GCSE Citizenship Knowledge Organiser - Theme 3: Politics and Participation
Types of Government
Monarchy: Government by a family who have inherited the title of monarch.
Dictatorship: Rule by an individual or group with no democratic aspects; total control by one person or group.
Democracy: Rule by the people.
Communist: Government by one party with ultimate power to the state, which 'looks after' its citizens (e.g., China).
One Party State: A state where only one political party exists and runs the country, often associated with communist forms of government (e.g., Syria/North Korea).
Anarchy: A state without any form of government/control, potentially leading to a total breakdown of society (e.g., during Civil War).
Theocracy: Where religious leaders run the country (e.g., Iran).
Key Concepts of Democracy
Democracy Definition: A system of government by the entire population or a majority of eligible citizens, usually through elected representatives.
Liberal Democracy: A system of government based on representative democracy and linked to freedoms and rights for citizens (e.g., USA, UK, and EU).
Direct Democracy: A system of government where all citizens take part in decision-making. A modern example is the use of referendums.
Representative Democracy: A system of government where citizens are elected to represent others in an assembly (e.g. an MP or a councillor in the UK).
Aspects of Democracy:
Regular and Fair Elections:
An electoral system with a secret ballot.
Accountable results that reflect the views of the people.
Accountability: Regular elections make the government accountable.
Eligibility: Any citizen can stand for election.
Equal Campaigning: Candidates can campaign equally without fear of intimidation or bribery.
Free Media: The media can freely report on the work of government.
Independent Judiciary: The judiciary is separate from the government, and citizens can use the legal process to hold the government to account.
Values Underpinning Democracy:
Rights: Legal, social, and ethical entitlements that all citizens enjoy equally. These structure how government operates, the law, and the morality of society (e.g., Human Rights, children’s rights).
Responsibilities: Duties citizens have within a society (e.g., pay taxes, obey the law, be called for jury service, conscription during war). These are not optional and are underpinned by the law.
Freedoms: The ability to act, speak, or think as one wants (e.g., freedom of choice, freedom of the press, freedom of movement).
The Rule of Law: Everyone must obey the law, no matter who they are (e.g., gender, class, wealth, religion).
Equality: Equal treatment for all members of society. There is legislation protecting different groups:
Sex Discrimination Acts 1975 and 1986
Race Relations Act 1965, 1968, 1976, 2000
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and 2005
These now fall under The Equality Act 2010, overseen by The Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The Institutions of the British Constitution
Devolution: A process where power is shared between different bodies. In the UK, there are separate elected bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Devolved Bodies: National assemblies, parliaments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Government: The individuals who run the state. In the UK, this refers to 'central government,' made up of the political parties that won the general election. The prime minister leads the government and appoints ministers.
Parliament: Elected representatives who meet, debate, and pass new laws. In the UK, it is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the Monarch (Queen).
Political Literacy: Having the political knowledge and understanding to take part in the political process (e.g., to vote).
House of Commons: 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) elected by the people at a general election. The party with the majority of MPs forms the government. MPs represent the electorate for a given area (e.g., constituency).
House of Lords: Made up of appointed Life Peers (experts in specific areas, e.g., Lord Sugar advises on business matters) and Hereditary Peers (families have held the titles and pass them down).
Monarch: Most powers have been given to the Prime Minister and other ministers but the Monarch signs off all laws passed by Parliament ('Royal Assent') and must agree if the Prime Minister wishes to call a general election.
Role of Parliament
The major function of Parliament is to pass laws (legislation).
Those proposed by the Government (Public Bills).
Those proposed by Individual MPs (Private Member's Bills).
Those proposed on behalf of organizations e.g. Local government (Private Bills).
Types of Laws:
Government Bills (proposals for new laws) account for most of the laws passed.
Parliament also holds the government to account for its actions.
MPs of any party can call for debates on topical issues.
Committees of MPs and Lords can scrutinize (examine/analyze) proposed legislation in detail.
Political Party: A group of people who share political ideas and work together to achieve power at local or national level (e.g., The Labour Party or the Conservative Party).
The Cabinet: Senior members of the Government who hold ministerial jobs.
The law limits the number of ministers in the Cabinet.
Ministers receive more money than MPs.
The most senior ministers are the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Home Secretary, and the Foreign Secretary.
The Cabinet meets regularly at 10 Downing Street.
The Prime Minister chairs Cabinet meetings.
The Prime Minister decides who is in the Cabinet and can sack them at any time.
The Opposition: All parties not in government who are 'in opposition' to the Government.
