Citizenship Flashcards
What are promotional/interest groups?
Promotional or public interest groups promote collective rather than selective goods. They aim to help groups other than their own members.
What are flying pickets
pickets transported from one region to another
What are four factors needed for a successful campaign?
Funding
Performance/technical ability
Planning/scheduling
Teamwork
What happened in the suffragette movement?
By 1903 women became more and more angry then Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union with her two daughters Chrstabel and Sylvia. The Union was known as the Suffragettes who were prepared to use violence in achieving what they wanted. They burned down churches as the Church of England was against what they wanted; they vandalized Oxford Street, apparently breaking all the windows in this famous street; they chained themselves to Buckingham Palace as the Royal Family were seen to be against women having the right to vote. Politicians were attacked as they went to work. Their homes were fire bombed. The Suffragettes were quite happy to go to prison. Where they refused to eat and went on a hunger strike. They were force fed in prison by prison officers to stop them dying and becoming martyrs. As time went on the Suffragettes became more extreme. The most famous act associated with the Suffragettes was at the June 1913 Derby when Emily Wilding Davison threw herself under the King’s horse, Anmer, as it rounded Tattenham Corner. She was killed and the Suffragettes had their first martyr. By 1914 the first world war and the responsibilities for women meant that they could vote over the age of 18 and it was not till 1928 that women finally got their rights to vote equally as a man did when they turned 21
What is an insider group?
– a pressure group recognised by the government, who are consulted when forming laws or policies due to their specialised knowledge or interest
What is advocacy?
public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
What is a target group?
the organisation a particular action is aimed at
What did Live8 campaign for?
LIVE 8 is part of a day of action across the world which kick-starts The Long Walk to Justice that calls on the leaders of the world’s richest countries to act when they meet in Gleneagles on 6th-9th July. On July 2nd in London, Edinburgh, Philadelphia, Berlin, Paris and Rome millions will be coming together to call for complete debt cancellation, more and better aid and trade justice for the world’s poorest people.
What is propaganda?
specially created information that makes people think in a particular way
What does compulsory mean?
required, forced to do so by law
What is political literacy?
knowledge of politics and how democracy works
What is campaigning?
actions or events organised by an individual or a group to achieve an aim
What is a pressure group?
a group of people who take action to try to influence the national or local government about a specific issue
What is direct action?
form of protest used to bring about attention to a target group and the general public
What are some examples of promotional groups?
Greenpeace – direct action – boycott buying non dolphin friendly tuna
Peace One Day – indirect action – on-line petitions
Oxfam
What could direct action include?
. It could involve a strike, march, speech, demonstration or boycott
What is a community?
the people living in an area or place, or the people who work in a particular place, for example; the school community
What is an advocate?
a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
What are pickets?
people who stand outside a place of work trying to persuade (other) workers not to enter
What are sectional/interest groups?
seek to protect and enhance the interests of their members (or the section of society they represent)
When did women gain the same voting rights as men in the UK?
In 1928.
What are some examples of insider groups?
Fifa
Police force
Church of England
What is suffrage?
the right to vote
What are some international pressure groups?
Greenpeace
Amnesty international
What are some examples of sectional/interest groups?
Any trade union
Medical association
The law society
What could indirect action include?
Such action includes letter writing, petitions, e-mails and voting.
How can the internet be used in campaigning?
Fundraising page Communication Publicity Information sharing Finding evidence for a case/research
What is lobbying?
a person or group of people trying to persuade a politician to support and take up their cause
What is indirect action?
a form of campaigning to gather support for an issue
What are some National pressure groups?
British deaf association
Muslim council of Britain
UKyouth
What is a focus group?
a group of people assembled to participate in a discussion about a product before it is launched, or to provide feedback on a political campaign, television series, etc.
Name a recent national campaign?
Keep Britain Tidy
UK Youth- (Lower voting age)
StayTeen (prevention of teenage pregnancy)
What is responsibility?
