CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" class="noJS"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.parliament.uk:80/education/online-resources/videos/","20120101162641","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1325435201"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120101162641cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/reset.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120101162641cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/grid.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120101162641cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/main.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120101162641cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/sub-sites/education.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print" href="/web/20120101162641cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/print.css"/>    <script type="text/javascript"> (function () { try { document.documentElement.className = 'js'; } catch (e) { } })();</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120101162641js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery-1.4.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120101162641js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery.equalheights.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120101162641js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/parliament-uk.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120101162641js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/swfobject.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120101162641js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/slideshow.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ $(document).ready(function(){ var settings = { main:{ advancedSearchAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/MemberNames.ashx', edmMembersAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/EdmMembers.ashx', calendarListingAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/CalendarMonth.ashx', publicationsAndRecordsInitialShow: 3, slideshowAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/ImageGallery.ashx' }, woa:{ ajaxFlashZoomArtworkUrl: '/AJAX/ImageZoom.ashx' }, masterPage: 'threecolumn', pageType: 'education-tabbed-content', pageInstanceId: '24973' } parliamentUK.init(settings); }); /*]]>*/ </script> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="title" content="Videos"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta name="description" content="Can't be empty - but isn't used?"/> <meta name="Date" content="2010-04-22 09:52:23"/> <meta name="language" content="English"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=940"/> <meta name="sections" content="Parliament home page~Education~Online resources~Videos"/> <title> Videos - UK Parliament </title></head> <body class="education"> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ //load any sub-site JavaScript files (if required) parliamentUK.loadSubSiteJavaScript($(document.body).attr('class')); /*]]>*/ </script> <form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/" id="aspnetForm"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUJNTA2NzY2MzM0ZGQBnmRRpH90iBrAihdjLkAyZO7omg=="/> </div> <script src="/web/20120101162641js_/http://www.parliament.uk/ScriptResource.axd?d=xGaghmX67eZMqQrjn9_owpLgYT0J3wa6Rsq_OiD8AmTAzGd9balscFDKON1hxdHWEo29M5eCRGvV7FYOaXmjekHBseVWa3g5fhM9zpnRjIy4PZ91nxdE0KM2qHp_rX2TMwNu2ZDm5zvaKFmv4QVzOBhZZOo1&t=fffffffff9d85fa6" type="text/javascript"></script> <div id="wrapper" class="orange"> <div id="header"> <div id="skiplink"><a href="#skipToContent">Skip to content</a></div> <a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/"><img src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/parliament-uk-logo.gif" alt="Parliament UK"/></a> <fieldset class="site-search"> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/email-alerts/">Email alerts</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/rss-feeds/">RSS feeds</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> </ul> <legend>Site search</legend> <div> <ol> <li> <label for="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_lblSearch" class="access">Search</label> <input name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$txtSearch" type="text" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch"/> </li> </ol> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$btnSearch" value="Search" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_btnSearch"/> </div> <ul id="search-options"> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/search/advanced/">Advanced search</a></li> </ul> </fieldset> <div id="navigation"> <ul id="level-1"> <li><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/business/">Parliamentary business</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/">MPs, Lords & offices</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/">Get involved</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">Visiting</a></li> <li class="over last"><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Education</a></li> </ul> <div id="banner-heading"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlBannerHeading_hplHeading" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/"><span>Working with schools to support young people's understanding of Parliament and democracy</span></a></div> </div> <div id="breadcrumb"> <div class="inner"> <strong>You are here:</strong> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament home page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Education</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/">Online