Election Termionolgy

Question 1

Budget

Answer 1

The government tax rising and spending plans

Question 2

By election

Answer 2

An election held between general elections

Question 3

Cabinet

Answer 3

The grouping senior ministers at the head of government

Question 4

Constituency

Answer 4

The geographical unit which elects a single MP. There will be 646 in the UK after the election

Question 5

Dissolution of parliament

Answer 5

The act of ending a parliament

Question 6

Electoral register

Answer 6

A list of all those in a constituency entitled to vote. Can also be known as electoral roll.

Question 7

Exit poll

Answer 7

A poll asking people how they have voted just after they have left the polling station

Question 8

First past the post

Answer 8

Term used to describe the UK’s parliamentary election system.

It means a candidate only needs a simple majority.

More votes than his or her rivals to be elected.

Question 9

General election

Answer 9

Election at which all seats in the House of Commons are contested

They take place every 5 years

Question 10

Hung parliament

Answer 10

After an election no party has an overall majority

Question 11

Manifesto

Answer 11

A public declaration of a party’s ideas and policies printed by their campaign

They are often judged by how many of its manifesto promises it manages to deliver

Question 12

Marginal constituencies

Answer 12

Seats where the gap between the two or more leading parties are relatively small

Less than 10% margin

Question 13

Ballot

Answer 13

Another term for vote

Question 14

Minority government

Answer 14

A government formed by a party which does not have an absolute majority in the House of Commons

Question 15

MP Member of Paramebt

Answer 15

Includes members of the House of Lords but only members of the House of Commons

Question 16

Nomination papers

Answer 16

A candidate must be nominated on these documents by voters living in the constituency

Question 17

Candidate

Answer 17

Someone putting themselves up for election.

Once parliament has been dissolved, there are no MPs only candidates

Question 18

Opinion poll

Answer 18

A survey asking people’s opening on one or more issues

Question 19

Personation

Answer 19

The offence of impersonating someone else in order to use their vote

Question 20

Polling day

Answer 20

Election Day

Question 21

Poll

Answer 21

Another term for vote or election

Question 22

Proportional representation

Answer 22

System of voting which aim to give parties the representation in a parliament justified by their level of voting support

Question 23

Prorogation

Answer 23

The act of ending a session a parliament. Performed when an election is called.

Question 24

Referendum

Answer 24

A binding vote of the whole country on a single issue

Question 25

Safe seat

Answer 25

A constituency in which the holding party had a big lead to defend

15-20% or more

Question 26

Spin

Answer 26

The attempt to place a favourable interpretation in an event

Question 27

Swing

Answer 27

The transfer of votes from one party to another

Question 28

Turnout

Answer 28

The number of percentage of people eligible to vote who actually do so

Question 29

Tactical voting

Answer 29

This is when people vote not for the party they really support but for another party in order to keep out a more disliked rival

Question 30

Spoiled ballots

Answer 30

Ballot papers which have been filled in incorrectly