The A to Z of politics - a handy guide

The A to Z of politics - a handy guide Don't know the different between a ballot and a bill? Wondering why everyone at the party is trying to get a seat (musical chairs much!)? We've put together a handy A-Z guide so you know you MPs from your PMs.

Abstaining – not voting

Apathy – not caring about or taking part in democracy.

Ballot – the piece of paper you use to vote (by marking an “X” next to the name of the person you want to vote for).

Ballot box – where voters put their ballot after voting. At the end of election day these are opened and the votes are counted.

Blank Vote– a ballot paper that has been left blank so the vote doesn’t count. Sometimes used deliberately when a voter wants to show that none of the candidates represent them, but that they do care about the right to vote. They are counted and the number of them is published with election results, but they do not change the result or force another vote.

Bill - a suggestion for a new law or a change to a law that’s already in place. Bills are debated by MPs (in the House of Commons) and Peers (in the House of Lords), giving them the chance to look at them more closely and suggest tweaks. When both Houses have agreed on a version, the Queen is asked to approve the Bill. It then becomes an Act of Parliament and is introduced as a UK law.

Budget – a yearly speech that the Chancellor of the Exchequer makes to the House of Commons on how the country is doing financially, and how the government plans to spend, save and manage its money.

By-election – an election that happens in one constituency when an MP dies or leaves their job between general elections.

Cabinet - The Cabinet is made up of about 20 senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister. It decides what the government will do in key areas such as education and health. It plans and manages the work of the different government departments. Cabinet members must be either MPs or Peers.

Campaign – A campaign is a candidate’s plan for how heor she intends to win an election, including promises he or she will make to voters, and tactics he or she will use to win votes – like knocking doors in the area or writing an article for a local newspaper.

Candidate – A person who is trying to get elected.

Canvassing – When a candidate goes and asks people for their votes, often by knocking doors or on the phone.

Chancellor of the Exchequer – the minister in charge of the UK’s finances. He or she runs the Treasury (the government department that looks after government spending).

Civil service – the name for all the government departments that look after public services such as health, education, transport etc. Civil servants are permanent, non-elected staff who are not connected to political parties and do not change with elections, but their work is managed by Ministers in the Cabinet.

Constituency - The UK is divided into 650 local areas called constituencies. In a general election, one MP is elected to represent each of these areas.

Councillor - someone elected to a local authority to represent people in their community.

Debate – An official public meeting where candidates discuss and argue about the things they think are important to voters.

Democracy – a system where citizens of a country or area vote for people to represent them and act as leaders.

Election – When people choose the person who represents them in government by voting.

Electoral Register (or Roll) – the list of all the people living the UK who are registered to vote.

First Past the Post – the election system used in the UK, where each area (constituency) elects one MP from a choice of candidates. Voters can only vote for one candidate and the one that gets the most votes becomes the MP. If more than half the MPs elected are members of the same party, that party wins the election.

General Election - A general election is when people in every area (constituency) in the UK vote to elect Members of Parliament. Elections happen on the first Thursday in May every five years, or if a government breaks down in between these dates.

Government - formed by the party that wins the most seats in an election. It runs the country, decides how to respond to problems and makes suggestions to Parliament for new laws or changes to old ones. It is made up of the different departments (Health, Education, Transport etc) run by ministers, who are chosen and lead by the Prime Minister.

House of Commons – the ‘first chamber’ of the UK parliament, where the 650 elected MPs work, and debate how the country is run. It can make financial decisions by itself, but for most other matters (e.g. to make new laws) it has to work with the House of Lords Once a billhas been passed in the Commons, it goes to the Lords for approval or further changes before being put into action.

House Of Lords – the ‘second chamber’ of Parliament, made up of non-elected ‘Peers’ who work with the House of Commons to make laws, check government decisions, and give advice. Unlike MPs, many Peers are not connected to a political party and have not had careers as politicians, but instead bring knowledge from jobs in other fields including science, education, law, etc. Most are asked to take up their roles by the Queen after a recommendation from the Prime Minister.

Hung Parliament – when no single political party wins more than half the seats in the House of Commons in an election. If this happens, two or more parties may decide that they have enough opinions in common to form a coalition Government that can make up more than half the seats. If not, another general election can be held, giving all the parties a second chance to win more than half the seats.

Leader of the Opposition – the MP who is leader of the party that has the second most seats in the House of Commons.

Local authority – these look after local services (such as leisure facilities and rubbish collection) in areas that are smaller than constituencies.