resources</a></li><li>Videos</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul class="green"><li><h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/visiting-parliament/">Visiting Parliament</a></h4><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/visiting-parliament/visit-parliament/">Visit Parliament</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/visiting-parliament/student-parliament/">Student Parliament</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/visiting-parliament/seasonal-workshops/">Seasonal workshops</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/visiting-parliament/transport-subsidy/">Transport subsidy</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/visiting-parliament/booking-your-visit/">Booking your visit</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/visiting-parliament/key-stage-5-programmes/">KS5 programmes</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="orange"><li><h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/">Online resources</a></h4><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/parliament-explained/">Parliament explained</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/games/">Games</a></li><li class="active"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/">Videos</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/whiteboard-resources/">Whiteboard resources</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/lesson-plans/">Lesson plans</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/printed-resources/">Printed resources</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/subject-guides/">Subject guides and links</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/parliquiz/">ParliQuiz app</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="pink"><li><h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/">In your school</a></h4><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/speakers-school-council/">School Council Awards</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/lights-camera-parliament/">Lights, Camera, Parliament!</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/schools-questions-and-answers/">Schools Questions & Answers</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/teacher-training/">Teacher training</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/mp-and-lord-visits/">MP and Lord visits</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/seminar-days/">Seminar days</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/teachers-institute/">Teachers' Institute</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/content-for-students/">Content for students</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/special-events-and-programmes/">Special events</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/about-us/">About the Education Service</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Videos </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/education-large/id_5680.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/> <div class="inner"> <div class="tabs-wrapper parent"> <h4 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl01_ctlTabbedContentItem_h4Tab"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/overview/">Overview</a> </h4> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl01_ctlTabbedContentItem_divTab">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Films and short videos about how Parliament works. Most suitable for key stages 3 and 4.</p> </div>  <div class="rte"> <div> <p><br/></p> <h2>MPs: In their own words</h2><a title="MPs: In their own words" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/"><span class="left"><img alt="Watch MP interviews" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5894/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>MPs reflect on politics, popularity, parties, procedure and much, much more in over 40 short video clips. <ul> <li><a title="Watch MP interviews" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/">Watch: MP interviews</a></li></ul> <p> </p> <h2>You've Got the Power video clips</h2> <p><a title="You've Got the Power video clips" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/"><span class="left"><img alt="Watch You've Got the Power" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5897/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Watch clips from our award-winning animated film series 'You've Got the Power', including 'Democracy? You Decide' by author and journalist Danny Wallace.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Watch: You've Got the Power" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/">Watch: You've Got the Power</a></li></ul> <p><strong></strong> </p> <h2>The General Election Xplained</h2> <p><a title="The General Election Xplained" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/"><span class="left"><img alt="Comedian Jay Foreman presenting The General Election Xplained" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_7201/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Follow comedian Jay Foreman as he explains the general election process, in a fun and accessible way, and asks questions like why young people should take part.</p> <div> <ul> <li><a title="The General Election Xplained" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/">The General Election Xplained</a></li></ul></div> <p><strong></strong> </p> <h2>Order free DVDs</h2> <p><span class="left"><img alt="General Election DVD" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_8818/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span>Schools can order free copies of The General Election Xplained on DVD.  </p> <p>The General Election Xplained comes in two versions: one aimed at key stage 3 students and one aimed at key stages 4 and 5. Both versions are included on the same DVD, along with a trailer and a shortened version (eight minutes).</p> <p>To order the resource, please contact:</p> <p>Edcoms<br/>FREEPOST RR59<br/>Lakeside<br/>Rochester<br/>Kent<br/>ME2 4BR</p> <p>Telephone: 0871 472 3016<br/>Fax: 01634 290175<br/>Email: <a title="Request resources from Edcoms" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/mailto:requests@edcoms.co.uk">requests@edcoms.co.uk</a></p> </div></div> </div> <h4 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl02_ctlTabbedContentItem_h4Tab"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/">MPs: In their own words</a> </h4> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl02_ctlTabbedContentItem_divTab">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p><a></a>MPs reflect on politics, popularity, parties, procedure and much, much more in these short video clips</p> </div>  <div class="rte"> <div> <h2><br/>The world of Parliament</h2> <p>MPs explain some of the key institutions, procedures and processes that matter in Parliament.</p> <h3><br/>On government and opposition</h3> <p><a title="Claire Ward MP describes how the government is formed" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-government/"><span class="left"><img alt="Claire Ward MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5766/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>The two big teams in Parliament. The political party with the most MPs in Parliament gets to form the UK government and run the country. But what does the opposition do?</p> <ul> <li><a title="Claire Ward, former MP: What is the government?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-government/">Claire Ward, former MP: What is the government?</a> </li> <li><a title="Adam Afriyie MP: What is the opposition?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-opposition/">Adam Afriyie MP: What is the opposition?</a></li></ul> <p> </p> <h3>Debating and voting in the House of Commons</h3> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-solve-problems/"><span class="left"><img alt="Frank Doran MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5762/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Did you know votes in Parliament are called 'divisions'? Why's that? And MPs do a lot of debating in the House of Commons, but what makes for a persuasive speech?</p> <ul> <li><a title="Frank Doran MP: 'We solve our problems by debate and discussion'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-solve-problems/">Frank Doran MP: 'We solve our problems by debate and discussion'</a> </li> <li><a title="Cheryl Gillan MP: 'If you've lost your temper, you've lost the argument'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-debates/">Cheryl Gillan MP: 'If you've lost your temper, you've lost the argument'</a> </li> <li><a title="Claire Ward, former MP: 'If you want to make a good speech: prepare'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-speechmaking/">Claire Ward, former MP: 'If you want to make a good speech: prepare'</a> </li> <li><a title="Fergus Reid, Clerk: Why are votes known as 'divisions'?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-divisions/">Fergus Reid, Clerk: Why are votes known as 'divisions'?</a> <br/></li></ul> <p> </p> <h2>Challenging and testing the government</h2> <p>MPs in opposition and on the backbenches have a few ways of finding out what's going on in government departments. </p> <h3><br/>What are parliamentary questions?</h3> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-pqs/"><span class="left"><img alt="Cheryl Gillan MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5746/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>MPs regularly get the chance to ask questions of ministers about what's going on in government departments. But what are MPs trying to find out, and what do they hope to achieve? </p> <ul> <li><a title="Cheryl Gillan MP: What are parliamentary questions?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-pqs/">Cheryl Gillan MP: What are parliamentary questions?</a> </li> <li><a title="Lembit Opik, former MP: Why do MPs ask questions?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-pqs-why/">Lembit Opik, former MP: Why do MPs ask questions?</a> </li> <li><a title="Frank Doran MP: 'Sticking to the rules, sticking to the facts'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-pqs-rules/">Frank Doran MP: 'Sticking to the rules, sticking to the facts'</a> </li> <li><a title="John Bercow MP: 'Catching the Speaker's eye'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-speakers-eye/">John Bercow MP: 'Catching the Speaker's eye'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <h3>Select committees and government departments</h3> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-committees/"><span class="left"><img alt="Mark Francois MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/storage_Edited/filename_16I1TJ_20Dq4LcTaJYGS.jpg/id_5751/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>The government is often under the microscope in select committees. Groups made up of MPs investigate matters of public interest by holding inquiries and checking the work of government departments.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Mark Francois MP: What is a select committee?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-committees/">Mark Francois MP: What is a select committee?