Terminologies

• What is democracy?


  A political system where supreme power lies in citizens who elect representatives.
• What is an election?

  A vote to select the winner of a position or political office.
• What is a ballot?

  The card or paper or device voters use to register a choice in an election.
• What is a ballot box?

  A container where voters place their completed ballots.
• What is Parliament?

  A body of representatives that makes laws for a nation.
• What is a Member of Parliament (MP)?


  An individual legislator or representative in Parliament.
• What is Representative Democracy?

  A system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions about laws.
• What is an electorate?

  All the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.
• What is a constituency?

  The voters in a state or district who vote for an MP, also known as a 'Seat'.
• What is a Seat in Parliament?


  Another name for a constituency; there are 120 seats in New Zealand's Parliament.
• Who is the Speaker in Parliament?

  The person in charge of debates in Parliament with the power to expel or suspend MPs who break the rules.
• Who is the Prime Minister?

  The head of an elected government, usually the leader of the largest party.
• Who is the Leader of the Opposition?

  The leader of the second largest party or the largest party not in a coalition government.
• What is a Frontbencher?

  An MP who holds a ministerial or shadow ministerial position.
• What is a Backbencher?

  An MP who does not hold governmental office or shadow government office.
• What is the Electoral Commission?

  A government-established body that monitors and oversees elections and referendums.
• What is a Maori Electorate or Ward?

  There are seven of these where only Maori can vote.
• What is a Candidate?

  A person running for political office in an election.
• What is a Party List?

  The rank-order list of a party's candidates for office used in a proportional representation system.
• What is a Party Vote?

  Used to elect an MP from a Party List in a proportional representation system.
• What is an Electoral Vote?

  Used to elect an MP from a constituency in either MMP or FPTP.
• What are General Elections?

  Regularly scheduled elections at which voters vote for candidates, held every 3 years in New Zealand.
• What is a Polling Booth?

  A small, partly enclosed area in a polling station where you can vote in private.
• What is a Polling Station?

  A place where people go to vote in an election.
• What is Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)?

  A form of proportional representation used in New Zealand where voters have two votes: one for a party list and one for an electoral vote.
• What is First Past the Post (FPTP)?


  An electoral system where the person with the most votes is elected, achieving victory by having one more vote than other contenders.
• What is the Westminster System?

  The parliamentary system of Great Britain used in New Zealand where an MP or party with the most votes takes power even if they have less than 50%.
• What is a By-election?

  A special election held when an MP dies or resigns.
• What is a Secret Ballot?

  An anonymous voting method that helps to make elections fair and honest.
• What is the Voting Age in New Zealand?

  The minimum age at which a person can vote is currently 18.
• What is the Threshold in New Zealand elections?

  A party must win 5% of the vote for its MPs on its Party List to be elected.
• What is Polling Day?

  The day on which elections are held, often declared a public holiday or on a Saturday.
• What is a Caucus?

  A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.
• Who is the Governor-General?

  The chief representative of the Crown in a Commonwealth country, such as New Zealand.
• What is Parliament House?

  The Debating Chamber where MPs sit and debate laws.
• What is The Beehive?

  Where the Prime Minister and Ministers sit to run the government.
• What is the Parliamentary Library?

  A facility that provides research services for MPs.
• What is Bowen House?

  Office space for support staff assisting MPs and Ministers.
• What is a Bill?

  A proposed law that is debated in Parliament.
• What happens when a bill is supported by the majority in Parliament?

  It becomes a law.