elections in England embody the corresponding part of the original essay with some changes. The next four chapters which describe the working of the electoral system are entirely new additions and they were written after the author had spent one year in England in personal investigations. The last three chapters which treat the corrupt and illegal practices and the election petitions are the result of reconstruction from that part of the old dissertation which covers the same ground. For the first part of this book, the writer depends chiefly upon Statutes and Orders for his source materials. At the same time, he acknowledges that he has made an extensive use of works in the same field by such authorities as Sir Huch Fraser and Mr. F. R. Parker. For the second and the third parts, the writer wishes to confess that the observations upon which he has based his discussions and conclusions were limited to a few by-elections. An opportunity to watch some general elections may modify his present opinion somewhat. He hopes that in the future he will be able to avail himself of such a privilege to complete this interesting study. Thanks of the author are due to Professor Frederic A. Ogg, Chairman of the Department of Political Science in the University of Wisconsin, under whose guidance the Master's thesis was written; to Professor Harold J. Laski, Professor of Political Science in the University of London, through whose good effort the writer was able to make connections with different party organizations in England to conduct his personal investigations; |