</a> </li> <li><a title="Adam Afriyie MP: 'Their job is to scrutinise the government'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-committee-job/">Adam Afriyie MP: 'Their job is to scrutinise the government'</a> </li> <li><a title="Mark Francois MP: What committees do with inquiry evidence" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-committee-reports/">Mark Francois MP: What committees do with inquiry evidence</a> </li> <li><a title="Claire Ward, former MP: Choosing witnesses for an inquiry" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-committee-witnesses/">Claire Ward, former MP: Choosing witnesses for an inquiry</a></li></ul> <p> </p> <h2>On political parties</h2> <p>It's hard to understand the UK Parliament without understanding the role of political parties.</p><strong> <h3><br/>Party and Parliament<br/></h3></strong><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-political-party/"><span class="left"><img alt="Cheryl Gillan MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5746/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Most MPs belong to a political party. A party is a group of people who share similar ideas about how the country should be run. So, what makes parties so important in Parliament? <ul> <li><a title="Cheryl Gillan MP: 'My strength comes from my party'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-political-party/">Cheryl Gillan MP: 'My strength comes from my party'</a> </li> <li><a title="Adam Afriyie MP: Keeping your political party happy" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-happy/">Adam Afriyie MP: Keeping your political party happy</a> </li></ul> <p> </p><strong> <h3>Voting, whips and the party line<br/></h3></strong><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-whip/"><span class="left"><img alt="Natascha Engel" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5777/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>MPs represent people from their constituencies, but they also represent the views of their own political party. <ul> <li><a title="Natascha Engel MP: Who or what is a party whip?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-whip/">Natascha Engel MP: Who or what is a party whip?</a> </li> <li><a title="Dawn Butler, former MP: Do MPs always vote with their party?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-vote/">Dawn Butler, former MP: Do MPs always vote with their party?</a> </li> <li><a title="Lembit Opik, former MP: 'Every party's got rebels'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-rebels/">Lembit Opik, former MP: 'Every party's got rebels'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <h2>Elections and representing the people </h2> <p>Explore how MPs get to Parliament, and how they try to stay there by serving the people they represent.</p> <h3>Getting elected</h3> <p> <a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-constituency/"><span class="left"><img alt="Parmjit Dhanda MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5741/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>There is one MP in Parliament for each of the 646 'constituencies' across the UK. But what is a constituency, and how does an MP come to represent one in the House of Commons? </p> <ul> <li><a title="Parmjit Dhanda, former MP: What is a constituency?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-constituency/">Parmjit Dhanda, former MP: What is a constituency?</a> </li> <li><a title="Natascha Engel MP: How you become an MP" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-getting-elected/">Natascha Engel MP: How you become an MP</a> </li> <li><a title="Cheryl Gillan MP: Just who does an MP represent?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-represent/">Cheryl Gillan MP: Just who does an MP represent?</a> </li> <li><a title="Anne Begg MP: 'You have to represent everyone'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-represent-everyone/">Anne Begg MP: 'You have to represent everyone'</a></li></ul> <p> </p> <h3>How MPs represent their constituents</h3> <p> <a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-surgery/"><span class="left"><img alt="Frank Doran MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5762/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Every MP represents around 70,000 people living in their constituency. So what's involved with serving constituents? Is it possible to keep everyone happy? </p> <ul> <li><a title="Frank Doran MP: 'A surgery is where MPs meet their constituents'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-surgery/">Frank Doran MP: 'A surgery is where MPs meet their constituents'</a> </li> <li><a title="Parmjit Dhanda, frormer MP: Keeping your constituents happy" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-constituents-happy/">Parmjit Dhanda, former MP: Keeping your constituents happy</a> </li> <li><a title="Lembit Opik, former MP: Dealing with correspondence" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-correspondence/">Lembit Opik, former MP: Dealing with correspondence</a> </li> <li><a title="Parmjit Dhanda, former MP: Responding to constituents" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-constituents-responding/">Parmjit Dhanda, former MP: Responding to constituents</a></li></ul> <p><strong></strong> </p> <h2>Pressure groups and the media </h2> <p>Politics is about persuasion, and MPs get faced with a number of influences other than constituents and political parties.