Democracy in the UK

Question 1

What is the UK parliament?

Answer 1

The UK parliament is the supreme decision making body in the UK. Although Scotland has had its own parliament and still make laws and decisions for the whole of the UK, on important matters such as controlling the armed forces and managing the economy.

Question 2

What is the power of appointment? Give an example of when it has been used.

Answer 2

This means he can hire and fire cabinet ministers from their positions. This makes him powerful because he can use the power to reward loyalty amongst his MP’s and this can be influential in encouraging others to agree with him to get promoted. For example, the PM promoted Sajid Javid home secretary after Amber Rudd’s resigned in May 2018.

Question 3

Name 3 examples of reserved powers:

Answer 3

Foreign policy
Drug laws
Benefits and social security

Question 4

Name 3 examples of devolved powers:

Answer 4

Education
Health
Justice

Question 5

What is political campaigning mean?

Answer 5

The governments promote their party and its policies on media’s, in person or through leaflets/posters.

Question 6

What is the power to control drug laws (reserved power) mean? Give an example

Answer 6

The UK government makes decisions about drug laws like deciding what drugs to criminalise and at what levels. For example, cannabis was reclassified back to a class B drug in 2009.

Question 7

What is the power to control foreign policy (reserved power) mean? Give an example

Answer 7

All foreign policy decisions are made by the UK government. This includes decisions like whether to launch military action on another country. For example, in 2018, the government made the decision to launch airstrikes against the Asaad regime in Syria after he used chemical weapons against his own citizens.

Question 8

What is the power to control benefits ans social security (reserved power) mean? Give an example

Answer 8

The UK government makes decisions about the types of benefits that will be available to those living in the UK. These benefits usually are in place to help people who are sick, disabled or unemployed. For example, in 2013 the new benefits system, Universal Credit, was rolled out across the UK, which replaced lots of other benefits into one monthly payment.

Question 9

What is the power to control education (devolved power) mean? Give an example

Answer 9

WIP

Question 10

What is the power to control health (devolved power) mean? Give an example

Answer 10

WIP

Question 11

What is the power to control justice (devolved power) mean? Give an example

Answer 11

WIP

Question 12

What is canvassing? Give an example

Answer 12

This is when political party representatives and volunteers hand out leaflets and persuade people to vote for their party out on the street before an election. For example, Nicola Sturgeon recently joined canvassing efforts in Leven to spread the SNP’s messages before the 2019 general election.

Question 13

What is using the media mean? Give an example

Answer 13

Political parties can pay to advertise on social media websites and apps like Facebook and Twitter and can use this to connect with voters directly and spread their party policies. For example, the Conservative party recently began sharing memes on their Twitter account to spread their policies before the 2019 general election, asking people to #BackBoris.

Question 14

What is producing a party political broadcast mean? Give an example

Answer 14

The party political broadcasts are a chance to share the party’s message on television and can help raise the profile the profile for the party’s leader. All political parties must be given a slot on television channels to share their advert. For example, Jeremy Corbyn appeared in Labour’s party political broadcast in 2017, where he shared the party’s message of “For the many, not the few”.

Question 15

What does leader of the cabinet do for the prime minister?

Answer 15

The Cabinet are the main body of the government who control policy decisions. This makes him powerful because it means that he is the one who controls the agenda and the Cabinet can only discuss what he wants. If the members of the cabinet disagree with him, they must resign- this is known as collective responsibility. In 2018, Amber Rudd made the decision to resign as Home secretary.

Question 16

What does the head of the civil service give the prime minister?

Answer 16

The civil service carry out research and provide the Prime Minister and government ministers with information to help make policy decisions. This makes him powerful because it gives the PM knowledge to help him push through legislation in parliament. Other parties, who do not form the government do not have access to these civil servants and this puts them at a disadvantage.

Question 17

What is the right to vote? Give an example.

Answer 17

People over the age of 18 have the right to vote in UK elections. These can be for electing representatives to the parliament or to make decisions on key issues affecting our future. For example in 2016, citizens were able to vote on a referendum to decide the UK’s future with the European Union.

Question 18

What is the right to protest? Give an example

Answer 18

We have the right to protest about things we are passionate about or want to change. We can do this by joining marches or organised demonstrations. For example, Extinction Rebellion organised a “die-in” demonstration at the Natural History Museum of London in April 2019 to protest against the government’s lack of action on climate change.

Question 19

What is the right to join a political party? Give an example

Answer 19

People living in the UK have the right to join a political party they agree with. Citizens usually pay some money to join a party they like and as a member of a political party you get to vote on the party leader. In 2014, after the Scottish Independence referendum, more than 750,000 people joined the SNP.