Parliament is based in the Palace of Westminster, which is in London, and is the place where important decisions are made about running the whole country.
How politics works
Parliament
Palace of Westminster
This is where Parliament is based in London, and is the place where important decisions are made about running the whole country.
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The Palace of Westminster is a famous building and the most famous part is the clock tower. The clock tower has a large bell in it which is called 'Big Ben'.
Palace of Westminster
This is where Parliament is based in London, and is the place where important decisions are made about running the whole country.
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Parliament is made up of three different groups of people.
The Monarchy
The first group is called the Monarchy.
The Monarchy is made up of our Royal family. This means that our Head of State is a Queen, or King.
Head of State
This is the person who is the head of the country, for example a Queen or a President.
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At the moment we have a Queen and she represents the whole country at official events.
The Queen has the job in Parliament of agreeing when an election will be held.
She will also ask the political party that wins the general election to form a government.
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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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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She opens Parliament in a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster and makes an important speech. She also agrees to any new laws made by Parliament.
Palace of Westminster
This is where Parliament is based in London, and is the place where important decisions are made about running the whole country.
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It is not possible for anyone to become the Queen or King. The Queen or King must be part of the Royal family.
When one queen or king dies or stops being Head of State, a person in their family takes over. This is usually one of their children. These children are called a prince if they are male or a princess if they are female.
Head of State
This is the person who is the head of the country, for example a Queen or a President.
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The House of Commons
Another part of Parliament is the House of Commons. The House of Commons is not actually a house, but a big room in the Palace of Westminster where Members of Parliament | (MPs) meet to make important decisions that can affect the whole country.
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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Palace of Westminster
This is where Parliament is based in London, and is the place where important decisions are made about running the whole 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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MPs are ordinary people who are chosen by the general public. You can help to choose an MP by voting for them in a 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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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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General election
This is the time when people choose Members of Parliament and the Government to help run the country.
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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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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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Laws are the rules that tell everyone in the country what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do.
Illegal
This is something that the law says you should not do. If you do something illegal you can get into trouble with the police.
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Tax
Money that people have to give to the Government. The Government use this money to run the country.
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Some MPs in the House of Commons are in the Government. They have more power than other MPs. For example they decide how to spend the money that the country has. This means deciding how much to spend in different areas of life, such as how much to spend on education or health services.
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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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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As well as making important decisions about how things are done in this country, MPs in the House of Commons can, along with Parliament, decide what this country will do about things that are happening around the world. For example this might mean deciding to go to war, or helping a country that has suffered a disaster.
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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The House of Lords
Another part of Parliament is the House of Lords. The House of Lords is also not a house, but another big room in the Palace of Westminster where people called Lords, or Peers, meet.
House of Lords
This is where the Lords or Peers meet and work. Their job is to check what the Government is doing and help decide on new laws.
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Palace of Westminster
This is where Parliament is based in London, and is the place where important decisions are made about running the whole country.
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Lords/Peers
Lords are not chosen by the public and do not get elected. Lords and Peers are people chosen by the prime minister and other political party leaders and given a job by the Queen. This job is to discuss the Government and help to decide on new laws.
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Lords are not chosen by the public and do not get elected. They are chosen by the Prime Minister and other political party leaders and given the job by The Queen.
Lords/Peers
Lords are not chosen by the public and do not get elected. Lords and Peers are people chosen by the prime minister and other political party leaders and given a job by the Queen. This job is to discuss the Government and help to decide on new laws.
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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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Lords also discuss the Government and things that are happening around the country and the world. They have the job of checking what the Government is doing and they have a lot to do with helping to decide on new laws.
Lords/Peers
Lords are not chosen by the public and do not get elected. Lords and Peers are people chosen by the prime minister and other political party leaders and given a job by the Queen. This job is to discuss the Government and help to decide on new laws.
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Government
The name for the group of people who are elected to help run the country.
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To find out more about the Monarchy you can visit the website http://www.royal.gov.uk (This opens the website in a new window.)
You can phone the Monarchy's Public Information Office on 020 7930 4832
To find out more about Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords you can go to http://www.parliament.uk (This opens the website in a new window.)
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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House of Lords
This is where the Lords or Peers meet and work. Their job is to check what the Government is doing and help decide on new laws.
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