– something that we are expected to do; a duty. It could be moral or legal
What is a contract of sale?
Formal contract by which a seller agrees to sell and a buyer agrees to buy, under certain terms and conditions spelled out in writing in the document signed by both parties.
What are the three main acts that deal with discrimination in the workplace?
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975
The Race Relations Act 1976
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
What does the disability discrimination act of 1995 deal with?
has now been repealed and replaced by the Equality Act 2010 ([1]), except in Northern Ireland where the Act still applies. Formerly, it made it unlawful to discriminate against people in respect of their disabilities in relation to employment, the provision of goods and services, education and transport.In addition to imposing obligations on employers, the Act placed duties on service providers and required “reasonable adjustments” to be made when providing access to goods, facilities, services and premises.
What is a written statement of employment?
is a document than an employee should receive within 8 weeks from the start of their employment. It sets out the terms of your employment.
What responsibilities do employees have under the Health and Safety at work act (1974)?
to take reasonable care of your own health and safety
if possible to avoid wearing jewellery or loose clothing if operating machinery
if you have long hair, or wear a headscarf, make sure it’s tucked out of the way as it could get caught in machinery
to take reasonable care not to put other people - fellow employees and members of the public - at risk by what you do or don’t do in the course of your work
if you drive or operate machinery, you have a responsibility to tell your employer if you take medication that makes you drowsy. If you have, they should temporarily move you to another job if they have one for you to do
What does the Health and Safety Executive do?
set policy, give advice and work with local authorities to enforce the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
When did the Factories Act come about and what does it say?
The Factories Act 1961 = employers and employees responsible for health and safety at work
When did the Equal Pay act come about and what does it say?
The Equal Pay Act 1970/1984 = people doing the same work are paid the same
When did the National Minimum Wage act come about and what does it say?
The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 = ensures minimum wage paid according to age (starting at age 16)
What is discrimination?
treating someone unfairly because they are different in some way such as gender, age, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, religion
Who is responsible for organizing health and safety at work?
The two organisations responsible for Health and Safety at work; the Health and Safety Executive and the Health and Safety Commission merged together on 1st April 2008 to become the Health and Safety Executive
What is sustainability?
where natural resources are used and replaced so that they are not depleted
What is community cohesion?
an area of people sharing the same ideas and values, providing a sense of belonging, identity and equal opportunity
What should the statement of employment include?
- The title of the position
- The description of the job
- The address of the employer
- Location/s of the place of work
- Normal working hours and days
- Details concerning overtime
- Arrangements for sick pay
- Holiday entitlement
- Notice of termination: both parties
- Information on disciplinary procedures
What does the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 cover?
The Act is in 4 parts:
Part I covers general duties,the Health & Safety Commission (HSC) and Executive (HSE), the power to make regulations and Codes of Practice, enforcement and penalties;
Part II establishes the Employment Medical Advisory Service
Part III relates to Building Regulations; and
Part IV covers various amendments and other general issues.
what are some statutory rights body that gives advice on consumer rights?
Committee of Advertising Practice
European Consumer Centre for Services (ECCS)
Food Standards Agency
What is a right?
an entitlement given to us by law
What is the economy?
– the financial and production levels of a country or region in relation to the manufacture and sale/use of goods and services
When did the Employments Rights act come about and what does it say?
The Employment Rights Act 1996 = an equal opportunities law, the main employment law
What information should employers know and what rights do workers have?
Pay: Everyone is entitled to the National Minimum Wage, men and women get paid the same for the same work.
Working Hours: Working Time Regulations limit number of hours worked in a week, unless you have chosen to minimum standards of work breaks and leave.
Family Life: Working parents have rights including maternity, paternity and parental leave, flexible working hours and time off.
Unfair dismissal: Rights to claim UD after 12 months employment.
Discrimination: Right to be treated fairly regardless of gender, age sex, religion, beliefs, disabilities etc.
Part-time or fixed term work: workers under these contracts, protected under the same law as other workers.
