Member of Youth Parliament
Encyclopedia
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
. There are currently around 600 MYPs (including deputies) across the United Kingdom
.
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
, to an American-styled Electoral College
.
Unlike General Election
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 orgnisations. From this the SYP appoint 16 MSYPs to become MYPs. This means that Scottish MYPs hold a dual mandate
as both a MYP and a MSYP.
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 and House of Lords
. 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.
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, consisting of democratically elected members aged between 11 and 18....
. There are currently around 600 MYPs (including deputies) across the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
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
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
, to an American-styled Electoral College
Electoral college
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office. Often these represent different organizations or entities, with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way...
.
Unlike General Election
United Kingdom general elections
This is a list of United Kingdom general elections since the first in 1802. The members of the 1801–1802 Parliament had been elected to the former Parliament of Great Britain and Parliament of Ireland, before being co-opted to serve in the first Parliament of the United Kingdom, so that Parliament...
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
Scottish Youth Parliament
The Scottish Youth Parliament, also known as SYP, is a democratic, politically independent, inclusive, charity set up by a group of passionate youth workers as a national voice for young people in Scotland....
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 orgnisations. From this the SYP appoint 16 MSYPs to become MYPs. This means that Scottish MYPs hold a dual mandate
Dual mandate
A dual mandate is the practice in which elected officials served in more than one elected or other public position simultaneously. This practice is known as double jobbing in Britain and distinguished from double dipping in the United States For example, suppose a...
as both a MYP and a MSYP.
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 and House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. 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.