</p> <h3><br/>Dealing with the media</h3> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-local-national/"><span class="left"><img alt="Mark Francois MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/storage_Edited/filename_16I1TJ_20Dq4LcTaJYGS.jpg/id_5751/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>TV, newspapers and the web are the public platforms on which MPs campaign, explain their decisions and communicate their work in Parliament to their constituents. Dealing with the media can be tricky though. </p> <ul> <li><a title="Mark Francois MP: 'You deal with the press at different levels'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-local-national/">Mark Francois MP: 'You deal with the press at different levels'</a> </li> <li><a title="Nigel Evans MP: How to keep the media on side" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-onside/">Nigel Evans MP: How to keep the media on side</a> </li> <li><a title="Mark Francois MP: 'Try to be clear and straightforward and honest'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-honest/">Mark Francois MP: 'Try to be clear and straightforward and honest'</a> </li> <li><a title="Natascha Engel MP: 'Dealing with the media is tricky'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-tricky/">Natascha Engel MP: 'Dealing with the media is tricky'</a> </li> <li><a title="Nigel Evans MP: The costs of a negative media profile" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-negative/">Nigel Evans MP: The costs of a negative media profile</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <h3>What kinds of people want to meet and influence MPs?</h3> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-meetings/"><span class="left"><img alt="Natascha Engel" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5777/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Lots of different people and groups try to influence lawmaking and discussion in Parliament. Who do you think MPs listen to the most when they are voting in the House of Commons?</p> <ul> <li><a title="Natascha Engel MP: 'Anything can happen on any given day'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-meetings/">Natascha Engel MP: 'Anything can happen on any given day'</a> </li> <li><a title="Nigel Evans MP: Choosing who to meet" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-meeting-choice/">Nigel Evans MP: Choosing who to meet</a> </li> <li><a title="Mark Francois MP: 'You never get bored – you don't get the time!'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-meeting-variety/">Mark Francois MP: 'You never get bored – you don't get the time!'</a></li></ul> <p> </p> <h2>Life on the back benches</h2> <p>By all accounts, it's a varied, busy job representing constituents, working in Westminster and deciding how to manage it all.</p><strong> <h3><br/>The work of a backbench MP </h3></strong><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-no-job-description/"><span class="left"><img alt="Lembit Opik MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5678/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>MPs debate and vote on new laws, check the work of the government, and represent their constituents. But there doesn't seem to be a typical week. <ul> <li><a title="Lembit Opik, former MP: 'There's no job description, amazing as it may seem'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-no-job-description/">Lembit Opik, former MP: 'There's no job description, amazing as it may seem'</a></li> <li><a title="Anne Begg MP: 'I wish there was a typical week'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-no-typical-week/">Anne Begg MP: 'I wish there was a typical week'</a> </li> <li><a title="Nigel Evans MP: 'It's 24 hours, or as long as you are awake'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-24-hours/">Nigel Evans MP: 'It's 24 hours, or as long as you are awake'</a> </li> <li><a title="Lembit Opik, former MP: 'It's a seven day a week job, but it's a good job'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-7-day-week-job/">Lembit Opik, former MP: 'It's a seven day a week job, but it's a good job'</a> </li> <li><a title="Natascha Engel MP: 'Anything can happen on any given day'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-meetings/">Natascha Engel MP: 'Anything can happen on any given day'</a> </li> <li><a title="Mark Francois MP: 'You never get bored – you don't get the time!'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-meeting-variety/">Mark Francois MP: 'You never get bored – you don't get the time!'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <h3>Making decisions, or how to be an MP</h3> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-happy/"><span class="left"><img alt="Adam Afriyie MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5706/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>The constituency, the party and the press: just three views MPs might consider when making decisions. But what do they do when the choice is not clear?</p> <ul> <li><a title="Adam Afriyie MP: Keeping your political party happy" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-happy/">Adam Afriyie MP: Keeping your political party happy</a> </li> <li><a title="Dawn Butler, former MP: Do MPs always vote with their party?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-vote/">Dawn Butler, former MP: Do MPs always vote with their party?</a> </li> <li><a title="Parmjit Dhanda, former MP: Keeping your constituents happy" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-constituents-happy/">Parmjit Dhanda, former MP: Keeping your constituents happy</a> </li> <li><a title="Nigel Evans MP: How to keep the media on side" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-onside/">Nigel Evans MP: How to keep the media on side</a> </li> <li><a title="Nigel Evans MP: Choosing who to meet" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-meeting-choice/">Nigel Evans MP: Choosing who to meet</a> </li> <li><a title="Lembit Opik, former MP: 'I followed my heart today'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-decision-making/">Lembit Opik, former MP: 'I followed my heart today'</a></li> <li><a title="Dawn Butler, former MP: Do MPs always vote with their party?" