Who Makes the Rules We Live By?

Politics is about the choices a country makes and the people who make them.

These choices can affect schools, roads, hospitals and the cost of daily life.

A local council makes decisions about services in a town or city.

The national government makes rules for the whole country.

An enormous amount of work happens before a new law is ready.

Beneath the main debate, there are often many smaller questions to answer.

People can share their views at public meetings or by writing to their representatives.

At election time, voters choose who they want to represent them.

A polling station is a place where people go to vote.

Some voters tuck their poll cards into a pocket before they leave home.

Staff at the station can help people retrieve the right information about how to vote.

Officials explain the voting rules explicitly, so people know what to do.

After the votes are counted, news reports show which parties have won seats.

A graph may show support moving upwards, but one result does not tell the whole story.

Politics can feel overwhelming, but people currently have many ways to learn about it and, ultimately, take part.