The largest opposition party = 'Her Majesty's Official Opposition'.
UK - currently the Conservative Party form the Government, the Labour Party are the Official Opposition
General Elections: Held every 5 years!
UK Parliament:
Approve new laws
Make decisions
House of Commons:
Make laws
Debate proposals
Review proposals
House of Lords:
Check proposed laws
Suggest amendments
The Queen:
Approves laws
How Laws are Made – UK
Prime Minister: The Head of Government. The monarch is the Head of State (In the USA, the President holds both posts). The Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons and is an elected MP.
Legislature: A body normally elected that decides upon the laws that apply to a state. In the UK, Parliament is the legislature (in the USA, Congress is the legislature).
Civil Service: Employees of the state who administer public policy.
Political Parties: A group of people who share a common ideology and political beliefs and wishes to win elections in order to carry out their ideas.
The Institutions of the British Constitution
The Power of Government: The body that makes, proposes, and carries out policy and laws.
The Prime Minister and Cabinet
The Sovereignty of Parliament: Only Parliament can make and change laws.
The Roles of the Legislature: Another name for Parliament which can make laws, through the House of Commons or House of Lords.
The Opposition: The 'official opposition' is the name given to the largest party in the Commons not in power. The opposition are MPs representing parties not in government.
Political Parties
The Monarch
Citizens
The Judiciary
The Police
The Civil Service is based upon three core principles
Impartiality: Civil Service serves the Crown and not a specific government.
Anonymity: They should not be identified or associated with specific policies.
Permanence: They stay in post when a government leaves office and serve whichever government is in power.
The UK Constitution is described as being unwritten and uncodified.
Structure of Government
Tiers: Another term for levels of government.
Central Government: Term used to describe the government of the UK.
Devolved Government: Name given to the bodies created under the policy of devolution, such as the Scottish Parliament.
Devolved Powers: Decisions now being made by the devolved bodies (e.g., Welsh Assembly).
Reserved Powers: Still taken by the UK Parliament on behalf of all parts of the UK (e.g., defence and foreign policy).
The term government refers to a range of structures that operate within a state, often prefixed by words such as central, national, regional, or local. These refer to the geographical reach of the powers of these bodies. These different levels of government are often referred to as tiers of government.
Some authorities elect mayors (e.g., In London Sadiq Khan (Labour) is the Lord Mayor
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Responsibilities:
Education
Highways,
Transport planning
Passenger transport
Social care
Housing
Libraries
Leisure and Recreation
Environmental health
Waste collection
Waste disposal
Planning applications
Strategic planning
Local tax collection
Economic Development
Elections
Food Safety and Hygiene
Licensing
Local Plans and Planning Applications
Markets
Pest Control
Refuse Collection
Sports Centres
Street Cleaning
Trading Standards
Tree Preservation
ARLE SHILTON TOWN COUNCIL
the grass roots level are town and parish councils including Earl Shilton Town Council which has 14 Councillors representing 4 Wards.
The Town Council acts as a consultee and lobbying force with both the County and District councils, putting forward the wishes and needs of the local community.
The list of the Statutory Spending Powers of Parish Councils gives examples of things that Parish councils can do with legislation that provides the power to act and therefore to spend money on.
Responsibilities of Parish and Town Councils include:
Allotments
Cemeteries
The devolved powers can make decisions on areas such as agriculture, education, health and social care, housing and local government
Elections and Voting
Local Elections: Elections held for councillors to local councils, typically in May after the fixed term of office has expired.
Lords Spiritual: The 26 bishops of the Church of England who are members of the House of Lords.
Voter Turnout: The percentage of voters who actually vote against the total number who are registered to vote.
Voter Apathy: A lack of interest by citizens in the electoral and political process.
Electoral Commission: A government-established body that monitors and oversees all UK elections and referendums.
Who Can Stand for Election?
Must be at least 18 years old.
British Citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland.
Cannot stand for more than one constituency.
Who Cannot Stand for Election?
A Civil Servant
Police
In the armed forces
A government-nominated director of a commercial company
A judge
Peer in the House of Lords (including bishops known as the Lords Spiritual).
Candidate Selection (typical method):
Local party advertises in party journals for applicants.
Applicants must be on a list approved by the National party.
Local party workers create a shortlist after interviewing potential candidates.
A 'returning officer' (from another local branch) oversees the procedure.
Potential candidates attend a meeting of party members.
Candidates send a leaflet to all party members asking for their vote.
Who Can Vote in Elections?
