Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A general election is when people vote to choose who will fill important positions in government. This happens regularly, usually every few years. In the United States, a general election for Congress happens on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even-numbered years. A special election is when people vote to fill a position that has become vacant for some reason, and it usually happens less often than a general election and fills fewer positions.
Definition: A general election is an election that happens at regular intervals to fill most or all of the elected positions in a political body. For example, in the United States, a general election for delegates and representatives to the United States Congress is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even-numbered years. Any election that happens between general elections is known as a special election. Special elections usually fill far fewer positions than general elections and happen for a variety of reasons, typically involving a recent vacancy.
Example: In the United Kingdom, a general election is held every five years to elect members of parliament to the House of Commons. During a general election, voters in each constituency (a geographic area that elects one member of parliament) choose their preferred candidate. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the member of parliament for that constituency. The political party with the most members of parliament after the election forms the government.
Explanation: The example illustrates the definition of a general election by showing how it is used in the United Kingdom to elect members of parliament. The election happens every five years, and voters choose their preferred candidate in each constituency. The candidate with the most votes becomes the member of parliament for that area. The political party with the most members of parliament after the election forms the government, which is responsible for making decisions and passing laws.