Independent study & practice
Government Numbers
9 questions · Keep institutions and their numbers together. Study the notes, then practise without the clock.
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Study notes: make the connections
Keep institutions and their numbers together
The Commons has 650 seats and the Scottish Parliament 129. The Northern Ireland Assembly has 90 seats; 108 is an outdated figure. Criminal juries also differ between Scotland and England and Wales.
Wales is a special revision caution: the older handbook says 60 Senedd members, but the Senedd increased to 96 in May 2026. We explain the change here and exclude the disputed current-number question from mocks. Check the latest official handbook impression.
| Knowledge check | Fact to remember |
|---|---|
| How many parliamentary constituencies return MPs to the House of Commons? | There are 650 Commons seats, one for each constituency. |
| How many MSPs make up the Scottish Parliament? | The Scottish Parliament has 129 members. |
| How many MLAs are in the Northern Ireland Assembly? | The Assembly has had 90 seats since 2017; the older figure of 108 is superseded. |
| How many people serve on a criminal jury in England and Wales? | A criminal jury in England and Wales normally has 12 members. |
| How many people serve on a Scottish criminal jury as described in the handbook? | The handbook describes Scottish criminal juries with 15 members. |
| How many permanent members are there on the UN Security Council? | The UK is one of five permanent members of the Security Council. |
| How many total members sit on the UN Security Council? | The Security Council has 15 seats, including five permanent members. |
| What is the traditional official London address of the Prime Minister? | The Prime Minister’s official home is 10 Downing Street. |
| Which country residence is available to the Prime Minister? | Chequers is the Prime Minister’s country residence. |
Handbook reference: Chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role — The British constitution; Chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role — The government; Chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role — Respecting the law; Chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role — The UK and international institutions. These are original revision notes, not a reproduction of the handbook.
Three quick study checks
How many parliamentary constituencies return MPs to the House of Commons?
650
There are 650 Commons seats, one for each constituency.
How many MSPs make up the Scottish Parliament?
129
The Scottish Parliament has 129 members.
How many MLAs are in the Northern Ireland Assembly?
90
The Assembly has had 90 seats since 2017; the older figure of 108 is superseded.