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-vote/">Dawn Butler, former MP: Do MPs always vote with their party?</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <h3>Becoming unpopular</h3> <p><a title="Nigel Evans MP on the costs of having a negative media profile" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-negative/"><span class="left"><img alt="Nigel Evans MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5773/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Keeping the party and constituents happy are a big part of what keeps an MP in Parliament. Three MPs talk about the consequences of making unpopular decisions. </p> <ul> <li><a title="Nigel Evans MP: The costs of a negative media profile" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-media-negative/">Nigel Evans MP: The costs of a negative media profile</a> </li> <li><a title="Natascha Engel MP: The costs of becoming unpopular" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-constituents-unpopular/">Natascha Engel MP: The costs of becoming unpopular</a> </li> <li><a title="Lembit Opik, former MP: 'Every party's got rebels'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/mps-in-their-own-words/mp-party-rebels/">Lembit Opik, former MP: 'Every party's got rebels'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <h2>Watched all the videos?</h2> <p><a title="Play MP For A Week" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/games/mp-for-a-week/"><span class="left"><img alt="Play MP For A Week" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5707/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>All the MPs above were interviewed for our online game MP For A Week, aimed at 11-16 year olds. Why not have a go yourself? Try stepping into the shoes of an MP...</p> <ul> <li><a title="Play MP For A Week" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/games/mp-for-a-week/">Play MP For A Week</a></li></ul> <p> <br/></p> <p> </p> </div></div> </div> <h4 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl03_ctlTabbedContentItem_h4Tab"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/">You've got the power</a> </h4> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl03_ctlTabbedContentItem_divTab">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Watch clips from our award-winning animated film series 'You've got the power', including 'Democracy? You decide' by author and journalist Danny Wallace.</p> </div>  <div class="rte"> <div> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong>Parliament and government</strong> <br/><a title="Watch 'Parliament and government: An overview'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-parliament-overview/"><span class="left"><img alt="Watch: Parliament and government" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5698/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>People often mistake Parliament with the government. So what's the difference? An overview of the structure and purpose of Parliament.</p> <p> </p><ul> <li> <div> <a title="Watch 'Parliament and Government: An overview'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-parliament-overview/">Watch 'Parliament and government: An overview'</a></div></li></ul> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong>Voting: What are elections?</strong> </p> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-voting-1/"><span class="left"><img alt="" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5775/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>What are elections and what reasons are there for voting? Part 1 of a brief guide to democracy and elections in the UK.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Watch 'Voting: What are elections?'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-voting-1/">Watch 'What are elections?'</a></li></ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Voting: Election day</strong></p> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-voting-2/"><span class="left"><img alt="Eddie explaining election day" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5761/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>All about how to vote on election day. Part 2 of a brief guide to democracy and elections in the UK.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Watch 'Election day'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-voting-2/">Watch 'Election day'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Making laws: Where do laws come from?</strong></p> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-laws-1/"><span class="left"><img alt="Eddie at the cinema" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5667/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Find out why we need laws and who creates them. Part 1 of a guide to law making in the UK.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Watch 'Making Laws: Where do laws come from?'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-laws-1/">Watch 'Where do laws come from?'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Making laws: How is a law made?</strong></p> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-laws-2/"><span class="left"><img alt="A bill passing through Parliament" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5664/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>A proposal for a new law is called a bill. What are the different types of bill? Who gets a say in what goes into a bill? And how do bills become laws? Part 2 of a guide to law making in the UK.