A political party is a group of ordinary people who join together because they have similar ideas about things.
How politics works
Political parties

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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A political party can have ideas about how to run the whole country, or a political party can have ideas about just one thing that they think is important.
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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There are some rules, but anyone can join a political party or set up a political party if they follow them. You can find out about these rules from The Electoral Commission.
This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordThis is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordAn independent group set up by Parliament. They are there to make sure that elections are carried out properly. They make sure people understand it is important to register to vote, and know how to vote.
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There are many different political parties. The main ones in England are The Labour Party, The Conservative Party and The Liberal Democrats 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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Each of these political parties has different ideas about how to run the country.
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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It is important to know what each political party thinks. This can help you decide whether you want to join a political party, or vote for them at an election.
This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordThis 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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Most political parties publish information to tell people about their ideas. These ideas are called policies. This information is called a manifesto.
This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordA manifesto is often written down and tells people what a political parties main ideas are.
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This manifesto can tell people about ideas the political party has about things like health, education, law and order, and the environment.
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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Some political parties have a website to tell people about their ideas. They may have a local club or office where people can go to find out more about them.
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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When there is an election, most political parties print leaflets which they post through peoples' doors to tell them about what they will do if they win the election.
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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Each political party chooses a person to be in an election on their behalf. This person is called a candidate.
This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordA 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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Most of the local politicians, MPs and MEPs who help to run the country are members of a political party.
Local politicians are ordinary people who are elected to help make decisions about local services. There are different types of local politician and they are called councillors.
Go back up to wordYour 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.
Go back up to wordMEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
Go back up to wordThis 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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Not every candidate in an election needs to be a member of a political party. A candidate can be someone with their own ideas about things. This is called being an independent 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.
Go back up to wordThis is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordPerson up for election who is not a member of a political party.
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Politicians who are members of a political party normally support the ideas of that party, but they can sometimes disagree.
Politicians are ordinary people who decide they want to help run the country. They become politicians by winning an election.
Go back up to wordThis 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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A politician does not have to stay in a political party. They can swap to another political party if they prefer, or become independent.
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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The political party who has the most MPs after a General Election gets to form the Government.
This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordYour 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.
Go back up to wordThis is the time when people choose Members of Parliament and the Government to help run the country.
Go back up to wordThe name for the group of people who are elected to help run the country.
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This means that, depending on who wins the general election, we may have a Labour Government, a Conservative Government, or a Liberal Democrat Government.
This is the time when people choose Members of Parliament and the Government to help run the country.
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If one political party does not win the general election outright, then political parties may have to run the country together.
This is a group of people who join together because they have similar ideas about things, like how to run the country.
Go back up to wordThis is the time when people choose Members of Parliament and the Government to help run the country.
Go back up to wordThis 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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To find out about the main political parties you can go to these websites. (This will open the websites in different windows.)

To find out about other political parties you can go to:
www.parliament.uk (This will open the website in a different window.)



