Paper 1 Section B Flashcards
Done
2018 (on section a wrote 2017 that’s wrong.)
Identify the definition of the rule of law.
[1 mark]
A The principle that parliament can make or unmake any law
B The ability of senior judges to establish legal precedent
C The basic principle that everyone is equal under the law
D When the army take control in a time of national emergency
Identify the definition of the rule of law.
Correct answer – C
AO1 = 1
Identify two roles of a legislature.
[2 marks]
Identify 2 roles of a legislature. 1 mark for each appropriate role identified. The response may include: • Representation • Political participation • Scrutiny or oversight • Passing legislation • Debates AO1 = 2
Source B
The US Cabinet
• The US Cabinet has no real power under the US constitution.
• The US Cabinet has about 20–25 members and includes the heads of the 15
government departments.
• The US President and the Vice President are the only elected politicians in the
Cabinet.
• All other Cabinet members are civil servants, appointed by the President.
• Cabinet members are often experts in a particular area of policy.
Using Source B, consider two ways in which the UK Cabinet is different from the US
Cabinet.
[4 marks]
UK: • Cabinet has traditionally been seen as important • Cabinet members tend to be generalists • Cabinet members are just ordinary MPs • Some say that the Cabinet is still the main decisionmaking body in the UK system
USA Cabinet has no real power under the US Constitution • Cabinet consists almost entirely of policy experts
Identify the electoral system used in elections to the Scottish Parliament.
[1 mark]
A First Past the Post
B Alternative Vote
C Additional Members System
D Single Transferrable Vote
Identify the electoral system used in elections to the Scottish Parliament.
Correct answer – C
AO1 = 1
Name two areas of policy that the Scottish Government controls
Education • Environment • Housing • Health and social services • Sport and arts • Tourism • Economic development • Taxation • Transport • Local government • Law Courts • Social work • Fisheries and Agriculture AO1 = 2
Source C
Political participation
Although the right to vote is important, it is meaningless if nobody stands as a
candidate in an election. This was the situation that faced voters in the Welsh
constituency of Yscir at the May 2017 local elections, where no candidates stood
for election as a councillor.
This meant that more than 1000 voters living in that area were unrepresented when
the new council met for the first time.
Referring to Source C, give two arguments that could be used to persuade people to
stand as candidates at local elections.
[4 marks]
Indicative content
The source focuses on the problems that resulted from the fact that no
candidates stood for election in the Welsh ward of Yscir in the 2017 local
elections. The response should use this information to identify arguments
that could be used in order to encourage people to stand as candidates at
local election.
For example:
• People should stand at local elections because if no one stands, there
is no election (1) The right to vote is rendered meaningless unless
there are at least two candidates contesting an elected office (1)
• People should stand because if they do not, there will be no one to
represent the local area on the local council (1) This means that the
decisions taken at the council may not take into consideration the views
of people who are unrepresented (1)
AO2 = 4
Identify the two elections where voters can only vote for a single candidate.
[2 marks]
Shade in the two correct answers. A London Mayoral elections B English local council elections C UK General Elections D Scottish Parliament elections E European Parliament elections F Northern Ireland Assembly elections
Identify the two elections where voters can only vote for a single candidate. Correct answer – B and C One mark each = 2 marks AO1 = 2
Identify two positions from the list below that are elected directly by the public.
[2 marks]
A House of Commons MP B Party whip C London Mayor D Prime Minister E Black Rod F Cabinet Ministe
Correct answer – A and C
One mark each = 2 marks
AO1 = 2
Source D
The separation of powers in the US Constitution
The US Constitution tried to make sure there was a ‘separation of powers’
between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. This is because the
people writing the US Constitution believed that it was dangerous for any one
individual to be in more than one branch of government.
As a result, they made sure that the three branches were kept separate in
terms of membership. For example, a serving President (the chief executive)
is not allowed to be a member of Congress (the legislature), and members of
the US Supreme Court (judiciary) are not allowed to be members of the US
Cabinet (executive). Elections for members of the US Congress and the
Presidency are also held at different times to make sure that one party is not
able to take control of the whole political system at a single election.
Consider two ways the constitutional position described in Source D is different from
the UK.
[4 marks]
Indicative content
The source focuses on the Separation of Powers doctrine and some of
the ways in which it is written into the US Constitution. The response
requires the application of knowledge about the constitutional
arrangements present in the UK.
