Citizenship - Politics and Participation

What is democracy?

a system of government whereby citizens in free and fair elections choose those in charge/power.

What is direct democracy?

where the people decide on all decision-making directly

What is a referendum?

when citizens are asked to vote directly on a single issue

Give examples on referendums

• 1997 - Devolution Scotland and Wales

• 2014 - Scottish independance

• 2016 - EU Membership

What is representative democracy?

where people/citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf

Reasons why direct democracy is better.

• purest form of democracy

• prevents a concentration of power

Reasons why representative democracy is better.

• practical and efficient

• gives citizens somebody to hold to account

• experts that have more knowledge which would benfit/help the nation

What is disengagement?

Not knowing, valuing or participating in the democratic process.

What is disenfranchised?

Not being allowed to vote and therefore restricted from participating in formal democracy (being under 18, prisoners)

What is voter turnout?

The number of people that voted compared to the number of people that can vote (2019 - 67.3% 2024 - 59.7%)

What is voter apathy?

A lack of interest/concern about politics, resulting in political disengagement.

How to increase voter turnout?

• people too busy to vote? - move voting on the weekend (standard in Australia)

• won’t go the polling station? - make voting compulsory (standard in Australia and Belgium)

• voting at inconvenient times? - utilise methods of digital democracy - e-voting (standard in Estonia)

How to overcome voter apathy?

• lack knowledge in politics? - make political education mandatory

• views/characteristics not represented? - increase the representativeness of parliament

• don’t think political decisions affect them? - utilise methods of digital democracy (online campaigns) - more power could be delegated to UK nations and English region to allow greater localised political structures to emerge

What is digital democracy?

the use of online methods e.g. the internet to allow/encourage citizens to get involved in the political process

examples of digital democracy

• E-voting

• E-petitions

• Party Broadcasts

• Political compasses

• Online campaigns

• Social media channels

Value - rights

Entitlements (legal,social,political and ethical)

example - right to free elections, right to assemble

Value - duties

Duties, actions citizens SHOULD do

example - pay taxes, jury

Value - freedoms

The ability to speak, act or think as one wants

example - expression, movement, press

Value - equality

Equal treatment

example - Equality Act (2010)

Value - Rule of Law

Law applies equally to all people

What is the role and example of the Executive?

• Those responsible for putting decisions and laws into effect

• Example - Prime Minister, Cabinet

What is the role and example of the Legislature?

• Those responsible making the law

• example - Parliament

What is the role and an example of the Judiciary?

• Those responsible for enforcing and interpreting the law

• Example - Judges, courts

Role of Monarch?

• UK - Constitutional monarchy

• role is limited - mostly ceremonial

• Head of State

• Other roles:

• appoints a Government

• opens and dissolves parliament

• delivers the monarchs speech (the governments draws up the content)

• royal assent - final approve of a bill to become an Act of Parliament

Westminster parliament - what type of parliament is it?

Bicameral - house of lords and house of commons

Composition of the house of commons

• 650 MPs

• Elected by General Elections

Compositions of the house of lords

• 800+ MPs

• Unelected:

• Hereditary Peer - inherited from family

• Life Peer - appointed due to expertise by Government via a commitee

• Spiritual Peer - appointed by being Archbishop/Senior bishops

role of the house of commons

• proposes new legislation

• debates government policy and legislation

• votes to pass government policy and legislation

• scrutiny of government - allows MPs/opposition to question the PM

• holds financial privilege - has the ultimate control over money bills

roles of house of commons

• scrutinise new legislation

• debates government policy and legislation

• revises government policy and legislation

• propose new legislation on uncontroversial issues

• hold debates on issues of national importance (e.g. treatment of asylum seekers)

Government definition

Those responsible for the day-to-day running of the country

UK - decided by a General Election and the leader of the party that has won becomes Prime Minister

Parliament definition

Those elected and appointed who ensure the interests of the public are considered by the Government.

They work to hold the government to account and scrutinise their work.

