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NAT 5 Modern Studies > British Politics > Flashcards

British Politics Flashcards

1
Q

How can ppl participate in politics in the UK

How can ppl influence decision makers/politics/ democracy

A

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VOTE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS
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•almost every UK citizen >18 has right to vote

  • every 5 yrs they can choose who they want be their MP in Westminster + which party will form govt
  • most recent 2017

——————————————————————
VOTE IN REFERENDUMS
——————————————————————
• simple YES NO votes which allow ppl to influence decision makers

•e.g 2016 Brexit ref

——————————————————————
JOIN A PRESSURE GROUP YOU SUPPORT
——————————————————————
•Such as Greenpeace or Stop the War Coalition

  • these grps have particular viewpoint and aim to influence politicians with it between elections
  • protesting or sending petitions to parliament
  • e.g Plane Stupid campaign to include govt not to have unnecessary airport expansion

——————————————————————
JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY matches their beliefs
——————————————————————
•attend local party meetings + attend national party conferences

  • gives u influence to vote for which local member will stand as candidate for seat
  • e.g could join Green Party if they feel strongly about introducing laws which protect the environment

——————————————————————
CONTRIBUTE TO PARTY’S ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE PPL TO VOTE FOR UR PARTY
——————————————————————
•might mean handing out leaflets, put up posters or even sharing posts on twitter&facebook which encourage ppl to vote for ur party

•giving lifts to ppl to get to polling station to enable them to vote

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2
Q

What are the reserved powers of Westminster in Scotland

A

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WMIN MAKES DECISIONS WHICH AFFECTS UK FOREIGN POLICY &DEFENCE
——————————————————————
• meaning deciding UK relations with other countries and whether UK will take military action against another country

•e.g UK parliament decided to send troops to Afghanistan &Iraq

——————————————————————
UK MONETARY SYSTEM
——————————————————————
•meaning UK parliament had power to decide which currency is used in UK

•e.g UK used £ sterling and not € despite being member of EU

——————————————————————
IMMIGRATION
——————————————————————
•meaning UK parliament controls no.of how many immigrants are allowed in + how to prevent illegal immigration

•e.g UK parliament was to make landlords check tenants are legally allowed to be in UK

——————————————————————
DECISION ABT SOCIAL SECURITY + WELFARE
——————————————————————
•meaning UK parliament decides how much benefits and tax credits are given to ppl in England and Scotland

• e.g bedroom tax + changes to welfare

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3
Q

Explain why some ppl praise First Past the Post

A

————————————————
EASY 2 UNDERSTAND + USE
————————————————
• all voters have to do is put cross against person of choice
• advantage as simplicity encourages ppl to vote which is good for democracy as results will be more democratic
• also results in less spoilt ballot papers which often happens in the Alternative vote

——————————————————————
FAIR/CANDIDATE WITH MOST VOTES WINS
——————————————————————
• eg Alistair Jack got the most votes out of all candidates and so won D&G in 2017

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4
Q

Explain why some ppl criticise First Past the Post

A

————————————————
MPs+GOVS WIN W/ <50% VOTES
————————————————
• means elected without support of majority of electorate but still represented by them

  • Alistair Jack, DG MP, only won 43% of votes meaning more ppl voted against him
  • Conservatives won in 2015 with only 36% of overall votes

——————————————————————
NOT PROPORTIONAL
——————————————————————
• no.of seats party gets not reflect proportion votes they won

• eg 2015 SNP 4% votes + 56 seats/ Lib Dem’s 8% votes + only 8 seats

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5
Q

Describe the methods used by pressure groups to achieve their aims

A

————————————————
PETITIONS
————————————————
• when signatures collected from ppl feel strongly about issue
• more signatures the better
• then sent to someone like MP or MSP
• eg Stop the War Coalition petition against intervention in Syria
• shows MP strength of public feeling on issue, therefore realise may benefit from their support if so what petition says

