What happens after a general election?
I can explain what happens after a general election and describe what majority, minority and coalition governments are.
What happens after a general election?
I can explain what happens after a general election and describe what majority, minority and coalition governments are.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A general election in the UK is when MPs are voted for by people in their constituency.
- After a general election, the Prime Minister is accepted by the monarch and is invited to make a government.
- Governments may be run with a majority, minority or coalition.
Keywords
Election - when people vote to choose their leaders or representatives
Prime Minister - the leader of the political party who is in power and head of the Government
Majority - holds more than half of the total seats in a legislative body, such as a Parliament
Coalition - a government formed jointly by more than one political party
Minority - a government formed by a political party that does not have an overall majority of MPs
Common misconception
The party that wins the most seats will form the Government and have all the power.
If a party does not have the majority of seats (50%+1) in Parliament, they may not be able to form a government. They might have to form a formal coalition or a voting agreement with a smaller party to get the majority. Power may have to be shared.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
where a voter puts their vote before it is counted
the specific area that is represented by each MP in Parliament
the leader of the political party who is in power
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a promise of loyalty to the monarch and UK laws by MPs and Lords
a government formed by a party that does not have 50% or more MP seats
holds more than half of the total seats in a legislative body