This page has information on The Government, Local Councils, Your Right to Vote, the Environment, the Commonwealth and the Monarchy.

The Government is formed by the political party which has the largest number of MPs elected at an election. The leader of the party is the Prime Minister. All MPs that are elected, not just the ones in the Government, sit in the House of Commons. Here they can contribute to the issues that are debated and laws made, so your local MP can have an influence whether or not they are in the government party. The area MPs represent is called a "constituency". MPs are elected to represent their area in the European Parliament. Your MP sometimes has surgeries where you can ask questions or you can write to them.

For more information about government, parliament and related issues look at these websites:

www.number-10.gov.uk	No. 10 Downing Street and the Prime Minister
www.explore.parliament.uk	To find out what Parliament is all about
www.europarl.org.uk	To find out about the European Parliament
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage	Main government website

Your local council has responsibilities covering lots of things in your area, such as the roads, housing, schools, tranport, libraries, museums, environmental health, tourist information, local parks and more.

Each local council is made up of councillors who have been elected to represent the views of local people on what is best for the local community. You can be involved and have your say about what happens in your area. Councillors sometimes have surgeries where the public can ask questions or you can write to your local councillor. Council meetings are open to the public, so you can see what happens when issues that might affect you are being debated. There is a website for each of the councils in the Connexions West of England area:

www.bathnes.gov.uk	Telephone: 01225 477000
www.bristol-city.gov.uk	Telephone: 0117 922 2000
www.n-somerset.gov.uk	Telephone: 01275 88310
www.southglos.gov.uk	Telephone: 01454 868686

Make sure you use your right to vote. You can choose who is elected to Parliament and to your local council.

You are entitled to vote if you are 18 and also:

• A British Citizen
• A citizen of another Commonwealth country
• A citizen of the Republic of Ireland
• And for certain elections – a citizen of another European country

You must register to be able to vote, every autumn an Electoral Registration form is sent to homes. You can vote even if you are on holiday, working or studying away from home, or if you have a disability that means you cannot get to your local Polling Station – where you make your vote. You can vote by post or by proxy – that is someone else who can vote for you. You will need to contact the Registration Officer at your local council and tell them.

Europe and European Parliament

The European Uhion is made of 25 countries, including the United Kingdom. The Union deals with issues such as the law and citizens rights, trading, agriculture, the environment, economics and the euro currency.

Find out more on the main European Union website ttp://europa.eu.int/index_en.htm 
or try the young people's site http://europa.eu/youth/

The European Parliament is based in Strasbourg.  All countries belonging to the Union have members of the European Parliament (MEP's).  You can vote for them when there are elections.  Their job is working on how different countries live and work together.  Find out more at  http://www.europarl.eu.int/news/public/default_en.htm

Environment

What is the environment? It's everything around you and we need to look after it so that our planet is a good place for us to live and for the future. Everyone should be able to have fresh air, clean water, food, clean energy.

You can help:

• Try not to add to pollution
• Try not to create too much waste
• Remember the Countryside Code
• Belong or volunteer to organisations that want to protect the environment
• Think about what ogranisations and companies do to harm or protect the environment

www.yptenc.org.uk	The Young People's Trust for the Environment, if you are 16 or under
www.defra.gov.uk	Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
www.forestofavon.org	The countryside in urban areas around Bristol that you can visit
www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk	Information on local activities, where reserves are and how you can be involved

The Commonwealth is an association of 54 independent member countries that are right across the world. They include countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, The Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, and the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Commonwealth countries work together to build a better world for themselves. They help each other to make their economies stronger, to improve their systems of government and improve the skills of their people.

Look at the Commonwealth pages for young people to find out more, you can also go from there to the main Commonwealth website: www.youngcommonwealth.org.

Find out about the Royal Family at www.royal.gov.uk

Look at our Contacts section and our 1 Big Database for lots of useful organisations, links and telephone numbers on a whole range of issues that affect young people.