——————————————————————
PROTESTS
——————————————————————
• when large group ppl come together to match to important venue to show support or opposition to issue
• eg ppl joined together in George Square to protest potential military action in Syria
• allow a pressure groups make direct contact with public, if lots attend attract widespread media coverage and can influence govt

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6
Q

Devolved powers UK govt gave to Scotland

A

EDUCATION

  • decisions about exams
  • Nat 5s + Highers instead of GCSEs + A levels

HEALTHCARE
- free prescriptions

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7
Q

Describe in detail two features of a democratic country which exist in the UK

A

• GOVT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE

  • ppl choose who runs country
  • elections every 5 yrs

• FREEDOM OF SPEECH
- mean they can able to voice their opinion of govt
- show support or dislike
- as long as legally + not hate speech ppl can’t be arrested
• eg sun newspaper or mock the week

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8
Q

Describe in detail two powers of the prime minister

A

• Can take military action w/o going through parliament
- eg air strikes on chemical weapons sites in Syria

• Power patronage

  • appoint members of House of Lords
  • makes MPs loyal
  • appoint cabinet members
  • keep enemies close
  • reshuffle anytime
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9
Q

Describe in detail two roles of the PM

A

• Defend + justify the govt

  • have to answer to parliament during PMQT
  • PMQT: 30 mins every wed
  • questions about govt
  • eg Brexit

• International role

  • Represent the UK at G8 + G20 meetings
  • meet with other world leaders like Macron and Trump
  • meet with EU to discuss Brexit
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10
Q

Describe the outcomes of FPTP

A
  • Normally produces a single party government
  • coalitions mean more ppls views are represented which makes results fairer
  • but DUP only 10 seats but have a say in forming govt policies
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11
Q

Describe two features of FPTP

A

• Candidate w/ most votes wins the seat

  • even if don’t get >50%
  • D+G MP Alistair Jack only 43% vote

• UK split into 650 constituencies of approx 70,000 voters

  • 1 MP per constituency
  • 650 MPs in parliament
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12
Q

Describe the rights and responsibilities of UK citizens

A

• RIGHT TO VOTE

  • over 18
  • eg choose MP in 2017 general election
  • referendums which are on key issues
  • Brexit 2016
  • responsibility to accept results

• FREEDOM OF SPEECH

  • can criticise the govt
  • mock the week/ sun
  • responsibility to do so legally and not hate speech
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13
Q

How can ppl participate in politics in the UK?

A

• VOTE

  • general elections 5 yrs
  • who’ll be their MP
  • which party form govt
  • over 18
  • alistair jack dg MP 2017
  • referendums: yes/no
  • key issues
  • 2016 Brexit

• JOIN PRESSURE GROUPS

  • influence govt more than every 5 yrs
  • show support/ opposition of issue
  • g Greenpeace for ppl who feel strongly about the environment
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14
Q

Why do some people vote in the UK

A

• support a particular party

  • agree with policies
  • eg Labour 2017 promised to eked 0 hour contracts

• vote out a particular party

  • vote every 5 yrs so one chance to voice opinion
  • show disapproval
  • 2015 many Labour MPs lost seats in Scotland to SNP
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15
Q

Explain in detail why some people in the UK do not vote

A

• prefer other methods to influence politics

  • more than every 5 yrs
  • pressure group show disapproval all year
  • eg as UK voter turnout has fallen, pressure group membership increased

• Constituency is a safe seat

  • means same party always wine by large majority
  • D+G was Labour seat for over 20 yrs so other party voters knew their candidate had little chance of winning
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16
Q

How do political parties campaign during elections?

