How do we choose who is in the government?
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This is called democracy. Democracy is when normal people can choose who represents them in Parliament.
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We vote for our MPs in a general election. This usually takes place every five years and happens across the whole country. Everyone aged 18 or over has the right to vote in a general election.
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At the end of an election, the political party who gets the most votes and MPs becomes the government.
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The political party that comes second in a general election is called the official opposition. It’s their job to question the government about its decisions. And to make sure the government keeps its promises.
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Sometimes no political party gets enough votes to make a government on its own. If this happens, two parties might decide to join together. This is called a coalition government.