UK - three elements - House of Commons, House of Lords and Monarch

What are 3 ways Parliament works to scrutinise the work of the government and make it accountable?

• holds debates

• issues parliamentary questions

• assembles commitees

What is the work of Parliament?

Questions (both house of common and lords use it):

• Question time - take place in regular intervals of the week, Ministers/Lords will respond to questions from MPs/Peers

• Urgent Questions - if a MP asks the Speaker to grant them an UG, a Minister has to respond to the question

• Prime Ministers Question Time - every Wednesday, PM answers questions about the governments actions

Commitees (2 types):

• General Committees - found in the HOC, consider the merits and demerits of draft legislation

• Department Select Commitees - check and report on the government, gather evidence and report back recommendations to the government.

What is someone called when they stand in for elections and what types of candidates are there?

Candidates

• A candidate will usually decide to stand to represent one of the UK’s political parties.

• possible that someone can be independent but rare

who can stand for elections?

Anyone but

• must be at least 18

• British/Commonwealth Citizens

• Cannot be a judge, police officer or a Lord Peer

How are party candidates selected (MPs)?

• A candidate selects a party

• they must then seek endorsement - must be supported by existed members and pay £500 fee

• then, start to campaign - meet residents, hold hustings, run online campaigns

How is a government formed?

• A political party first need to win a majority in the House of Commons (326 seats min)

• the leader of the political party with most seats becomes Prime Minister after approval from the Monarch

What happens if a majority is not gained in an election?

A Hung Parliament is formed.

What is a Coalition government?

Where two parties join together to secure a working majority in the House of Commons

e.g. 2010 - Conservatives and LibDeb

Political Spectrum

How is the government organised?

• organised into departments

• each department is responsible for a particular area of policy/management

• departments are overseen by a Minister/Secretary of State and are supported by Ministers of State/Junior Ministers who take a specific for an area/issue within their department

• non-government ministerial departments - NOT overseen by a government minister, headed by senior civil servants

• usually have a regulatory or inspection function - Ofqual and Ofsted

What is an agency?

A part of government department which provides government services

e.g. Driving License Agency, Environment Agency

How is the education department organised?

What is the Civil Service?

They help the government of the day develop and implement its policies as effectively as possible

This is done by undertaking practical and admin work e.g. issue benefits and staff prisoners

They are politically impartial and independent.

They are overseen by the Cabinet Secretary.

What is the legislative process?

What are the different types of bill?

• Public Bills - laws proposed by the government

• Private Member’s Bills - laws proposed by individual MPs or Lords

• Private Bills - laws proposed on behalf of organisations

What is the Supreme Court and what is its role?

• It is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil and criminal cases

• cases need to be of the greatest public or constitutional importance and affect the whole/significant portions of the population

• Work of the Supreme Court - instrumental in the development of law within the UK - can set new legal rules (precendants)

• Their aim to clarify the meaning of law when uncertainty

• heard by 12 supreme judges - Justices - selected based on merit - selected by the senior law officers whose work is independent from the government.

What are some example the Supreme court has dealt with?

What is the Prime Minister’s roles and power within Parliament?

• Roles - head of government and leader of country

• Powers:

• appoint the cabinet

• Power of Patronage - appoint life peers to the Lords

What is the Cabinet’s roles and power within Parliament?

• Definition - 20 MPs who are selected by the PM to lead on specific policy areas and oversee gov. departments & other gov. responsibilities

• Roles:

• Devise and implement policy on specific areas

• Advise and warn the PM on decisions

• Powers:

• can implement on specific areas

• act as ‘final court of appeal’ if disputes between gov. departments

What are Minister’s roles within Parliament? Examples?

• can be members of cabinet

• Roles:

• take individual ministerial responsibility for the policy, actions and conduct of their department

• answer questions during question time within the Commons/Committees about the department’s work/policy

• Examples - Secretary of state for Education, Secretary of state for health

What is the role of a Junior Minister?