When was the Office of Fair Trading set up?
1973
What does the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) say?
This Act gives employers and employees the responsibility to work together to ensure the workplace is safe and healthy. Employers have to provide training in all parts of the job, from lifting heavy objects and using ladders to the use of electrical equipment and computers. They are to carry out risk assessments and give staff handbooks that contain H & S policy. It is the responsibility of the employee to let their employer know if they think a situation is dangerous or unhealthy and must stop working if they believe conditions to be dangerous.
What does the Sex discrimination act of 1975 deal with?
The Sex Discrimination Act is concerned with
direct and indirect discrimination against:
•men and women on the grounds of sex;
• married persons on the grounds of their marital status;
•men and women on the grounds of gender reassignment;
• any person on the grounds of victimisation for asserting a statutory right to equality of treatment.
The Act covers all employers regardless of their size, and lends protection to all employees includingagency workers and vocational trainees.
What is direct discrimination?
When a person is treated less well, in comparison with someone else, because of his or her racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
What does the Race relation Act of 1976 deal with?
The Race Relations Act 1976 applies to discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, nationality and ethnic and national origins. Both direct and indirect discrimination are covered by the legislation which applies to all stages of employment: arrangements made for deciding who is offered a job; the terms on which the job is offered; opportunities for promotion, training and transfer; the benefits and services granted to employees; and in job termination or other unfavourable treatment of employees. The Act provides for a few, specific exemptions where it may be a genuine occupational qualification (GOQ) to be a member of a particular race, ethnic group, etc. The list of genuine occupational qualifications includes actors, models, personal welfare offices and certain jobs in places like restaurants where “for reasons of authenticity” a person of a particular racial group is required, for example a Chinese restaurant.
What is meant by equal opportunities?
treating everybody with the same rights, giving the same chances to all
What does the Sale of Goods act (1979) and its amendments say?
Goods must be of a decent quality and not damaged or faulty.
Goods must be fit for the purpose and do what the manufacturer claims they will. Goods must match the description given on the packaging.
All this means is that goods and services must be provided as they were advertised. If not, the consumer has the right to return the goods promptly and get a full refund. Returning the faulty goods after a certain time period may result in a reduced refund, due to ‘wear and tear’ or replace or repaired.
What are some examples of direct discrimination?
a shop owner who refuses to hire suitably qualified people simply because they are of a certain race or ethnic origin, or an employer who specifies in a job advert that only young people should apply even though the job in question could be done perfectly well by an older person
What duties does an employer have under the Health and Safety at work Act (1974)?
requires employers (and the self-employed) to ensure that non-employees (eg the general public, contractors and contract staff) do not have their health and safety adversely affected by the employer's actions and, where necessary, to give such people information about hazards. ensure that items supplied for use are safe and to supply necessary information about safe use and any testing results. place duties on people in control of premises (landlords, tenants etc), both to ensure that people can use the premises without risks to their health or safety and to control any 'noxious or offensive substances' from being released into the atmosphere
What does The Sale of Goods and Services Act 1982 say?
This covers the same ideas as the 1979 Act and also covers such goods as building and hairdressing. Workmanship should be of reasonable standard and be carried out within a reasonable time period. The details of this type of work should be agreed before hand and written down where appropriate.
When might an employee be able to claim unfair dismissal?
If they have been dismissed because of:
because of their trade union membership, trade union non-membership, trade union activities or proposed activities, or use or proposed use of trade union services
because they failed to accept an unlawful inducement from an employer to give up their trade union rights or to disapply a collective agreement
for reasons relating to jury service
on grounds relating to pregnancy, childbirth or maternity/paternity leave
for taking, or seeking to take, time off for dependants
for taking, or proposing to take, certain specified types of action on health and safety grounds
What are some examples of indirect discrimination?
a translation company insists that all those applying for jobs as translators have driving licenses because there is an occasional need to deliver or collect work from clients. Since this prevents some people with disabilities from applying and as driving is not a core requirement for doing the job, the company is effectively discriminating against this particular group of people, unless it can demonstrate that there is an objective reason to justify this measure.