A British Citizen, or a member of the EU or Commonwealth living in the UK.
Anyone 18 and over can register to vote.
Not suffering any legal incapacity to vote.
Who Cannot Vote in Elections?
Members of the House of Lords.
People in prison.
Anyone found guilty in the last 5 years of illegal practices in connection with an election.
Been detained under certain sections of the Mental Health Act.
In Scotland, the voting age for local and Scottish Parliament elections is 16.
Citizen Participation in a Democracy
Participation: To take part in something.
Apathy: Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Voter apathy is a lack of interest in voting, i.e., not casting your vote.
How Can Citizens Participate in a Democracy?
Beyond voting, you can get involved in campaigning for a local or national pressure group to bring about change.
Participation can range from a donation to active involvement, such as:
Taking part in a campaign.
Raising funds.
Raising awareness.
Collecting names on a petition.
Lobbying or writing letters.
Meeting those you wish to convince/influence.
Taking part in direct action/protests.
Joining a political party.
Standing for election.
Barriers to Participation
Language, access to education, poor housing, employment/unemployment, state of health, disability.
Voter Apathy – Concerns
Lack of citizen involvement in the political process.
Membership of political parties is in decline.
Young people often don't vote in elections.
Concerns about the future of democracy if young people don't engage.
A 'healthy' democracy is judged by the degree of citizen involvement.
The number of people who vote in elections has declined since WWII.
Political parties have difficulty raising funds.
Small groups or individuals may have too much influence on the political process.
Young People & Participation
Citizenship Education was introduced as a curriculum subject in 2003.
Many young people are involved in political protests.
A large number of young people do voluntary work and raise money for people in need.
Young people are often interested in 'single issues' (e.g., University fees).
Responses to Voter Apathy
Make it easier to get a postal vote or consider online voting (with fraud concerns).
Having voting over several days - including a Saturday when people have more time to vote.
Education about the importance of voting and the policies of different parties.
Changing the voting system (e.g., Proportional Representation).
Barriers to Participation in the Democratic Process
Lack of interest or apathy.
A lack of faith in politicians and the political process.
A belief that their participation will not make a difference.
A lack of information or understanding about how to participate.
The issues are not important to them.
They lead busy lives.
Attempts to Make Voting Easier
Making Citizenship compulsory in schools.
Other Suggestions
Compulsory voting.
Lowering the voting age to 16.
Allowing online voting.
Allowing weekend voting.
Changing polling hours.
Opening polling stations in different locations.
Encouraging postal voting or telephone voting.
Young people will vote on issues they feel are relevant to them.
109,000 16-17 year olds registered to vote for the Scottish referendum, making the final turnout 84%
Brexit Referendum Statistics
Referendum to Leave the EU
Turnout 72.2%
Leave 51.9%
Remain 48.1%
UK Political Party Membership (as of July 2016)
Labour: 515,000 members
Scottish National Party: 120,000
Liberal Democrats: 76,000
Green Party (England and Wales): 55,500
UKIP: 39,000
Plaid Cymru (Wales): 8,300
Conservative Party: 149,800 members (as of December 2013 - latest published figure)
The SNP is now the UK's second-largest political party, but overall party membership in the UK remains tiny compared to other countries in Europe.
Several parties in the EU have more members than Labour, the Conservatives, and the Lib Dems combined.
Reasons FOR Lowering the Voting Age to 16
Scotland's positive experience with 16- and 17-year-olds in the 2014 independence referendum led to the lowering of the voting age for local and Holyrood elections.
Young people should have a say in matters that directly affect them, such as tuition fees.
A study by the University of Edinburgh found that some teenagers were initially doubtful of their own abilities to make the right decision, but this led them to actively seek out information to help inform their judgment.
Lowering the limit will encourage civic-mindedness at an earlier age and establish an interest in the political system, which will be continued throughout a person's life.
Reasons AGAINST Lowering the Voting Age to 16
16-year-olds haven't yet entered the world of home ownership, employment, tax, or pensions but these economic issues are often at the forefront of election campaigns.
Lack of experience prevents young people from making a considered judgment at the ballot box.
18-to 24-year-olds have the lowest turnout of any age group in elections, reflecting an apparent lack of interest in politics.
Teenagers who do want to cast their votes would be impressionable and easily influenced by radical politics, or would not fully think things through and would blindly vote for the same party as their parents.
Electoral Reform Society
The Electoral Reform Society is a founding member of the Votes at 16 coalition. Votes at 16 are supported by the SNP, Labour, Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson.
