9 Markers Flashcards
Explain and analyse three ways in which the cabinet can limit the power of the Prime Minister.
INTRO : Cabinet is made up of all heads of government departments (ministers0 and are appointed by the PM
1 - POWERFUL RESIGNATIONS - show a lack of confidence in the PM eg Blair who lost his former Foreign secretary, Robin Cooke who resigned in protest against the Iraq war
2- MINISTERIAL POWER - Many PMs have had to appoint ministers who represented different aspects of the party in order to ensure the whole party was represented equally throughout the cabinet eg Blair with Brown supporters such as Ed Balls who in turn prevented certain policies
3- BIG PERSONALITIES - some appointments can have big personalities, known as Big Beasts - can be difficult to control eg BoJo openly critiqued Theresa may in 2018 on her Brexit legislation
Explain and analyse three ways in which minor parties can have an impact upon the political agenda in the UK.
INTRO : Parties outside the main political parties
1- REPRESENTATION : can better represent peoples beliefs unlike the larger parties who have to appeal to all aspects eg greens are a socialist alternative to labour
2- DEVOLUTION : within the National Assemblies minor parties play a major role, represent regional identities eg SNP in Scotland who usually dominate, 3rd largest party in 2019
3- AGENDA-SETTING : Minor parties are often influential in raising issues eg Reform and immigration or SNP in 2014
Explain and analyse three factors that explain why some pressure groups are more successful than others
intro: pressure groups are groups of individuals that aims to influence political decsion making
1-Insider status : allows you to be close to lawmakers and genuinely effect policy. EG trade unions under a labour government
2-Membership : National trust highest membership (5million - more then any party) and is very very successful in lobbying for law which will benefit it eg heritage laws
3-In tune with public opinion: after the 1996 Dunblane shooting the snowdrop appeal gained widespread support that led to the 1997
Firearms Act. with real force behind an issue laws can be forced
Explain and analyse three features that help maintain judicial independence#
intro: judicial independence - principle that those in the judiciary shoukd be free from political control
1-Tenure. Because they aren’t under threat of losing their jobs. Less biassed decisions. (retire at 75) wont feel the need to appease any particular minister.
2-Contempt of court. The contempt of court act 1981 made it an offence to not
respect court rulings, and this means there is no pressure from politicians.
3-Separation of powers. In 2005 the constitutional reform act was passed and in 2009 the law lords moved to the supreme court. meaning the judiciary was now completely separate from the legislature and the executive
Explain and analyse three influences upon individual MPs when voting in the House of Commons
INTRO : there are several factors that influence an mp when voting
1- PART ALLEGIANCE : also known as Mandate theory. Is the idea that mps must vote along party lines lines because they are a member of that party. Reinforced by the whipping system
2- CONSTITUENCY CONCERNS : also known as delegate theory. That mps should vote with their constituents in mind as they put them there eg Zac Goldsmith Mp resigned his seat after he promised to oppose the building of a third runway at Heathrow 2016
3- PERSONAL BELIEF : also known as trusteeship, that MPs have been elected and trusted to make the correct decision based their own beliefs and the constituents in mind. Eg on moral issues and open votes on euthanasia and abortion
Explain and analyse three circumstances under which referendums have been held in the UK.
INTRO : referendum is a vote held to settle a particular issue outside of parliament.
1 - 2011 : AV referendum introduced by the coalition government apart of the Lib Dem manifesto to change from FPTP to AV. 68% voted NO on a 48% turnout
2 - 2014 : Scottish independence referendum called after the SNP won a majority in the Scottish elections with a referendum in their manifesto. 55% chose to stay on a 84% turnout - 16yr olds allowed to vote
3 - 2016 : Brexit, promised in the 2015 conservative manifesto to please the euro sceptics. 52% leave on a 72% turnout
Explain and analyse three ways in which membership of the EU has had an impact upon UK politics.
INTRO : uk joined the EU in 1972 and left in 2016
1 - CONSTITUTION : EU law was above UK law, sovereignty issue eg factortame 1990
2 - POLITICAL PARTIES : created divisions eg conservatives and the reform/ UKIP
3- GOVERNMENT the divisions have made it difficult for parties to govern eg 1991 john major and Theresa may 2017
Explain and analyse three ways in which collective responsibility has come under pressure since 1979.
INTRO : is the convention whereby individuals are held accountable for their own actions and the actions of their department. Outwardly be positive about the pm
1 - THATCHER : Geoff Howe cabinet minister resigned in protest over the poll tax 1990
2 - BLAIR : had an ongoing battle with Gordon Brown who he promised to pass power to n 2010
3 - MAY - boris Johnson was openly critical of mays handling of the Brexit negotiations in 2018
Explain and analyse three long-term factors, other than class, that can influence voting behaviour.
