The General Election!

Have you noticed? There’s a general election

coming up! This is when everyone votes to decide
who they want to be in charge of the country.
Read on to find out how voting works and what
happens in the Houses of Parliament…
You
Our country is a democracy,
which means everyone who lives Start! The
UK is divided up
should
totes vote Shortly
Politicians will
here gets a say in how the place is into 650 different areas, for me! appear all over the before the election,
run. You can do this by voting in a general known as constituencies. The media around this time. every registered voter
election, which happens every five people who live in a constituency Usually, the leaders of the will get a polling card
years. To be able to vote, you (called constituents) vote for a Member main political parties may through the post, telling
have to be 18 years old (sorry, of Parliament – or MP – to represent them take part in televised debates them where their nearest
kids!) and be a UK citizen, or at Parliament, where the laws of this (which can get pretty shouty!), polling station is. This is the
country are made. Most MPs belong and often appear on TV place where voting happens
a Commonwealth citizen to a political party, and each party has – it could be in a sports
who is living in the UK. urging viewers to vote
different ideas about the best way to run ‘Your for their party’s centre, village hall or
Most importantly, things. Because the party with the most even your school!
policies candidates. ‘Oh do
you have to register MPs usually gets to form the next are pipe down,
to vote. So how does government, by voting you don’t pants!’ Barry!’
voting work? Go to just elect your MP – you also
‘Start’ to find out… have your say about which In the run
party you want up to the election, This year, on
Look up in charge. candidates try to r, 12 December, it’ll be
bea ty
any orange encourage local people dy
Ted ma Pa
r ELECTION DAY! Voters head
to vote for them, so they a ge,
words in the Pyj pon to their polling station between
r ia S Party
glossary! can get a seat in Parliament. o
Vict e cake , 7am and 10pm. It’s open from dawn
Political parties also publish i ha
t ley
res rty to dusk so everyone has time to go. There,
i s P es! Pa
manifestos – big lists v
El s Liv
i et, they have their name crossed off a list
detailing what they plan Elv lan
t a in P y to make sure they only vote once (very
to do if they’re voted Cap h Part
ALL 650 elected Ear
t bit, rty important!), and they’ll be given a ballot
into power. Rib
g er rog pa paper – a list of all the candidates in
MPs meet up in the R o
ndly
f
Houses of Parliament, Big Ben is Frie their area, and the party they belong
There are over NOT the name to. Voters put a cross next to the
a grand old palace next to 1,000 rooms,
the River Thames in London. of the clock – name of the candidate
100 staircases it’s the name they want to elect.
Here, they decide on laws, make and nearly 5km
decisions that affect our country, of its biggest If a voter
of corridors bell! can’t make it
question the Cabinet ministers inside!
and debate the issues of the on the day, they
day. They also make sure the can organise
government is running another way
the country properly! to vote in
Although
she is our Head HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT! Next, voters
push their ballot
advance.
of State, the Queen paper into the ballot
doesn’t have any real As the night goes box. You don’t have to tell
political power. Her role is
POLITICS GLOSSARY!
Illustrations: Marek Jagucki. With thanks to Leo Trinick and Geoff Stow.

on, the winning MPs in each anyone who you voted for
mainly ceremonial, constituency are revealed. Results – it’s secret and anonymous.
but she does have a chat are shown live on the news and internet. This is so that people cannot Candidates – People who want to win an election
with the Prime Minister Eventually all the votes will be counted (this be judged on who they voted Coalition – When two or more political parties work together
every week, so she’s could take many hours). The political party that for, or be pressured into Debates – Formal discussions about a particular issue, where
kept up to date! wins the most MPs will usually form voting for someone all sides get the chance to speak
the government. However, if one party they don’t really Government – The government runs the country. It is usually
support. formed by the political party that has the most MPs elected at
doesn’t fill more than half
Whichever a general election. The government is made up of different
of the seats in Parliament
party is voted into departments run by ministers, selected by the Prime Minister.
with their MPs (at least 326
power at the election on Member of Parliament (MP) – Someone who represents their
out of 650), then it is called a constituency (local area) in Parliament
12 December, their leader
hung Parliament. This is what Once the Political party – A group who share ideas and beliefs about
will be invited by the Queen to
happened in the 2010 general polling stations are the way the country should be run.
become Prime Minister and form
election, so the Conservative closed, the ballots are Policies – Plans or proposed actions
the government. After moving to
Party joined up with the Liberal counted through the night
10 Downing Street, the PM’s first job
Democratic party to form to find out which candidate
The Prime is to pick MPs from their party to be
a coalition, to govern the has come out on top in
Minister the Cabinet ministers who will be
country together. This each area. The winners will
is chosen by their in charge of different decision-
time around, no one represent their constituents
party, NOT by the making departments, such as Turn over to test your parents’
knows what’s going at Parliament. This voting
public. This is different education, transport and (and your own!) knowledge…
to happen! system is called first
to the USA, where the environment.
past the post.
the public vote for
President.