• they support the devising and implementation of policy on specific areas within their government department

• answer questions during question time within the Commons/Committees about the department’s work/policy

What is the definition and roles of MPs? Examples?

• Definition - somebody elected by a constituency to represent them in the House of Commons

• Roles:

• represent constituencies by meeting, discussing and solving problems by holding surgeries

• they take part in policy debates

• Examples - Connor Rand

What is the definition and roles of the Civil Service? Examples?

• Definition - individuals employed by the government who develop and implement policy and run government services

• are politically impartial

• Roles:

• undertakes operational delivery of gov. policy by providing departments administrative, professional, specialist and technical support/expertise

• provides service to the UK public (pay benefits/pensions, issue driving licenses, official statistics and run prisions)

• Examples - Cabinet, Secretary, National Crime Agency, Office for National Statistics

What is the Black Rod? What is their role?

• A senior official in the House of Lords - responsible for controlling access to the Lords and organising major ceremonial occasions

• Roles:

• Opening of parliament - bangs on the door of the HOC 3 times and summons MPs to hear the Monarch’s speech

• Organises access and maintains order in the HOLs

What is the Speaker and what is their role?

• A member elected from the House of Commons/Lords - Chair debates in the House (a speaker in a house)

• Maintain order and ensure parliamentary rules are followed

• Roles:

• Calls MPs/Peers to speak in Commons/Lords debates

• Maintain order during debates - revoke comments, asking members to be quiet

What is the Whip and what is their role?

• Those appointed within a political party to inform and organise members and the day-to-day business of Parliament

• work in BOTH Commons and Lords

• Roles:

• Inform the party about the party business

• ensure party loyalty and discipline, members to support and vote along party lines

What is local government? What types are there?

• A local council is an example of a form of local government

• Two tiers are more common than unitary councils

What are combined authorities?

• 2 or more local councils combined to colla

• They are overseen directly by Metro-Mayors, work with local councils to improve services in local areas e.g. transport

• Example - Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

What is a county and what services does a county council do ?

• Definition - A large geographic area e.g. Surrey County

• County Councils - responsible for services across/impact entire country

• Example of services - Education, Social Care, Transport

What is a District/Borough council and what services does a District/Borough council do?

• Definition - A smaller geographic area within a county e.g. Manchester City Council

• responsible for services which are smaller and localised

• Example of services - Rubbish collection, housing, leisure

What is a Unitary council and what services does a Unitary council do?

• Definition - A large, typically city/metropolitan area e.g. Trafford

• responsible for delivering all services across the area

• Example of services - Education, housing, rubbish collection

What is a Parish council and what does a parish council do?

• Definition - A small area and very localised area e.g. Handford Parish Council

• Example of services - Allotments, clocktowers, christmas lights

• used to be based on the church parish

Who runs local councils?

• local councilers are the elected officials of the Local Council

• they are elected every 4 years but can be done differently across councils

What are local councilers?

• Employed members of local government

• they assist councillors putting their policy into pratice

• they don’t necessarily change where council control does

What does a local councillors do?

• Represent citizens of elected ward - listen to the view of residents and help them to overcomes issues in their locality

• will advocate and propose policy on behalf of residents at local councils meetings

• Develop Council Policy - they do this to make the best use of local resources and income

• Councillors may become members of the local cabinet and direct specific policy areas

• Act as Regulator - hear/read plans for property and licensed premises

• must consider the impact of approving or denying plans on the local area and those they represent

What is devolution and what are some examples?

• Definition - the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration.

• Examples - central gov. in Westminster to Welsh Sennedd (Parliament), Northern Ireland Assembly and Scottish Parliament

What is the Scottish Parliament?

• name of government - scottish government

• leader of gov - John Swinney (first minister)

• governing political party - Scottish National Party (SNP)

• name + location of gov. building - Holyrood, Edinburgh

• no. of representatives - 129 (73 Constituency members + 56 regional members)

What is the Welsh Parliament?