INTRO : voting behaviour - term used to describe the way in which different groups of people vote and what factors effect their decision making
1 - ETHNICITY : 2019 64% of BAME voters voted for labour
2 - AGE : most significant determining factor, 56% of 18-24 voted labour in 2019
3- GEOGRAPHY : rural and southern = conservative, urban and north + labour. Regional and nationalist parties tend to be favoured in the devolved bodies eg SNP
Explain and analyse three ways in which the media can have an influence upon the outcome of elections.
INTRO : media is the way in which the public form opinions on parties and their leaders
1 - NEWSPAPERS : effect how leaders are perceived by the public eg the sun portrayed Jeremy Corbyn as “the most dangerous man “ to run for pm (communist)
2 - TV: can have significant impact on the way leaders portray their policies to the public eg TV debates 2019 23% people said they changed their vote after watching
3 - SOCIAL MEDIA : increasingly important in recent years, allows parties to target voters with specific policies by age gender etc. eg 2019 labour spent £1.4 million on social media campaigning
Explain and analyse three ways in which the Official Opposition can challenge the government in the House of Commons.
intro the offical opposition are the 2nd largest party in the commons and has the power to directly scrutinise the party in power and keep them in check
1- PMQs. happens each wednesday, opposition leader asks fist questions and is the only mp allowed to ask follow up questions,
‘political point scoring’. keeps PM on their toes by asking the difficult questions as Tony Blair recalled that it was the most ‘nerve-racking’ experience of his life
2-opposation days. 17 days in the year dedicated to opposition where they can set agenda and present topics they wish to publicise, may be used to challenge gov standpoint eg 2022 labour used an appostion day to disscuss the state of the NHS workforce. often televised so the public so can watch
3- shadow cabinet. the opposition can present themselves as the
‘government in waiting’ with their own ministers, experts and policies. eg labour transport minister can argue against any policy put forward by the government transport minister
Explain and analyse three ways in which UK political parties select their leaders.
INTRO : the way in which parties. Select their leader must be reflective of the democratic nature of the uk
1 - LABOUR : parliamentary Labour Party makes nominations for candidates. Candidates must have been nominated by 20% of the PLP to move to next round. 5% of trade union support. Eg In 2015 labour allowed all members who payed £3 membership fee to vote for the leader
2 - CONSERVATIVES : MPs vote on leadership and are eliminated in rounds. All members then vote on the final 2 using OMOV
3 - LIB DEMS : candidates must be an MP and have the backing of 10 % of all Lib Dem MPs with support from 200 members
Explain and analyse three ways in which the results of elections have an impact on the types of government formed in the UK.
INTRO :
1 - MAJORITY : produce strong governments that are able to push though legislation eg 2024 411/650 labour majority
2 - COALITION : when no party is able to pass the 326 needed they can form a coalition with another party to make up the numbers eg 2010 Lib Dem conservative
3 - MINORITY : when no party is able to pass the 326 mark or form a coalition the party with the most votes is invited to form a minority gov, eg Theresa may 2017 317/650 - very difficult to pass legislation
Explain and analyse three ways in which rights are protected in the UK.
1 - The Uk’s constitutional culture values civil liberties - In addition, there is formal support of human rights by the government. Every Parliamentary Act must contain a declaration that the Act complies with the Human Rights Act 1998. Not so significant as governments can derogate certain rights in times of crisis.
EG: TPIMS 2006 clashed with HRA 1998
2- Current legislation provides a strong legal protection» « for core rights via the interlinked
European Convention of Human Rights mechanism
The ECHR provides protection in the area of human 1) & rights, such as the right to remuneration for work done
Not so significant, as Brexit is removing the safety nef w for certain non-discrimination, migrant and labour rights formerly provided by EU law.
3- The Uk has a relatively strong institutional framework for protecting rights, it regularly brings cases beyonc the courts including the Equalities and Rights Commission, which often brings cases under the Equality Act 2010.
In January 2024 the ECHR ruled that the actions of Bristol University were not justified when a student committed suicide which was believed to be caused by being forced to perform presentations even though she had a known history of social anxiety.
Significant as it illustrates how the constitution has a body to enforce and protect citizens rights.
Explain and analyse three methods used by pressure groups to advance policy objectives
intro: pressure groups are groups of individuals that aims to influence political decsion making
1-Lobbying. Police protections and powers bill 2019 due to Police Federation lobbying.
2-Demonstrations. Just stop oil famous for disruptive demonstrations eg running onto football pitched during live games in front of thousands and tying themselves to goalposts
3-media campaigning. Use of E-petitions, Howard league for penal reform used media to overturn a ban on sending books to prisons in 2014