Local election – when an area votes to decide who will be the councillors for its local authority.

Manifesto – a public statement explaining the ideas of a political party, and the promises they make about things they will do if they get into power. It is usually published during the campaign before a general election.

Marginal (or swing) seat - a constituency where there is only a very small number of votes between the candidates standing for the winning and second-placed parties. The opposite is a safe seat.

Minister - an MP or Peer chosen by the Prime Minister to be part of the Government. Departmental Ministers lead departments that each look after a particular public service (education, transport etc). They are supported by Ministers of State and Junior Ministers.

Motion – an idea or suggestion put forward to be debated in the House of Commons or House of Lords.

MP - A Member of Parliament (MP) is elected by the people who live in a particular area (constituency) to represent them in the House of Commons. An MP can ask the government questions, speak about issues in the House of Commons and debate, vote on and suggest new laws.

Opposition – The party with the second most seats in the House of Commons.

Parliament - The Queen, the House of Lords and the House of Commons make up Parliament. It is where new laws are debated and agreed, and it also debates Government plans and actions.

Party Leader - the most powerful MP within a political party, who speaks to represent its members. He or she is usually responsible for looking after the party's relationship with the general public.

Peer - a Member of the House of Lords. They are not elected - some inherit their titles or take them up as part of a position in the Church of England, but most are recommended by the Prime Minister and offered the job for life by the Queen. Unlike MPs, many Peers are not connected to a political party and have not had careers as politicians, but instead bring knowledge from jobs in other fields including science, education, law, etc. They work with the House of Commons to make laws, check government decisions, and give independent advice.

Policy – a promise made by a political party about how they will act on a particular issue.

Political party – A group of people who have similar interests, beliefs and goals about the things that are important to the country, their province or city/town. Parties nominate and support candidates during an election.

Polling Station – the place you go to vote in an election, usually a community building such as a school or church hall.

Polling card – a card you receive in the post before an election when you are registered to vote, with information such as the address of your polling station. You don’t have to have it with you to vote.

Postal vote – a way of voting for people unable to get to their polling station – e.g. if they are temporarily living elsewhere. You need to apply in advance to vote by post.

Prime Minister - The Prime Minister is the MP who is the leader of the Government and the leader of the party that wins the most seats at a general election. He or she chooses the other Members of the Government.

Proxy vote – another way of voting if you can’t get to the get to the polling station. It means that you nominate someone you trust to vote on your behalf. You need to apply in advance to vote by proxy.

Prime Ministers Question Time (PMQs) – when the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs in the House of Commons. This happens every Wednesday, 12.00 - 12.30pm.

Recess – the name for times of the year when Parliament is closed and MPs work in their constituencies.

Returning officer – the person responsible for running an election in a particular constituency, and announcing the result.

Seat – a place in the House of Commons taken by a candidate who wins an election to become an MP for a constituency. One constituency. E.g. ‘He won the Birmingham Northfield seat’.

Shadow Cabinet - The Shadow Cabinet is made up of MPs and Peers from the second largest party. Its members act as the opposition party’s spokespeople in each of the key areas looked after by cabinet members, such as Education or Health.

Speaker - an MP who is responsible for making sure MPs follow the rules of Parliament during debates. The Speaker is elected by the other MPs.

Spoilt Ballot - a ballot paper that has been filled in wrongly so the vote doesn’t count. These can be used as a ‘protest’ when a voter wants to show that none of the candidates represent them, but that they do care about the right to vote. Spoilt ballots are counted and the number of them is published with election results, but they can’t change the result or force another election.

Swing - A swing seat or marginal seat is a constituency where there is only a very small number of votes between the candidates standing for the winning and second-placed parties.When the winning party changes from the one that held the seat before, this is called a ‘swing’ (e.g. ‘There has been a swing to Labour in this area’) and voters who are have not yet decided who to vote for in the lead up to an election are often called ‘swing voters’.

Surgeries - Most MPs hold a weekly surgery to give the people in their constituency a chance to meet them. Constituents can turn up at an MP's office to discuss causes and issues they would like their MP to support, change or raise awareness of.

Treasury - the government department responsible for making decisions on government spending and the UK economy.

Voting - showing which candidate, party or action you support or would like to represent you, usually by filling out a ballot paper.

Westminster – An area of London which contains the Houses of Parliament and many government offices.

Whitehall - A street in Westminster where many government offices are.

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below!

And don't forget to use your new-found knowledge in the upcoming election. Register to vote now and make your voice count.