East Londonderry facts for kids
East Londonderry, also known as East Derry, refers to a few different things. It can mean the eastern part of County Londonderry, which is a county in Northern Ireland. It can also refer to the eastern part of the city of Derry itself.
Most often, when people talk about East Londonderry, they are referring to political areas. These are special areas used for elections. There are two main political areas called East Londonderry: one for the Northern Ireland Assembly and one for the UK Parliament.
Contents
What is a Political Constituency?
A political constituency is like a special district or area. People who live in a constituency vote for someone to represent them. This representative then speaks for the people in that area. They work on issues that are important to their community.
East Londonderry: The Assembly Constituency
The Northern Ireland Assembly is where laws are made for Northern Ireland. The East Londonderry Assembly constituency is one of these election areas. It sends members to the Assembly. These members are called Members of the Legislative Assembly, or MLAs.
What do MLAs do?
MLAs work on many important issues for Northern Ireland. This includes things like education, health, and local services. They debate new laws and make decisions that affect everyone. The East Londonderry constituency elects five MLAs.
History of the Assembly Constituency
This constituency was created in 1996. It was set up for the Northern Ireland Forum elections. Since 1998, it has been used for elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Its boundaries have changed a little over time.
East Londonderry: The UK Parliament Constituency
The UK Parliament is located in London. It makes laws for the whole United Kingdom. The East Londonderry UK Parliament constituency sends one person to this Parliament. This person is called a Member of Parliament, or MP.
What do MPs do?
MPs represent their local area in the UK Parliament. They discuss national issues and help create laws for the entire country. They also help people in their constituency with problems. The MP for East Londonderry speaks up for the people living there.
History of the UK Parliament Constituency
This constituency was first created in 1983. It replaced parts of older constituencies. Its boundaries cover a similar area to the Assembly constituency. People in East Londonderry vote for their MP in general elections. These elections usually happen every few years.
