A Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), is an individual aged between 11 and 18 elected by young people to represent their local area on the

UK Youth Parliament The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is a Youth organization, youth organisation in the United Kingdom, consisting of Democracy, democratically elected members aged between 11 and 18. Formed in 2000, the parliament has 369 members, who are elected t ...

. There are currently around 600 MYPs (including deputies) across the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

History and Election Process

The title of Member of Youth Parliament was created upon the organisation's formation in July 1999. Though only a smaller number existed at first, this has now expanded beyond 600 members, with 1625 young people standing for the position in their local areas during the 2008 annual elections. The process of these elections differs from area to area, dependent on how the associated local government and youth bodies feel to be the best option for their circumstances. This ranges from a traditional

First Past The Post In a first-past-the-post electoral system (FPTP or FPP), formally called single-member plurality voting (SMP) when used in single-member districts or informally choose-one voting in contrast to ranked voting, or score voting, voters cast thei ...

, to an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

-styled Electoral College. Unlike

General Election A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

s, these do not all occur at the same time, being spaced out across the year. Each member has at least one deputy (DMYP) that is able to fulfill their duties should they be unable. This number is not limited, as it again varies on the circumstances of the area in which the MYP is based. However MYPs from Scotland do not have DMYPs. Scotland does not directly elect MYPs. The Scottish Youth Parliament has 200 Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) by electing 2 in every Scottish Parliament constituency which returns 146 constituency MSYPs. The other 56 are appointed from voluntary organisations. Delegates to UKYP events are chosen by the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Roles

The roles of Members and Deputy Members of the Youth Parliament are based around providing a loud and active voice for the young people that they represent. This includes working in their local area with the likes of town and parish councillors and their own MP. They may also liaise with community action groups, schools, colleges, youth forums and youth centers so as to broaden their audience as widely as possible. They also act on a regional basis, attending monthly meetings in which they work on developing the issues they feel most important to young people. An Annual Sitting is held which all members are welcome to attend. Special debates are also held within the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...

and

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...

. Both of these instances are historic in their overturning of ancient protocol, requiring that only members of the respective houses be allowed to sit within them.

References

External links

Official Website
{{UK Youth Parliament Youth model government Youth-led organizations Youth organisations based in the United Kingdom Political organisations based in the United Kingdom Youth empowerment organizations 1999 establishments in the United Kingdom

History and Election Process

Roles

See also

References

External links