(I) To understand the British system of government it is essential to appreciate the importance of the party system. (II) Naturally, parties exist to form governments, and in Britain the path to this goal lies in the House of Commons, for the party which obtains a majority of seats has the right to form the government. (III) Since the 17th century, two parties have usually been predominant in British politics. (IV) Until the 1920s these were the Tories (the Conservatives) and the Whigs (the Liberals), and since the 1930s the Conservatives and the Labour. (V) So far many reforms have been introduced to improve the local election system.