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Watch 'Making Laws: How is a law made?'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-laws-2/">Watch 'How is a law made?'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p><strong>Role of an MP</strong> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-role-of-an-mp/"><span class="left"><img alt="Lembit Opik MP, Claire Ward MP, Nigel Evans MP" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5770/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>The people of the UK vote for MPs to represent them in the Houses of Parliament. So what do MPs do? A guide to the work of UK Members of Parliament.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Watch 'Role of an MP'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/ygtp-role-of-an-mp/">Watch 'Role of an MP'</a> </li></ul> <p> </p><strong>Democracy? You decide</strong> <p><a href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/democracy-you-decide/"><span class="left"><img alt="Danny Wallace in 'Democracy? You decide'" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_5759/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Author and journalist Danny Wallace takes a light-hearted look at the system of governance in the UK.</p> <ul> <li><a title="Watch 'Democracy? You decide'" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/youve-got-the-power/democracy-you-decide/">Watch 'Democracy? You decide'</a></li></ul> <h3> </h3> </div></div> </div> <h4 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl04_ctlTabbedContentItem_h4Tab"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/">The Election Xplained</a> </h4> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctrlTabbedContentItemListing_rptTabbedItems_ctl04_ctlTabbedContentItem_divTab">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Follow comedian Jay Foreman as he discovers how general elections are run, what happens on polling day, and why it's important to have your say.</p> <p>Below the trailer there are three versions of this video: one for key stage 3, one for key stages 4 to 5, and a shortened version.</p> </div>  <div class="rte"> <div> <h3> </h3> <h3>Watch a trailer</h3> <p><a title="The General Election XPlained trailer" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-trailer/"><span class="left"><img alt="Comedian Jay Foreman presents The General Election Xplained" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_7201/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>This one-minute teaser introduces the general election process, using clips from the full version of The General Election Xplained.</p> <ul> <li><a title="The General Election Xplained trailer" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-trailer/">The General Election Xplained trailer</a></li></ul> <h3> </h3> <h3>The General Election Xplained in eight minutes</h3> <p><a title="The General Election Xplained in 8 minutes" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-short/"><span class="left"><img alt="A polling station sign" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_7204/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>This shortened version of the documentary follows the progress of the election campaign in the Reading West constituency, right up to polling day and the formation of the coalition government. </p> <p>Listen to interviews about how young people can make their voice heard in elections and find out what happens on election day itself, with Jay Foreman.</p> <ul> <li><a title="The General Election Xplained in eight minutes" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-short/">The General Election Xplained in eight minutes</a> </li></ul> <h3> </h3> <h3>The General Election Xplained for key stage 3</h3> <p><a title="The General Election Xplained video for KS3" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-ks3/"><span class="left"><img alt="Comedian Jay Foreman in the lobby of the Houses of Parliament" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_7202/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Step inside Westminster Palace for a look at the House of Commons and House of Lords, and find out about their roles in our democracy. Then head out to the constituencies to find out how political campaigns are run and what you can do to let your local candidates know which issues matter to you.</p> <ul> <li><a title="The General Election Xplained for key stage 3" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-ks3/">The General Election Xplained for key stage 3</a></li></ul> <h3> </h3> <h3>The General Election Xplained for key stages 4 and 5</h3> <p><a title="The General Election Xplained video for KS4 and 5" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-ks4-5/"><span class="left"><img alt="School children from the constituency of Reading West being interviewed about why they think young people should vote" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_7259/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span></a>Find out the difference between Parliament and government, and look behind the scenes at the work of committees and other groups in the Houses of Parliament. Could you become an MP? Do you know how to register to vote? And how are governments formed? Find out the answers with Jay Foreman.