How politics works

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Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)

The European Union flag

England is part of the United Kingdom (UK), and the UK is part of a large group of countries called the European Union.

European Union

A group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws. 

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A map of the world with Europe highlighted

The European Union is a group of 27 countries, who have joined together to form one big group. This group decides together which policies, laws and rules will be used by all the countries that join the European Union.

European Union

A group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws. 

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Policy

This is a plan of action about how to do something.

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Laws

Laws are rules that tell people what they should and should not do.

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Rules

Tell us what we should or should not do.

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European Union

A group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws. 

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Trade, Fishing and Environment documents

Policies and laws can be about things like human rights, the environment, farming, fishing and trade.

Policy

This is a plan of action about how to do something.

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European Parliament

The European Parliament was set up to help run this group. They work and meet in Strasbourg, which is in France and also in Brussels, which is in Belgium.

European Parliament

One of the groups who make decisions in the European Union.

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Some people sitting around a desk

The European Parliament votes on policies and laws with 2 other groups of people, called the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.

European Parliament

One of the groups who make decisions in the European Union.

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Policy

This is a plan of action about how to do something.

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Laws

Laws are rules that tell people what they should and should not do.

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Council of Ministers

One of the groups who make decisions in the European Union.

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Council of the European Union

One of the groups who make decisions in the European Union.

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European Commission

One of the groups who make decisions in the European Union.

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A man holding his passport

Each country in the European Union sends a number of politicians to meet and work in Brussels and Strasbourg, and these politicians are called Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

European Union

A group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws. 

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Politician

Politicians are ordinary people who decide they want to help run the country. They become politicians by winning an election.

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Politician

Politicians are ordinary people who decide they want to help run the country. They become politicians by winning an election.

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MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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A hand putting a ballot paper into a ballot box

The European Parliament has a President who is voted in by all the MEPs.

European Parliament

One of the groups who make decisions in the European Union.

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President

A Head of State who is usually elected by the people of that country.

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MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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A calendar with "5 years"

There are elections to choose MEPs every five years and there are about 736 MEPs in total.

MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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People wearing rosettes

England has about 59 MEPs, and there are more from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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Different coloured pawns wearing rosettes in front of a European Union flag

MEPs have a similar job to MPs which is to represent the people in the area they were elected to work in. They work in groups called committees, to help make decisions about rules and policies.

MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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MP

Your MP is a politician who represents you when it comes to making decisions about things that affect the whole country.

You can vote to choose your MP at a General Election.

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Represent

This means doing something on behalf of someone else.

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Elected

When someone gets the most votes in an election.

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Policy

This is a plan of action about how to do something.

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People holding banners with rights written on them

These policies can be about things like security, farming, trade, travel, fishing, the environment and working.

Trade

Buying, selling or swapping things.

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A train with open doors

MEPs have to do a lot of traveling in their job because they spend a lot of time in another country. You can still contact them. They will respond to letters and emails and you can arrange to meet them.

MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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A question mark

Do you know who your MEP is?

To find out you can go to the website www.europarl.org.uk (This website will open in a new window.)

MEP

MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.

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A telephone

You can phone the UK Office of the European Parliament on 020 7227 4300

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