The streets are empty because every family is dreading the reaping because a child from their family might be chosen to be a tribute for The Hunger Games. The families will want to spend these couple days with their children because it might the last that they ever will.
The time when they choose the tributes to go into the Hunger Games is called the Reaping.
The Capitol (they control the hunger games and are not required to enter the reaping)
The first chapter of The Hunger Games just explains what Katniss Everdeen does before the have the Reaping Day "lottery" done. The "lottery" is used to choose who will be tributes at the Hunger Games that year.
the reaping
The reaping is the lottery selection of candidates in which tributes (children who will participate in the games) are chosen.
By the time he is 18, he has 42 entries in the reaping draw.
Holds the names of the children eligible for the Hunger Games
I believe it is 2 weeks
This is called the Reaping.
No. It is designed to be in favor of the richer people.
Katniss enjoys the luxury of the Capitol. Before she volunteered at the reaping, she lived in poverty.
You just yell: "I VOLUNTEER!" And bam.