UK Democracy
What is the difference between a right and a responsibility in a democracy? Give an example of each.
Right = something an individual in entitled to. e.g. right to vote, freedom of speech
Responsibility = Something an individual is expected to do. e.g. accept decision made by majority, be a responsible citizen.
Who is the current Prime Minister of the UK and 2 powers they have within Parliament?
Rushi Sunak, Appoint cabinet members, lead government & chair cabinet, lead the largest political party.
What does FPTP stand for?
First past the post
Why is it important for political parties to maintain a good social image?
In order to gain followers and voters.
Name 2 pressure groups that operate or have demonstrated in the UK.
Amnesty International, Extinction Rebellion, We Are Fathers 4 Justice, CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament), Just Stop Oil.
What is a representative democracy?
Individuals are elected by the people to represent their views and make decisions on their behalf
Name two roles of the PM.
Answer questions at PMQs, lead the UK, represent the UK internationally.
Explain how the FPTP system works.
The person with the most votes wins, and they then become the MP. The party with the most MPs wins and becomes the government.
Name three different methods political parties use during election campaigns.
leafletting, posters, social media, TV adverts, door-to-door (canvassing)
How does the media influence voters?
Politicians attend debates on TV to make voters aware of their policies and to try to encourage people to vote for them. The media can inaccurately portray candidates.
Name 3 recent Prime Ministers of the UK.
Rushi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, (teacher judgement)
Who is your local MP? and 3 ways you can contact them.
Steven Flynn. Email, social media, phone them, send a letter, attend their weekly surgeries (meetings).
What are some strengths (3) of the FPTP system?
Easy to understand, Results is found out quickly, Stable governments are normally formed - doesn’t often lead to a coalition, Gives a strong link between MP and constituency, Keeps out extremist parties
What is the main aim of political parties?
To win over as many votes as possible to get elected.
Name 2 roles of the media during an election.
Inform us, influence us, educate us.
What is the difference between devolved and reserved powers? Give two examples of each one.
Devolved = powers over which Scotland can change and amend laws. e.g. education, health, tourism, law and order.
Reserved = powers over which the UK can change and amend laws. e.g. nuclear tech, defense, immigration, energy, trade & industry
How many members of parliament are there?
Give three disadvantages of the FPTP system.
not proportional, limited choice, wasted votes, not fair on small parties, possible for party to form majority government on minority of the popular vote, many won’t vote for smaller parties in a safe seat.
Give 3 ways a political party can be successful in a campaign.
If they have a popular party leader, how many members they have, celebrity endorsements.
Name 3 methods of Pressure Groups.
Letter writing, protesting, lobbying.
Name 6 different right we have in the UK.
Voting, Scrutinizing the government, joining a pressure group, freedom of speech, campaigning, standing as a candidate, political rights - protesting, signing petitions, joining a trade union, send letters to MPs.
MPs do work within committees, what is the purpose of a committee? Give an example we discussed in class.
To look carefully at the parliaments business and to specialise in a particular area that will better the lives of the people of the UK. The Education committee.
Which political party won the 2019 general election? Which came in second?
1. Conservative. 2. Labour
Give 2 reasons EACH for why people do and do not vote.
DO - protect their rights, it is important, they know they can make a difference.
DO NOT- feel excluded from politics, don't think their vote with matter, don't know how the process works.
Describe 1 protest we talked about. Include the group and details of the protest.
(Teacher judgement)