A department store prohibits its employees from wearing hats when serving customers. This rule means that people whose religious beliefs require them to cover their heads, such as Muslim women, are prevented from working in the shop. The store is indirectly discriminating against this group of people unless it can demonstrate that there is an objective reason to justify the policy.
What does the Trading Standards office do?
Trading Standards Offices are in all local authorities to enforce the law. They give free advice to consumers and investigate complaints. They can work with agencies and authorities for the benefit of consumers and study all aspects of the supply of goods and services.
What is indirect discrimination?
When an apparently neutral specification, criteria or practice would disadvantage people on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation unless the practice can be objectively justified by a legitimate aim.
what are some examples of legal discrimination?
Non-smokers only. Children only. Banks can discriminate who to lend money to.
What does the Secretary of State for
education do?
in charge of all schools. • decide what subjects should be taught. •decide what kind of schools the country needs. • decide how teachers should be trained. • decide on what kind of exams and qualifications schools should offer.
What is a referendum?
voting on a single issue
Who do MP’s represent?
. MPs represent all of the people who live in their constituency, whether or not they voted for him or her.
What are the arguments against lowering the voting age to 16?
They do not have a lot of experience Lack of political literacy Can be swayed by peers and family Mass student hysteria regarding cuts suggests they can't make informed judgements It works at the moment Brain is fully developed at 18
What is a charity?
– local, national or international organisations that run to help others in need
When do local elections take place and why?
Local elections usually take place every year and a fixed number of councillors stand to be elected into a ward (a small area).
What is the House of Lords?
The House of Lords is a place where new laws are looked at and voted on by people who have gained a lot of experience in different areas of life, such as science,
education, medicine, industry, media, law and religion. Some members of the House of Lords belong to the government and they
represent the government’s views during debates.The House of Lords can debate any issue it chooses besides the laws going
through Parliament
Why do people join trade unions?
Workers join trade unions so they can benefit from the services the union provides, without fear of it affecting their job.
What is a bill?
While a new law is being discussed, it’s called a Bill
What does democracy mean?
a system of government of the people of the country, chosen by people (citizens) of that country who elect representatives to make laws and decisions
What is the democratic process?
the actual process of electing the people’s representatives to either local or national government.
Arguments against making the House of Lords fully elected?
Elected Lords would become too political.
It would be too influenced by the policies of parliament.
No need to worry about popularity
They might end up voting for the short-term alone
Reform would remove the current benefits of the system.
What is collective bargaining?
– an agreement negotiated by a union on behalf of its members about an issue such as pay or overtime
How are Lords chosen?
Members of the House of Lords are generally
appointed not elected and they do not receive a salary. Most of the Lords is made up of people appointed by the Queen following recommendations from the Prime Minister, and the leaders of the other main parties also recommend people to represent their own parties.
What do monarchs do?
After the general election, the monarch asks the leader of the party with most MPs if he or she thinks they could form a government. If a Prime Minister wants to resign, it is the monarch he or she gives their resignation to. Gives the royal assent. She reads ‘The Queen’s Speech’, which announces what the
government plans to do in the coming year. The Prime Minister writes the speech for her.
What is an electorate?
the people eligible to vote in an area
How does the single transferable vote work?
Northern Ireland uses the single transferable
vote to elect members to the European
Parliament. Voters rank the candidates in order of preference. First preference votes are counted first. If your first choice has already won enough votes to be elected, or is eliminated as a result of having the least number of votes, then your vote is transferred to your second choice and
potentially on to your third choice and so
on, until all the available seats are filled.
How is a party voted into power?
