How politics works

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Political parties

A group of people saying the same thing at the same time

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

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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two people talking about different things

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.

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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The Electoral Commission logo

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.

Rules

Tell us what we should or should not do.

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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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Rules

Tell us what we should or should not do.

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The Electoral Commission

An 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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Rosettes of the three main political parties

There are many different political parties. The main ones in England are The Labour Party, The Conservative Party and The Liberal Democrats Party.

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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Different coloured pawns with different speech bubbles

Each of these political parties has different ideas about how to run the country.

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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A woman thinking about different political parties

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.

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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Vote

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

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Election

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

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Manifestos

Most political parties publish information to tell people about their ideas. These ideas are called policies. This information is called a manifesto.

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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Policy

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

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Manifesto

A manifesto is often written down and tells people what a political parties main ideas are.

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An open manifesto

This manifesto can tell people about ideas the political party has about things like health, education, law and order, and the environment.

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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A website

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.

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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Letters with political leaflets

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.

Election

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

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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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A group of red pawns with a larger red pawn wearing a rosette

Each political party chooses a person to be in an election on their behalf. This person is called a candidate.

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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Election

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

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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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Four people wearing different coloured rosettes

Most of the local politicians, MPs and MEPs who help to run the country are members of a political party.

Local politician

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.

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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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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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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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A man pointing to himself in front of three pawns with wosettes

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.

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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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 candidate

Person up for election who is not a member of a political party.

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A man thinking

Politicians who are members of a political party normally support the ideas of that party, but they can sometimes disagree.

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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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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A man thinking about rosettes

A politician does not have to stay in a political party. They can swap to another political party if they prefer, or become independent.

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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Rosettes of the three main political parties

The political party who has the most MPs after a General Election gets to form the 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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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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Government

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

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The Houses of Parliament with rosettes

This means that, depending on who wins the general election, we may have a Labour Government, a Conservative Government, or a Liberal Democrat Government.

General election

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

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The Houses of Parliament with pawns outside

If one political party does not win the general election outright, then political parties may have to run the country together.

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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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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Website icon

To find out about the main political parties you can go to these websites. (This will open the websites in different windows.)

www.conservatives.com

www.labour.org.uk

www.libdems.org.uk

Website icon

To find out about other political parties you can go to:

www.parliament.uk (This will open the website in a different window.)

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