• name of government - Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)

• leader of gov - Eluned Morgan (first minister of Wales)

• governing political party - Labour

• name + location of gov. building - Senedd Building, Cardiff

• no. of representatives - 60 members (40 constituency members + 20 regional members)

What is the Northern Ireland Assembly/Parliament?

• name of government - Northern Ireland Assembly

• leader of gov. - Michelle O’Neil (first minister)

• governing political party - Sinn Féin

• name + location of gov. building - Stormont, Belfast

• no. of representatives - 90

What is Reserved Power?

• the issues that are still legislated by Westminster for all nations of the UK

• Examples - defence, foreign policy, immigration etc.

What is Devolved Power?

• the issues that are legislated by individual nations of the UK

• examples - health, education and local government

What are some arguments supporting with Devolution?

• gives nations control over key devolved services - can tailer them to their specific circumstances/needs using local expertise and knowledge

• e.g. COVID-19 response were given differently from each nation due to their differing infection rates in their country

• allows nations to focus on the promotion of its culture & heritage - can develop specific culture, heritage and tourism policies to promote their nation individually - helps tourism which helps the economy

• e.g. Welsh language, Scottish history

• helps citizens engage with politics - makes local/regional officers more accountable and responsive to particular issues or needs

• there are still many elements of UK governance reserved by Westminster

• e.g. united agreement on foreign policy, Brexit - all nations left even though Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain

• UK is still represented internationally as a whole by UN, Commonwealth etc.

What are some arguments disagreeing with Devolution?

• could confuse citizens about the powers/laws within their nation

• e.g. COVID-19 - different countries had different rules which led to confusion and difficulty, esp. when travelling to one nation to another

• creates extra expense for governments - from buildings to employing costs when it could be used for other purposes

• is it fair? - each country adopts a different approach to different issues

• e.g. different education system (Scotland have no HE tution fees), diff. voting systems

• strongly challenges the notion of ‘national identity’ - impact feelings of belonging and identity within the UK

How are devolution nations funded?

• primarily funded by Block Grants - money given by the Westminster Treasury

• Every year, the Barnett Formula is used to adjust/change the funding level, which is based on pop. sizes and spending in England on issues which are devolved

• also collect some tax from citizens to fund services

What is some of the history of ireland?

• spilt into two - republic of Ireland (independent nation and part of EU) and northern Ireland (one of the nations in the UK)

• most recent history - ‘The Troubles’ - a period of conflict in Northern Ireland - lasted about 30 years (late 60s to 1998)

• The troubles was ended by the ‘Belfast/Good Friday Agreement’ - signed 10th April 1998

• division from religion(since the 17th century):

• Catholics - generally hold nationalist views - wants an independent Ireland free from the British

• Protestants - identify themselves as British and Unionist

• Brexit - issues have emerged like trade and the Northern Ireland Protocol was introduced but quickly became unsatisfactory

• led to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly in Feb. 2022

• March 2023 - the Windsor Framework was suggested to try and overcome trading issues and restart the Northern Ireland Assembly

What has been the impact of Devolution in England?

• devolution in England has been transferred and decentralised power form central Westminster to local regions

• much of the power has been given/transferred to regional metro-mayors - elected every 4 years

What’s the role of a Metro-Mayor?

• they oversee Combined Authorities - which coordinate the delivery of some services across a regional area

• Examples - transport, housing and health + social care

• this means that budgets can be targeted to meet the demand and needs in that region

Give some impacts of city/regional devolution in Manchester.

• Metro mayor of Manchester - Andy Burnham

• has taken control of the £6 Billion health + social care budget and has invested in mental health e.g. Daily Mile, improving oral health, improving stroke care

• bus fares has reduced by 50% to encourage greater usage in public transport and helping the cost of living crisis

• addressed homelessness - invested into programs like ‘Bed Every Night’ and ‘Housing First”

What is the ‘English votes for English laws’ debate?

• the call for legislation which only impacts England to be voted and scrutinised on and by English MPs only

• would bring comparability between devolved nations as English MPs don’t vote on matter only regarding Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales

• placed in 2015 but removed in 2021

What is the definition of voting?

