`The General Election Explained' - summary of the documentary [19 March 2009]
The Houses of Parliament - Palace of Westminster
HOC HOL:
-new laws (mainly HOC)
-scrutinizing government policy
-debating on the major issues of the day
-revising and amending government proposals to the new laws (HOL)
-HOC 646 members; majority - 323 (2005: Labour 355-majority, the Conservatives-198, the Liberal Democrats-62)
-First-past-the-post system - one cross on the ballot paper (wasting votes)
-Party with the most successful MPs forms the government
-Elections every 5 or 4 years
-proportional representation in 2005: Labour 227, the Conservatives-209, the Liberal Democrats-142 Green Party-7 + smaller parties; every vote counts
To be elected the candidate must:
-be chosen by the party (or the independent candidate)
-campaign
Elections:
-electoral registration forms
-register
-ballot papers
-polling station
-secret ballot
-secret booth
-ballot box (at 10 collected for counting when the polling station is closed)
-counting (volunteers at City Halls)
-Returning Officer announces the result
-election night
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