Paper 1 Flashcards
What is identity?
Our sense of who we are.
What is the UK?
A single nation state consisting of 4 constituent nations.
What is immigration?
Moving to and settling in another country.
What is emigration?
Leaving a country with the intention of settling elsewhere
3 Causes of immigration?
Higher standards of living
Improved human rights
More jobs available
3 Causes of emigration?
Civil war
lack of jobs
lack of healthcare
What caused immigration to the UK in the 1950s and 60s?
The Windrush Generation
What caused immigration to the UK in the 1970s and 80s?
South Asians to Bradford and London
What caused immigration to the UK in the 90s and 2000s?
End of the Cold War and increased wages in the UK
What are 3 features of the changing nature of the UK population?
Increased diversity
Increasingly ageing population
Increasingly urban population
What are the 5 key values of the UK?
Democracy
Tolerance
Diversity
Rule of Law
Constitutional Monarchy
What are examples of human rights?
Right to life
Right to freedom from torture
Right to freedom of religion
What are examples of political rights?
Right to vote
Right to free speech
Right to a secret ballot
What are examples of moral rights?
Right to education
Right to freedom of expression
Rights to be credited
What are examples of legal rights?
Right to a fair trial
Equal under Law
Innocent until proven guilty
What are the 3 international treaties?
UN Declaration on Human Rights (1948)
European Convention on Human Rights
UNCR
What are 3 features of local govt?
Deal with local issues
Funded by council tax and national govt
Elected in local elections
What are 3 features of a devolved govt?
To have power over most issues in a constituent nation of the UK
Elected by a constituent nation of the UK
Can’t dictate foreign affairs
Define voter turnout
The number of people who do vote in a constituency COMPARED to those who CAN.
What are three factors affecting voter turnout?
Weather
Voter Apathy
Whether they live in a safe seat
What are the two types of tax?
Direct and indirect
What is an example of indirect tax?
VAT
What are two examples of direct tax?
Fines
Income Tax
What are common right wing views?
Low tax
Limited Public Services
Low spending
What are common left wing views?
High Tax
High spending
More public services
How many constituencies are there in the UK?
650
How many seats does a party need to win to form a single-party government?
326
What are the advantages of First Past The Post?
Strong single-party govt produced
Easy to understand
MPs have strong links to their constituents
What are the disadvantages of First Past The Post?
Smaller parties are under-represented
Elections can be won by a party with less than 50% of votes - not a true representation
Some votes don’t count (safe seats)
What are the three parts of government?
The Executive
The Legislature
The Judiciary
What is the Executive part of Government? What does it do?
The Prime Minister and his Cabinet
Takes Action
What is the Legislature part of Government? What does it do?
Parliament
votes on / amends legislation
What is the Judiciary part of Government? What does it do?
The courts and Judges
Interprets law and sets Legal Precedent
What is common law?
Laws created by a body of judges, when there’s no existing legal precedent.
What are the members of the HOC?
The Speaker
The Black Rod
The Whips
The Front benches
What does the speaker do in parliament?
Manages debates/votes held in parliament
What does the Black Rod do in parliament?
Responsible for security in parliament
Acts as a link between the Lords and the monarch
Invites MPs to hear the Monarch’s speech
What do the whips do in Parliament?
Ensure MPs vote with their party.
What is representative democracy?
When the public elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf
What is direct democracy?
When the public vote directly on issues e.g. in a referendum
What’s a dictatorship?
A state ruled by a group/ leaders who have little-to-no limitations.
What are 3 democratic values?
Equality
The rule of law
Legal rights
What is the role of the government?
To make policy decisions
Proposing legislation in parliament
Handling crises
What is the role of the Prime Minister?
To lead their political party
Setting government direction
Appointing cabinet ministers
What is the role of Parliament?
Vote on passing legislation
Amending Legislation
Hold government to account (PM’s Questions)
What is the role of the Monarch?
Figurehead for the UK
Weekly meeting with PM
Experienced advisor for govt
What are the features of the UK’s Constitution?
Uncodified
Multiple sources:
Precedent
Legislation by Parliament
Common law
What are the principles of law?
Equality before law
Presumption of innocence
Right to legal representation
Right to a fair trial
What are examples of balancing rights to ensure justice/fairness?
Employers right to make money VS employee right to fair treatment
Free speech VS national security
What are the roles of Police?
To ensure the safety of the public
To investigate reported crimes
To enforce Laws
What is criminal law?
Law that deals with issues between individual and state
What is civil law?
Deals with disputes between individuals and organisations
What are the different civil courts in the UK (in order)?
- Supreme court
- Court of Appeals
- High Court of Justice
- County courts
What are the different criminal courts in the UK (in order)?
- Supreme Court
- Court of Appeal
- Crown Court
- Magistrate
What are the features of the Scottish legal system?
15 people per jury, not 12
3 possible verdicts: Not guilty, not proven, guilty
No right to trial by jury
What is the age of criminal responsibility in the uk?
10 years old
When was the magna carta made? What did it state?
1215
Right of churches to be free from govt
Monarch is subject to law
Right to fair trial
What did the Human rights act do?
Implement ECHR rights into UK law.
What did the Equality Act do?
Provide a legal basis for making discrimination a crime
What are Trade Unions?
Organisations that represent workers in a specific field.
What are 3 features of Trade Unions?
Campaign for higher wages
Campaign for better workplace conditions
Employees can’t be stopped from joining
What are the factors effecting crime rates?
Levels of education
Number of police in an area
Levels of sentencing (higher sentences in an area deter crime)
What are 4 types of sentencing?
Prison sentences
Community service
Custodial sentences
Fines
What is community service?
Unpaid hours of work, helping local community
What are custodial sentences?
An order to attend a police station regularly
What are the causes of sentencing?
Public Protection
Rehabilitation / reformation
Severity of crime committed
Deterrence
Legislation
5 Aims of punishment?
Deterrence
Public Protection
Reformation
Reparation
Retribution (revenge)
What are 3 features of the youth legal system?
Carer must be informed of arrests
Minor offences are tried in Youth courts
More lenient sentencing
What is the aim of the youth political system?
To prevent reoffending