A

• CANVASSING

  • door to door
  • speak w/ public in an attempt to increase voter awareness of party
  • target areas

• PARTY POLITICAL BROADCASTS

  • Opportunity to advertise policies in TV
  • fully in control
  • Greenparty Change the tune
17
Q

Describe in detail two roles of an individual in an election campaign

A

• LISTEN TO DIF ARGUMENTS AND CONDUCT RESEARCH

  • make informed decisions
  • eg read party manifestos and watch leaders debates

• SUPPORT CERTAIN PARTY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE
- eg rural areas like DG farmers often have large billboards for certain candidates on display in their fields to show support

18
Q

Describe in detail two ways in which MPs can represent their constituents in parliament

A

• PMQT

  • every wed for 30 mins
  • PM has to justify govt polices
  • ask questions about issues which concern their constituents

• DEBATE + VOTE

  • represent constituents publicly by speaking during debates
  • raise issues which concern constituents
  • eg Brexit
19
Q

Explain in detail two reasons why some groups feel less represented in the UK parliament

A

• WOMEN

  • only 2 female PM
  • only 34% cabinet
  • 51% pop but only 32% MPs

• ETHNIC MINORITIES

  • never ethnic min PM
  • 14% pop but only 8% MPs
20
Q

Explain in detail two reasons why some groups feel their views are becoming more represented in parliament

A

• WOMEN

  • currently female PM
  • 34% cabinet

• ETHNIC MINORITIES

  • First female Sikh MP
  • 2017 most ethically diverse parliament
21
Q

Describe in detail two roles of the House of Lords

A

• LEGISLATION

  • before a bill can become law it needs to be approved by HoL
  • careful check each bill line by line to make sure it works
  • 2015 HoL blocked cut to tax credits of £4.4 billion

• SCRUTANIZE

  • check govt is working properly for the people
  • join a select committee
  • question give spokesperson 30 mins each day
22
Q

Explain why some people think we should reform the House of Lords

A

• UNDEMOCRATIC

  • not voted in
  • still have role in law making
  • role for life so not accountable to public
  • can’t be voted out

• UNREPRESENTATIVE

  • British society and dif faiths
  • 26 bishops
23
Q

Explain in detail three ways the media can influence elections

A

• TELEVISION

  • tv channels are required by Ofcom to be unbiased
  • party political broadcasts
  • change the tune

• SOCIAL MEDIA

  • politicians regularly use social media to interact with public and spread messages about their party
  • eg tailored ads paid for by party
  • PM TM over 700,000 twitter followers

• NEWSPAPERS

  • share peoples political opinions
  • allowed to be biased
  • sun encouraged readers to vote conservative in 2015 which could have contributed to them winning
  • don’t put Britain in the CorBin
24
Q

Evidence the media can influence

A

• NEWSPAPERS

  • influential in persuading people to vote for specific party
  • eg Sun 2017 Cor-Bin day before election and labour lost
  • raise issues govt then investigated
  • eg Telford grooming sex scandal

• TELEVISION

  • televised debates affect outcome
  • 2015 Nic Sturg did v well and SNP made massive progress in Scotland taking 56 seats
  • 2015 1/3 voters were said to be influenced by the TV debate
25
Q

Evidence the media can’t influence politics

A

• NEWSPAPERS

  • 2017 YouGov showed 52% sun readers didn’t vote
  • ppl buy papers they agree w/

• SOCIAL MEDIA

  • 2017 #VoteLabour was one of top trending hashtags before election
  • Labour social media coverage 3x higher than conservatives
  • Labour still lost
  • Mainly used by young people who can’t or don’t vote
26
Q

Explain in detail why some people in the UK join pressure groups

A

• SO THEY CAN INFLUENCE GOVT ALL YEAR ROUND

  • elections only every 5 yrs
  • protests to show support or opposition

• BC THEY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT AN ISSUE

  • be with a group of people who feel same way as you
  • eg ppl feel strongly about environment join Greenpeace
27
Q

Why are some pressure groups more successful than others?

A

• BC THEY ARE INSIDER PRESSURE GROUPS

  • have ear of govt
  • invited in
  • can influence govt policies
  • eg BMA

• BC THEY DONT USE ILLEGAL ACTIONS

  • govt will take them seriously
  • public will like ten
  • eg Fathers for Justice climbing onto MPs houses - govt not take seriously

NAT 5 Modern Studies (8 decks)

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