L2: Methods of governance/ The structure of govt in the UK

Question 1

What is democracy ?

Answer 1

• A system for choosing and replacing the govt through free and fair elections
• A rule of law in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens
• Protection of the human rights of all citizens

Question 2

Two key Features on Methods of governance:

Answer 2

Thomas Hobbes- (1588-1679)
- Wrote Leviathian (1651)
- Human Nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short
- Believed in absolute king/sovereign
- Social Contract- ‘no right to revolt against him’

John Locke(1632-1704)
- Second Treatise on govt
- King shouldn’t hold absolute power
- Favoured a representative parliament (HOL/HOC)
- Everyone has rights

Question 3

Two other key features on Methods of governance:

Answer 3

Charles Montesquieu
- Wrote The spirit of the laws
- Opposed the absolute monarchy
- Early work on the Separation of powers

Jean-Jacques-Rousseau (1712-1778)
- Wrote the social contract
- Will of the people couldn’t be decided by elected representatives
- Direct democracy in which everyone voted to express the general will and to make the laws of the land.

Question 4

How does the PM get appointed ?

Answer 4

Majority in the common (via an election- held no longer than every five years
OR:
Without a majority (via an election)-during a hung parliament government would need to make up seats either through a coalition or other arrangement;
OR:
The current PM quits
THEN:
Formally Appointed by Head of State

Question 5

What are the responsibilities of the PM ?

Answer 5

• Appointing members of the cabinet
• Managing the cabinet/departments
• Influence and implement policies
• Provide leadership

Question 6

Who are the Cabinet ?

Answer 6

• Heads of Department/ Secretaries of States are in charge of a government department e.g. Education, Enviroment, Health and Social Care, Justice, Defence
• Ranking: PM, Deputy, PM, Chancellor
• These heads of department oversee their department of civil servants