Each area or ‘constituency’ has the chance to vote for an MP to represent that portion of the country. The votes are counted up and the candidate with the most votes in that area wins a seat in the House of Commons. The House of Commons then, is made up of people who have won the majority of the vote in their constituency and who represent the interests of the proportion of the people in that area. This happens in all of the constituencies in the land and the party who have the most candidates in the House of Commons, wins the election. The party has to have a ‘majority’ which means they have to have a certain number of seats more than the second most popular party.
What are backbenchers?
Most MPs are backbenchers. The backbenches are the seats where an MP sits if he or she is not a government minister
or shadow minister in the opposition parties.
What is green paper?
You set out your ideas and ask for
comments from the public
What are the arguments in favour of lowering the voting age to 16?
“At 16 years of age you are able to marry, pay taxes, and leave home. You can legally have sex, which implies it is the age at which the Government deems you old enough to become a parent.”
Some teens are mature
It effects them as well- they are in education
It would improve political literacy in the younger generation
Learn about politics in school
A lot of young people are aware of serious issues through the use of mass media
Help lower voter apathy but getting people engaged in politics at a younger age
Some adults don’t understand politics either
What is parliament?
– the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the reigning monarch (king or queen) who meet in The Palace of Westminster and are in charge of representing the country when new laws are being made
How can communities get involved in democracy?
Communities can get involved in democracy by forming focus groups, signing petitions and writing to their MP. People can join local or national groups, organisations and charities to help improve situations that involve themselves or others.
How do closed party list systems work?
This system is used in England, Scotland and
Wales to elect members to the European
Parliament. Everyone votes for a party and not a candidate. Several candidates are elected in any one area and these are shared out between the parties according to the proportion of votes cast. So the people who finally get elected are chosen by the party and not by the voters.
Arguments for making the House of Lords fully elected?
More accountable, legitimate and fair
Greater democratic representation
The current system is too old fashioned.
The church should not have a say in politics
What is Proportional representation ?
an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.
What is the general election?
when the country elects (votes for) a new government
What happens after the third reading?
Once a Bill has passed through both Houses, it is sent to the Queen for the Royal Assent. Once it has Royal Assent the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament. It is the law of the land.
Who has the final say, the house of lords or parliament?
The powers of the House of Lords are limited by a combination of law and tradition. The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 mean that the House of Lords can only hold up the law-making process (legislation) for a year at the most. So the House of Commons, as the elected House, has the final say in what becomes law.
What voting system is used in this country?
A basic form of Proportional representation
How will political parties campaign for votes?
Political parties will campaign for votes before an election by addressing groups, crowds and communities. They canvass from door to door, meet and greet the electorate, hold public meetings and debates, take part in broadcast on TV and radio, pay for advertising hoardings, create websites and publish leaflets.
What happens at the second reading?
Shortly afterwards comes the Second Reading. At this point the principles are considered on the floor of the House. The Bill is then sent to be looked at by small groups of MPs who examine the Bill in detail.
What happens if no party has the majority?
If there is no party that shows a majority, then two parties may join together and have their seats counted together as one, then they take the lead, or a big enough lead to take over the country – to win the ‘race’. This is called a ‘coalition’ and is what we have in place now.
What is the media?
– referring to the mass media; television, radio, newspapers, magazines, internet. Capable of regional, national and global communication
What can be done if there is a hung or balanced parliament?
- Even without a clear majority, the party
with the most seats could still form a
government but it risks losing votes in the House of Commons. - We have another general election to try and get a clear winner second time around!
- Two of the main parties join forces, so that
together they would have a clear majority.
This is called a coalition government and the
parties negotiate which policies and laws they
want to pass together.
What is the House of Commons made up of?
The House of Commons is made up of 659 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the voters (the electorate) to each represent an area of the UK which is known as a constituency.
What is an act?
Once a new law is passed, it’s called an Act
What is white paper?
This sets out what you are going to put in the Bill
How are new laws made?
A proposed new law is called a bill. Bills must be agreed by both Houses of Parliament and receive Royal Assent from the Queen before they can become Acts of Parliament which make our law.
What do trade unions do?