Economic Systems and Government
Command Economy: A national economy where all elements of the economic system are controlled by the government.
Market Economy: A national economy where most of the economy is run by the private sector, and the state owns and runs limited elements.
Mixed Economy: A national economy that has elements run and owned by the state and others run by the private sector.
Budget: An annual statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the House of Commons about the taxation and spending policy for the forthcoming year.
Nationalised: Where the state owns and runs a part of the economy.
Real Government Spending: The change in the amount government spends after taking account of inflation.
Manifesto: A document provided by a political party at the time of an election outlining the policies it would like to introduce.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The value of all the goods and services created in a country, normally measured on an annual basis.
Government can increase public spending by raising money the following ways:
Increase tax.
Borrow money (from World Bank)
Areas potentially needing more money:
Welfare; education; health; the elderly;
Electoral Systems
Constituencies: A named geographical area consisting on average of about 65,000 voters which elects a single MP to the UK Parliament.
First Past the Post: An election system based upon the candidate with the highest number of votes cast being elected.
Proportional: A system of voting whereby the number of people elected relates to the number (percentage) of votes cast.
Supplementary Voting: A voting system used in the UK where voters have a second vote which is used in the election process if no candidate gets 50 percent of the first choice votes.
Some people want the voting system changed in the UK from First Past the Post because the number of seats won does not reflect the number of votes (see the table on the right for the results of the 2017 election).
Electoral Systems
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Voters rank candidates on the ballot paper in order of preference - their favourite as number 1, second favourite as number 2, etc.
Candidates need a set amount of votes in order to be elected.
This means that if someone's first-choice candidate does not meet this requirement and will not get elected, their votes gets moved to their second choice.
In the end, rather than just sending one MP, constituencies are able to send a 'team' of MPs that best represents the spread of votes in that area.
First Past the Post
The UK is split into 650 constituencies, in each one voters put a cross in the box next to their preferred candidate
***he candidate with the most votes becomes theMP for that constituency.
The Alternative Vote System (AV)
Voters put a "1" but their first choice candidate, a "2" by their second choice, etc.
If one of the candidates immediately wins an overall majority - over 50% of the votes - then they are automatically elected.
If no-one gets a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and their votes move to the second preference.
Produces a "strong government
Produce and strong government through majorities
Produces "strong" government
Political Ideologies
Two-Party System: A political system that is dominated by two political parties, each of which may at some time form a government.
New Right: A view of conservatism (linked to Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s) that limiting the impact of the state on business and lowering taxation and what services the state provided was the best means of increasing national wealth and allowed for personal empowerment and increased social mobility.
Individual Liberty: The concept that in a modern democracy people have the freedom to make their own choices and decisions.
Tolerance: A concept based upon the idea that in a modern society people show understanding of others with differing views and opinions.
Political Ideology: The different ideas and policies that political parties have and the values that help a political party decide on any political issue. Traditionally, political parties have been labeled as being to the right, left, or center.
Examples of how the Manifestos differ between the different Political Parties.
For example:
Education:
Con: Increase overall schools budget in England by 4bn by 2022
Lab: Abolish university tuition fees and reintroduce maintenance grants
*LD:Spend 7bnextra on education, increasing school budgets and the Pupil Premium
Parliament's Role in Holding the Government to Account
Scrutinize: Examine and inspect closely and thoroughly the work of government.
Private Members Bill: A bill, a draft for law, that is proposed by an MP.
Public Bills: Bills proposed by government ministers.
Private Bills: Bills promoted by organizations (e.g., local authorities or private companies).
Hybrid Bills: These mix the characteristics of public and private bills and affect the general public as well as specific groups and individuals (e.g., the construction of the HS2 rail line).
NDPBs: Non-departmental public bodies, formerly quangos.
Quangos: Quasi-autonomous non-government organizations. These are bodies that work with the government, sometimes carrying out services on behalf of the government and funded by the government.
Ways in Which Parliament Can Hold the Government to Account
Questions: MPs can ask ministers and the Prime Minister questions.
Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs): Questions answered by the PM every Wednesday. The Leaders of the Opposition get the first opportunity to ask questions, then the backbench MPs can.
Work of Committees: Committees work for Parliament and draft laws.
Select committees investigate the work of each government department, demanding answers to questions.
Backbench Business Committees can select motions for debate, such as e-petitions that have had over 100,000 signatures.
Debates: MPs can take part in Parliamentary debates, allowing MPs and Lords to discuss government policy, propose new laws, and discuss current issues. A vote is taken at the end of the debate.