For example:
• The US Constitution provides for a separation of powers, whereas the
UK constitution does not (1). In the USA this separation is achieved by
preventing any one person being a member of more than one branch of
government (1)
• In the USA there are separate elections for Congress and the
Presidency, whereas in the UK the government is normally formed from
the party that wins the General Election (1). The prime minister is not
directly elected, the leader of the biggest party in the House of
Commons normally generally takes on that role (1)
AO2 = 4
A constitution is a set of rules under which a state operates.
Which of the following accurately describes the UK constitution?
[1 mark]
A Written
B Republican
C Uncodified
D Federal
Correct answer – C
AO1 = 1
Evaluate how far devolution has reduced the power of the Westminster
Parliament (8 marks)
Points suggesting that devolution has significantly reduced the power of
the Westminster Parliament:
• Since the 1997 General Election the Westminster Parliament has
handed day-to-day control of many areas of policy to devolved
institutions
• In Scotland, devolved institutions were given control over areas such as
education and healthcare
• Northern Ireland is governed by the Assembly and a power-sharing
executive
• Devolution in England could also be seen to have reduced the power of
the Westminster Parliament e.g. Combined Authorities and elected
Mayors, elected for the first time in 2017, have taken on additional
powers
• Recent legislation means that the devolved institutions in Scotland and
Wales cannot be abolished without a referendum in the country in
question
Power of the Westminster Parliament has not been reduced because:
• It retains control over many of the most important areas of policy e.g.
national economic policy, foreign policy, and constitutional reform
• Devolved institutions are not in a position where they can break away
from the UK without the approval of the Westminster Parliament
• Most of the UK population lives in England and therefore Westminster
controls most policy
• The Westminster Parliament represents the United Kingdom
AO3 = 8
The House of Commons contains one MP from each constituency or ‘seat’.
How many MPs are there in total?
[1 mark]
A 60
B 129
C 435
D 650
The House of Commons contains one MP from each constituency or ‘seat’. How many MPs are there in total? Correct answer – D AO1 = 1
The voting age at UK General elections should be lowered from 18 years to
16 years.’
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
In your answer you should consider:
• who can and cannot vote in UK General elections now, and why
• the age at which people gain other significant rights in the UK.
[8 marks]
Points made in support of the statement may include:
• In a democracy age does not affect human rights
• In the UK 16 year olds to do things that could be seen as being more
significant than voting
o Engage in lawful sexual activity
o Get married/start a family
o Pay National Insurance
o Work
o Pay taxes
• The right to vote is a basic human right and there is no logical reason to
deny that right to a 16 year old, whilst extending it to an 18 year old
• The right to vote was extended to 16 year olds at the time of the 2014
Scottish Independence Referendum, without any obvious problems or
controversy.
• Extending the franchise to 16 year olds would be a good way to make
young people more engaged with the political process.
Points made in opposition to the statement may include:
• Why should 16 years olds be given the vote – but not 14 year olds or
12 year olds?
• The age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland is 10 – and it is 8 in Scotland – but no one is suggesting
lowering the voting age to 10 (or 8)
• Other groups of UK citizens are also denied the opportunity to vote at
UK General Elections. For example, those in prison are not eligible to
vote even though the government that is elected will have control of the
prisons where they are confined
• Many 16 year olds are still in full time education and therefore not
contributing to the country
• Many 16 year olds are not sufficiently informed to make these kinds of
decisions
• Typically the turnout amongst the youngest voters tends to be very low
indeed. Extending the franchise to 16 year olds runs the risk of
depressing overall turnout figures
AO3 = 8
Which statement is the correct definition of the term ‘councillor’?
Shade in the one correct answer.
[1 mark]
`
A An individual who is elected to serve in local government
B An individual who is employed by the local council
C An individual who offers advice to those suffering depression
D An individual who represents their constituency in Parliament`
Which statement is the correct definition of the term councillor?
Shade in the one correct answer.
Correct answer – A
One reason for holding a referendum would be to encourage wider interest in politics.
Identify two other reasons for holding a referendum.
[2 marks]
to encourage political participation
• to give voters the final say on an issue of constitutional importance
• to provide a decision in those cases where politicians are so divided
that they cannot reach an agreement
• where a party has previously promised to hold a referendum in its
general election manifesto
• government avoiding having to make a decision.
