How politics works

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Members of Parliament (MPs)

A person pointing to themself in front of a map of the UK

An MP is an ordinary person who has decided that they want to become a politician and help to run the country by working in Parliament.

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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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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Parliament

Parliament is made up of groups of people who run the country.

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Different coloured pawns and a local map

Their job is to represent the people who live in a certain area (called a constituency). They have a say on their behalf in how the country is run.

Represent

This means doing something on behalf of someone else.

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Constituency

An area represented by a Member of Parliament.

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A man with different rosettes in the background pointing to himself

Most people can decide to try and become an MP if they want to. They can join a political party or decide to be an independent politician.

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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Political party

This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.

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Independent politician

This is a politician who is not a member of a political party.

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People wearing different coloured rosettes

Most MPs belong to a political party. A political party is a group of people who have similar ideas and wishes. Anyone can join a political party and they can let people in the party know they want to become an MP.

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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Political party

This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.

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Political party

This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.

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Political party

This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.

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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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Purple pawns with one wearing a rosette

The other members of that political party will decide who they want to be their candidate MP to stand for election.

Political party

This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.

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Candidate

A person who wants to represent the people in their area by becoming a politician. They want people in their area to vote for them at an election.

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Election

The time when you get to choose a politician to represent you.

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Different coloured rosettes with a man pointing to himself

Not all people who want to be an MP have to belong to a political party. People who do not belong to a political party are called independent.

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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Political party

This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.

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Political party

This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.

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Independent

Not a member of any political party.

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A ballot paper

MPs are chosen by ordinary people during a By-Election or General Election.

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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By-election

An election that takes places when an MP leaves their job or dies.

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General election

This is the time when people choose Members of Parliament and the Government to help run the country.

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Different coloured pawns in front of a local map

A By-Election happens if an MP dies or leaves their job. The people in the area that the MP used to work in will then get to choose a new person to represent them in Parliament.

By-election

An election that takes places when an MP leaves their job or dies.

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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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Parliament

Parliament is made up of groups of people who run the country.

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A calendar with the words "5 years"

In this country there is a General Election to elect a new government at least every 5 years. The Prime Minister can decide to hold one earlier than this.

General election

This is the time when people choose Members of Parliament and the Government to help run the country.

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Government

The name for the group of people who are elected to help run the country.

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Prime Minister

The leader of the Government.

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A ballot box with a map of the UK

A General Election is when people around the whole country get to vote.

General election

This is the time when people choose Members of Parliament and the Government to help run the country.

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Vote

Choosing someone in an election, or choosing an answer to a question.

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Different coloured pawns in front of a ballot box

Everyone who can vote chooses the person, or candidate, they want to be their MP, and then they vote for them on that day.

Vote

Choosing someone in an election, or choosing an answer to a question.

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Candidate

A person who wants to represent the people in their area by becoming a politician. They want people in their area to vote for them at an election.

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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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A person in front of a local map

The candidate with the most votes becomes the MP for that constituency, or area.

Vote

Choosing someone in an election, or choosing an answer to a question.

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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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Constituency

An area represented by a Member of Parliament.

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A woman outside parliament with a clipboard and some ticks on it

When a person becomes an MP they start work as a representative in Parliament for everyone who lives in their area. This includes the people who voted for someone else, or who did not vote at all.

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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Representatives

People who act on others' behalf.

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Parliament

Parliament is made up of groups of people who run the country.

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Vote

Choosing someone in an election, or choosing an answer to a question.

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The Palace of Westminster

All MPs work in the Palace of Westminster, which is in London. This is where Parliament is based.

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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Parliament

Parliament is made up of groups of people who run the country.

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A woman wearing a rosette in front of a local map

They also work in the area they represent, called their constituency.

Represent

This means doing something on behalf of someone else.

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Constituency

An area represented by a Member of Parliament.

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Two people smiling, sitting at a desk

At Westminster they get together in the House of Commons. This is where they ask questions, make speeches and vote on policy.

House of Commons

This is where MPs meet and work, where they make speeches, ask questions and make decisions for the whole country.

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Policy

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

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A hand holding lots of money

MPs get paid to represent the people in their area. There is no job description for MPs, although there is a Code of Conduct, which is like rules, and this tells MPs how they should behave.

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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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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Code of conduct

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

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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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One person writing something down for another person

MPs can help you in different ways. They can ask questions about things that may affect you and they can talk about them in Parliament.

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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Parliament

Parliament is made up of groups of people who run the country.

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A group of people around a desk

Sometimes they work in groups or on committees which are set up to find out about important things and make recommendations to Parliament.

Parliament

Parliament is made up of groups of people who run the country.

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A man on the telephone

You have the right to contact your MP to discuss things that affect you.

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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A man with a letter by a post box

Your MP must have public contact details so that you and other people who live in their area can get in touch with them.

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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Two people talking

Your MP could help you by finding out more about your concern, or talking about it in the House of Commons to get the attention of the newspapers and the public.

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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House of Commons

This is where MPs meet and work, where they make speeches, ask questions and make decisions for the whole country.

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Two people talking and looking at a document

An MP will not always be able to help someone in their constituency. They have a lot of people in their area and a lot of responsibilities.

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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Constituency

An area represented by a Member of Parliament.

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A woman on the telephone smiling

You can find out about what your MP has been doing, what they have said in Parliament, and how they may have voted in the House of Commons.

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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Parliament

Parliament is made up of groups of people who run the country.

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Vote

Choosing someone in an election, or choosing an answer to a question.

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House of Commons

This is where MPs meet and work, where they make speeches, ask questions and make decisions for the whole country.

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A weblink

You can do this by visiting the website http://www.parliament.uk (This website will open in a new window.)

A question mark

Do you know who your MP is?

To find out who your MP is and to find out more about MPs you can visit the website
http://www.parliament.uk(This website will open in a new window.)

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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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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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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A telephone

You can find out who your MP is by phoning the House of Commons Information Line on 020 7219 4272

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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A letter

You can write to your MP at

House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

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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