The Civil Service and its employees play an important role in British life by making sure that the Government policy is carried out. Although it serves the Government of the day, it is politically independent by which it ensures the functioning of the system, stability, and security.
Powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Prime Ministers have certain constitutional powers, and their power is assured through 'primus inter pares': first among equals.
How well they use these powers depends on their personality and political style.
The Prime Minister does not have the constitutional authority a US President has and is not directly elected by the voters.
A governing party can replace the Prime Minister without consulting the voters, as Labour did when it elected Gordon Brown to replace Tony Blair in 2007.
Other Powers and Influence
Most MPs seek promotion, and the PM can use this ambition to ensure loyalty.
Sometimes, a Prime Minister will appoint rivals into the Cabinet.
Prime Ministers can use the protocol of 'collective responsibility' to silence Cabinet critics. Once a cabinet meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, makes the decision, all cabinet Ministers must support it, whether they agree with it or not. If they speak out in public, they must resign.
The Prime Minister can re-shuffle Cabinet Ministers to different Cabinet posts and has the power of appointment of junior ministers, senior civil servants, bishops, and judges.
Special Advisers
Prime ministers and other ministers often appoint special advisers. They are an additional resource for the Minister, providing assistance from a standpoint that is more politically committed and politically aware than would be available to them from the Civil Service.
Some are critical of how much special advisers are consulted compared to Cabinet colleagues.
Key Parliamentary Roles
The Speaker
The Speaker of the House of Commons is elected to the post by their fellow MPs and chairs debates in the Commons Chamber. The Speaker is the chief officer and has the highest authority in the Commons. The Speaker interprets the rules of the House, and can bar members, decide who speaks, and can call ministers to the House to make statements. There are three Deputy Speakers who can also chair sittings of the House (the Chairman of Ways and Means, the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means, the Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means) and once elected, these MPs withdraw from any active political role.
The Lord Speaker is elected by members of the House of Lords. Politically impartial, they are responsible for chairing the debates in the Lords chamber and offering advice on procedure.
Whips
Whips are MPs or Members of the House of Lords appointed by each party in Parliament to help organize parliamentary business and to ensure that their party's MPs turn out and vote according to the party's wishes. Every week, whips send out a notice (called 'The Whip') to their MPs and Lords detailing parliamentary business for the week and giving instructions on how to vote.
Frontbench MPs
Frontbenchers sit on the front green benches nearest to the Speaker in the House of Commons. On the government side, this is where ministers sit, and on the opposition benches is where the shadow ministers representing the official opposition party sit.
Backbench MPs
A backbencher is an ordinary MP who holds no government or opposition post, so therefore sits behind the front bench on the backbenches.
Black Rod
Black Rod is a senior officer in the House of Lords who is responsible for its security. Black Rod is also the Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and is responsible for and participates in the major ceremonial events at the Palace of Westminster (e.g., during the State Opening of Parliament).
Citizen Action and Influence
Lobbying: A campaigning method whereby members of the public speak to their MP in the central lobby at the House of Commons to enlist their support for their cause.
House of Commons: The first chamber of Parliament made up currently of 650 elected members. The government is formed based on the composition of this chamber, which is a legislative chamber that also holds the government to account.
E-petitions: A means whereby petitioning can take place online. The government has introduced its own system, and many campaign groups have set up their own systems to gather support.
Human Rights: These are basic rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled. Since the end of the Second World War, these rights have been written into a large number of international charters.
E-petitions are an easy way to have concerns heard by Government and Parliament. E-petitions enable members of the public to petition the House of Commons and press for action from the government. E-petitions have to ask for a specific action from the government or the House of Commons and should be about something which the Government or the House of Commons is responsible for. A petition will need to be supported by at least six people before it is published on the petitions site for other people to sign. An e-petition will stay open on the e-petitions website for six months.
Gaining Support
If the Petitions Committee decides that a petition should be debated in the main House of Commons Chamber, it would take that request to the Backbench Business Committee. The Petitions Committee will take the threshold of 100,000 signatures as a starting point when it considers which petitions should be debated. But sometimes the Committee might not put forward a petition for debate if it’s got over 100,000 signatures – for example, if the same subject has recently been debated or if a debate is going to happen soon. If that’s the case, we’ll tell you how you can find out more about parliamentary debates on the issue raised by your petition.
Action to bring about political change
Join an interest or pressure group
Join a political party or even stand for election
Campaigning
Advocacy (taking action)
Petitions and e- petitions
Joining a demonstration
Volunteering e.g. for a charity