General election key facts
What is a general election?
A general election is an opportunity for people in every part of the UK to choose their MP - the person who will represent their local area (constituency) in the House of Commons for up to five years. There is normally a choice of several candidates in each constituency, some of which are the local candidates for national political parties. People can only vote for one of the candidates and the candidate that receives most votes becomes their MP. general election élection législative / MP = Member of Parliament membre du parlement, député / constituency circonscription électorale / House of Commons Chambre des Communes (Chambre basse du Parlement britannique).
When is the next general election?
The next general election will take place on Thursday 8 June 2017. This follows a decision by the House of Commons to agree to an early general election. The motion was passed by 522 votes to 13 - more than the required two-thirds majority - on Wednesday 19 April 2017. early ici, anticipé / motion motion, proposition / to pass adopter.
Do general elections have to be held on Thursdays?
Not necessarily. Before the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 the Prime Minister could choose any weekday for a general election, according to a fixed electoral timetable. However, Thursday has become the traditional day for general elections. The last general election not to be held on a Thursday was on Tuesday 27 October 1931. act loi / timetable calendrier.
Who becomes Prime Minister?
Voters can only vote to elect their local MP in a general election. The Queen, who is guided by constitutional conventions, appoints the Prime Minister. The Cabinet Manual sets out the main laws, rules and conventions affecting the conduct and operation of government, including the role of the Sovereign. Usually the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons at a general election forms the new government and its leader becomes Prime Minister. If no party wins a majority of the seats, a situation known as a ‘hung Parliament’, the largest party may form a minority government or there may be a coalition government of two or more parties. The Prime Minister appoints ministers who work in the government departments, the most senior of these sit in Cabinet. to appoint nommer / Cabinet Conseil des ministres ici, gouvernement / to set, set, set out fixer / operation fonctionnement / hung parliament parlement sans majorité / government department ministère / senior important, éminent.