Active Citizens: How are MPs elected? 1. The UK is split into 650 geographical

areas. These are called parliamentary seats or constituencies.

2. In each constituency, every person aged 18 or over can vote for one candidate.

3. The candidate with the most votes is elected as a Member of Parliament (MP).

Which constituency do you live in? What is the name of your MP? Which party do they belong to?

Results map of the 2015 General Election (BBC)

Active Citizens: How are MPs elected?

In some constituencies there is one clear winner.

These are called safe seats.

Active Citizens: How are MPs elected?

In other constituencies it is very close.

These are called marginal seats.

Do you live a marginal or a safe seat?

Active Citizens: Who can vote in UK general elections?

https://www.gov.uk/voting-in-the-uk/general-elections

1. 16 and 17 year olds 2. Prisoners

4. EU Citizens living in UK

3. Irish Citizens living in the UK

5. Commonwealth Citizens living in the UK

6. Peers (Members of the House of Lords)

Active Citizens: Recap Questions

1. What is a constituency?

2. How are MPs elected?

3. What is the difference between a safe and a marginal seat?

4. Which groups of people are not able to vote in UK general elections?

Active Citizens: Mock Election

Hold a mock election in your class!

Who are the candidates?

What are their policies? Do they need a campaign team to help them to design posters and prepare a short speech?

Hold a short hustings so the rest of the class can question the candidates.

Organise a private ballot and see who wins.