</p> <ul> <li><a title="The General Election Xplained for key stages 4 and 5" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/the-general-election-xplained/general-election-xplained-ks4-5/">The General Election Xplained for key stages 4 and 5</a></li></ul> <h3> </h3> <h3>Order free DVDs</h3> <p><span class="left"><img alt="General Election DVD" src="/web/20120101162641im_/http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/conversionFormatType_WebSafe/id_8818/ImageVaultHandler.aspx"/></span>Schools can order free copies of The General Election Xplained on DVD, including all four versions described above. </p> <p>Please contact:</p> <p>Edcoms<br/>FREEPOST RR59<br/>Lakeside<br/>Rochester<br/>Kent<br/>ME2 4BR</p> <p>Telephone: 0871 472 3016<br/>Fax: 01634 290175<br/>Email: <a title="Request a DVD from Edcoms" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/mailto:requests@edcoms.co.uk">requests@edcoms.co.uk</a></p> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Booking and enquiries</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"></a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Education Service <br/>Houses of Parliament <br/>London SW1A 2TT<br/><strong>020 7219 4496</strong><br/><a title="Email us at: education@parliament.uk" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/mailto:education@parliament.uk">education@parliament.uk</a></p> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Updates for teachers</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> </div> <div class="thumbnail-image-list"> <ul> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl01_liItem" class="no-image"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/newsletter/"> <span>Monthly e-news</span> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>News and resources from Parliament's Education Service - straight to your inbox.</p> </div>  </div> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl02_liItem" class="no-image"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://twitter.com/UKParlEducation"> <span>Follow us on Twitter</span> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Follow the latest education news from Parliament.</p> </div>  </div> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl03_liItem" class="no-image last"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl03_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.youtube.com/user/UKParliament#p/c/03FFE1F0B34AA057"> <span>Watch videos on YouTube</span> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Keep up-to-date with our latest educational videos about Parliament and democracy. </p> </div>  </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Educational games</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> </div> <div class="thumbnail-image-list"> <ul> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl01_liItem" class="no-image"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/games/mp-for-a-week/"> <span>Play MP For A Week</span> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Could you cut it as an MP? Designed for 11-16 year-olds, this game drops you into the shoes of a backbencher.</p> </div>  </div> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl02_liItem" class="no-image last"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_ctlSetSubPages_rptRelatedPages_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/games/raceagainstchime/"> <span>Play Race Against Chime</span> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Dangling from the world’s most famous clock you’ll need to clean its face before time expires.</p> </div>  </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="education-footer"> <div id="bookmark-with"> <h4>Bookmark with:</h4> <ul> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl01_liItem" class="delicious"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl01_hypBookmarkLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.parliament.uk%2feducation%2fonline-resources%2fvideos%2f&title=Videos">Delicious</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl02_liItem" class="digg"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl02_hypBookmarkLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.parliament.uk%2feducation%2fonline-resources%2fvideos%2f&title=Videos">Digg</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl03_liItem" class="facebook"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl03_hypBookmarkLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.parliament.uk%2feducation%2fonline-resources%2fvideos%2f&t=Videos">Facebook</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl04_liItem" class="reddit"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl04_hypBookmarkLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.parliament.uk%2feducation%2fonline-resources%2fvideos%2f&title=Videos">Reddit</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl05_liItem" class="stumbleupon"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptBookmarkLinks_ctl05_hypBookmarkLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.parliament.uk%2feducation%2fonline-resources%2fvideos%2f&title=Videos">StumbleUpon</a> </li> </ul> </div> <ul> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptOtherLinks_ctl01_liElement" class="last"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlBookmarks_rptOtherLinks_ctl01_hyplink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/link/79522629c5d148439a2028b8e288951b.aspx"></a> </li> </ul></div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20120101162641/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20120101162641/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ if(tracking.enabled){ try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(tracking.accountID); pageTracker._setDomainName('.parliament.uk'); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err){} } /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120101162641js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/lbi_ga.js"></script> </body> </html>