Negotiate pay
Negotiate terms and conditions for workers
Provide legal help in disputes
Provide advice and support in disputes with employers
Negotiate with employers on your behalf
Provide training courses for members
Organise official industrial action, such as: a strike, overtime ban, work to rule
How does additional member voting systems work?
The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly use a system called the additional member system. People have two votes. One vote directly elects an MP, as in the UK system, but everyone has a second vote, which is cast in favour of a party, not a candidate. When all the votes are added up,
these second votes are used to create a number of regional MPs in proportion to the votes cast.
What does the House of Lords do?
The House of Lords plays an important role in making laws by very carefully reading through and checking Bills and suggesting changes, many of which are accepted by the House of Commons. It also keeps an eye on the work of the government and makes sure that everything is done properly and in the best interests of the country. Members of the House of Lords can also propose new laws for consideration by both Houses.
What do the councils do?
The County Council is responsible for education, transport, social services, trading standards and waste disposal and the smaller District Council is responsible for leisure, recreation, planning permission, housing, recycling and environmental health.
Within each region, councils nominate representatives that correspond the nine regions of England, (We are in the South East). There is a government office in each region and they carry out the government policies within that region.
What are trade unions?
group of workers in the same trade or profession who join together to protect their rights in the work place and/or to pursue a common interest or change of policy
What do MP’s do?
raising issues affecting their constituents, attending debates and voting on new laws.
What is a manifesto?
a list of policies that a political party promises they would introduce if they were elected
What is our system of voting?
We currently have a ‘first past the post’ (FPTP) system. This is where each voter has one vote. A first-past-the-post (abbreviated FPTP or FPP) election is one that is won by the candidate receiving more votes than any other(s).
What does the Chancellor of the Exchequer do?
• in charge of all the money the government spends. • decide how to raise the money needed each year – through taxes. Also need to convince the House of Commons to pass their budget. Decide how much each government department can spend.
How often do general elections take place?
Every 5 years.
Who is a mass influence on communities and public opinion?
The media.
What is a community group?
– a group of people in a local area who meet together to follow a shared interest or to influence a decision or campaign for a change
What happens at the third reading?
At the Third Reading the Bill is debated and there is a vote. If the Government has a majority, the Bill is then passed to the House of Lords.
What are the requirements for someone to become an MP?
Over 18. • A British or Irish citizen. • A Commonwealth citizen who resides in the UK. • Not a member of the House of Lords. • Not bankrupt. • Not already working for the government or ‘Crown’ (e.g. police force, armed forces, civil servant, judge).
What is a ‘constituency’?
a group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
What is the government?
– a group of people given the authority to make political decisions on behalf of the general public
What does the Prime minister do?
- makes the main decisions about what changes are needed to make the country a better place.
- give out the rest of the top jobs to the people they think will do them best.
- Every week they meet with your team of experts (the Cabinet) to make sure your ideas are on track.
- Every week they meet the Queen to bring her up todate with events.
How is the government chosen?
The prime minister chooses around 100 people to be in the government. They help him run the country.
What does the Home Secretary do?
in charge of all the police forces
in the country.
• in charge of counter-terrorism.
• run the country’s secret services – MI5 and MI6.
What happens at the first reading?
The Bill is introduced by a First Reading. This is simply an official notice that a Bill is going to be proposed and what it’s about. It gives MPs time to prepare and discuss it.
What is a voluntary group?
a group of people who work together without pay to provide a service for others
What is a hung or balanced parliament?
When no party has the
majority of seats
What does the secretary of state
for energy and climate change do?
- decide how best to tackle climate change, for example by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
- advise other departments on how they can help limit damage to the environment.
Why is it important people join groups such as focus groups?
It is important for society that such groups are formed as they offer a chance for people to mix with others who have a common or shared interest. This helps communities gain a broader knowledge and understanding of other backgrounds and cultures, and raises awareness, safety, tolerance and a sense of belonging in the community.