• the expression of an opinion and/or an act of collective decision making

Who can and cannot vote in elections?

What are the arguments to support the voting age being lowered to 16?

• right to vote is a basic human right

• have more political education in school - which means that they have more knowledge and understanding than 16/17 year olds in the past

• can increase political participation - will increase voter turnout which would lead to a fairer and more representative reflection of society

• 16-17 year olds are affected by the decisions made first hand - e.g. education policy, geopolitical relations, maybe jobs etc.

What are the arguments to disagree the voting age being lowered to 16?

• if given to 16 year old, what about 14 year olds? - where do we stop with the minimum requirement

• many young people still do have access to this education - many won’t approach voting with maturity and seriousness

• young people can be easily influenced by adults and mis/disinformation in the media

• there is no way to determine if the voter turnout will increase - the voter turnout between 18-24 is very low (less than half in 2024 general election)

What are the arguments agreeing with prisoners voting?

• voting is a basic human right and that shouldn’t be taken away from prisoners - crime and prison reform are usually manifesto topics so those facing issues themselves should have a say

• evidence to show that criminal justice system is institutionally racist - disenfranchising prisoners would reduce the voice and political input of some sections of society more than others

• encourages prisoners to engage with social issues - gives them an opportunity to raise their voices and reform society and therefore having less people commit crime

What are the arguments disagreeing with prisoners voting?

• it is part of being imprisoned - prison should take liberty and franchise away from criminals as part of their punishment

• they’ve cause harm to society - why should they vote?

What are the arguments agreeing with citizens required to pass a test to vote?

• ensures voters are informed and engaged in political issues/debates - the results would be from serious consideration rather than voting with no proper knowledge

• rights citizens enjoy come with restrictions and requirements - e.g. driving tests, citizenship tests, why not voting

• voting opportunities require a high level of knowledge to make informed decisions - like passing a test

What are the arguments for disagreeing with citizens required to pass a test to vote?

• places more barriers on voting, potentially decreasing voter turnout and increasing voter apathy - voting is a right not a privilege

• will take large amounts of bureaucracy, time, money to implement - elections are already complex and taxes would have to contribute in this which is not fair to the tax payer

• how would the test be? - what would be it about?

What is the economy?

• where goods and services create wealth

• measure by Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/Gross National Income (GNI)

What is meant by a ‘healthy/growing economy’?

• GDP is growing - the country’s output is high e.g. manufacturing and service sector etc.

• employment is high - more people are working - creates taxes for government and likely to have high levels of consumer spending as they have disposal capital to spend

What is meant by a ‘declining/recessive economy’?

• GDP is declining - the country’s output is low e.g. lack of demand for manufacturing or the service sector cannot operate

• employment is low - many people do not have jobs - gov. collect less taxes and there’s lower levels of consumer spending as they don’t have disposable capital

How does the government raise money?

• through a tax system - public money

• this would carry out their manifesto pledges, allow for services to run and make improvements across society

What are taxes?

• compulsory contribution to the state by its citizens and businesses via income, profits and products

What is Income Tax?

• a tax paid on earnings, after you’ve met your personal allowance

• collected by the national government

What is National Insurance?

• a tax paid on earnings that qualifies you for certain benefits including maternity pay and state pension

• collected by national government

What is Value Added Tax (VAT)?

• a tax paid on buying goods and services- typically 20%

• some things are excluded e.g. children’s clothing, charity fundraising etc.

• collected by national government

What is Excise Duties?

• a tax paid by buying specific goods e.g. cigarettes, alcohol, biofuels

• collected by national government

What is Corporation Tax?

• a tax paid of the profits of a business

• collected by national government

What is Council Tax?

• a tax paid on domestic properties (places where you live)

• this goes to fund local services

• collected by local government

What is Business Rates?

• a tax paid of commercial properties (places used for work)

• collected between local and national government but some local governments take 100%