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Citizenship > Power & Politics > Flashcards

Power & Politics Flashcards

1
Q

How do we choose our leaders

A

An election every 4 or 5 years

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2
Q

How does an election work

A

The country is split into 650 constituencies
Each constituency is allowed to elect an MP to represent them
People in political parties share the same ideas on how the country should be run
The political party who has the most MPs becomes the government

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3
Q

Main political parties on Britain

A 
Labour
The Conservatives
The Liberal Democrats
Plaid Cymru  
Scottish socialist 
Respect 
Sinn Fein
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4
Q

How are councillors and MPs elected

A

By voting

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5
Q

The name of Britain’s voting system

A

First past the post

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6
Q

What does “First past the post” mean

A

Each voter aged 18+ gets one vote. The candidate with the most votes wins the election and has all the power. The person who comes second has no power.

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7
Q

What is good about first past the post

A

It gives one winner the chance to make quick choices, therefore making the leaders more powerful

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8
Q

What is bad about first past the post

A

The winner of the election could have less than half the votes e.g. Labour only got 35% of the votes in 2005 but won as they had the highest!

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9
Q

Definition of proportional representation

A

A form of voting where power is split depending on the % of votes received

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10
Q

Is every vote important

A

Yes. In the first past the post system, you only need to win by one vote to get all the power in the constituency

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11
Q

How can people vote

A

People can go to a polling station
People can vote through the post in a postal vote
People can vote through proxy, where they get someone to vote for them

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12
Q

Reasons people should vote

A

It is a chance to have your opinion heard and have a say
You have the chance to change your MP/Councillor or Government if they haven’t been good leaders
If you don’t vote than people you dislike could be elected
Politics deals with very important issues and as we live in this country we should decide how these issues are dealt with

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13
Q

Arguments for people to not vote

A

Politicians never listen
All politicians and political parties are the same
Its a waste of time. One vote doesn’t make a difference
Politics hasn’t got anything to do with me

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14
Q

What’s the trend in voting recent years

A

Less people are voting
The trend is decreasing
In the 1997 election 71.5% voted
In the 2001 election 59.4% voted
we want as many people to vote as possible so that the country is fully represented in the Parliament
If everyone votes the election result is fairer

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15
Q

How do you know which political party to vote for

A

Before an election, each party releases a set of promises that they will do if they win the election. This is called a manifesto and people read them and decide which party they agree with

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16
Q

Why do voters vote for political parties

A 
Their social class
Their age, gender or background 
Important issues e.g. People won't vote for the conservatives as they favour the rich
How the media portrays the party 
The newspaper they read (political bias)
Where you live 
Who their family votes for
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17
Q

How do parties try to gain your vote

A

Sending out leaflets with manifestos
Door to door canvassing
Holding public meetings
Attract media coverage

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18
Q

Why do people want to become MPs

A

To make a change in their community
To have a say in society
To express their views

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19
Q

What happens after an election

A

The votes are counted and the 650 winners of each area go to parliament to become MPs. They join up with other people in their political parties. The party with the most MPs becomes the Government. The party with the second highest number of MPs becomes the opposition

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20
Q

What is the Prime Minister

A

The leader of the Government

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21
Q

What happens in Parliament

A

Each MP must represent the views of the people in their constituency and their political party

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22
Q

What does the government do

A

Run the country and suggest new laws (which must be voted on)

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23
Q

What parts of the country do the government run

A 
The prime minister chooses people to be in the cabinet. Each cabinet minister is head of one of the these parts of the country:
Money 
Law and order 
The UKs interests abroad 
Health 
Education 
Trade and industry 
Transport 
The environment 
Defence
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24
Q

How does the government get money

A

Through tax

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25
Q

What is income tax

A

This is taken out of people’s salaries. The more you earn, the more you pay

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26
Q

What is VAT

A

This is paid when we buy things - 20%

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27
Q

What is excise duty

A

This is paid on a special range of items, many of which aren’t good for us e.g. Cigarettes and alcohol

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28
Q

What is corporation tax

A

This is paid on the profit made by businesses

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29
Q

What are other taxes

A

Tax paid on cars and petrol. Taxes paid in the local area, such as council tax and business rates

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30
Q

Why do we pay tax

A 
So the government can give us services. Our taxes pay for:
The police 
Army
Teachers
Doctors 
Social services 
Roads 
Street lights
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31
Q

Who is in charge of the Government’s money

A

The chancellor of the exchequer (an MP).

George Osborne

32
Q

How can your local MP help you

A

They can talk to to a government minister, ask questions, talk to an ombudsman, or create a bill which could become a law ( called a Private Member’s Bill)

33
Q

How does the government make a new law

A

The government suggests a new idea they want to want to become law. This is called a bill

34
Q

How does a bill become a law

A 
First reading 
Second reading
Standing committee 
Report stage
House of Lords 
Third reading
Royal assent
35
Q

What is the first reading

A

When the bill is introduced to parliament

36
Q

What is the second reading

A

A few weeks later, the bill is debated by MPs. A vote is taken and if the majority want it, the bill is passed

37
Q

What is the standing committee

A

A group of 16-20 MPs look at the bill and make possible changes that come up in the second reading

38
Q

What is the report stage

A

The committee sends the report, with all its changes, back to the MPs. The changes are either approved or ignored

39
Q

What is the House of Lords

A

The Lords look at the bill. If they disagree with it they send it back to the MPs in the House of Commons

40
Q

What is the third reading

A

The changed bill is debated by the House of Commons. The bill is debated. Each MP votes on whether to approve the bill or not. The bill is usually approved, as the government has got the most MPs…but sometimes MPs vote against their party

41
Q

What is royal assent

A

Once the bill has passed the House of Commons and lords, it is sent to the queen to sign it. These days the queen cannot refuse to sign the bill. Once the bill has signed it becomes an act of law

42
Q

Who are the House of Lords

A

They are lords who check bills. Lords haven’t been voted in. Down lords get the job through their family history, others are chosen by the government. They can postpone a law if they disagree with it, but they cant cancel a law. They have less power than MPs as they weren’t elected

43
Q

What is a rereferendum

A

A referendum is a vote with all the public aged 18 or over vote on an issue to decide whether or not it should become law. The most recent referendum in the UK was to decide whether Scotland should stay part of the UK

44
Q

What is a constituency

A

An area of Britain which elects one MP

45
Q

How many constituencies are there

A

650

46
Q

What is a by - election

A

It is an election when an MP retires, is sacked or dies.

47
Q

What does left-wing mean

A

It is a way of thinking. The left-wing police in the government being strong and caring for all in society, including the poor. The left-wing believes in the public sector and this is paid for in high tax

48
Q

What does right-wing mean

A

The right wing believes in the private sector. The right wing believe the governments should be strong on things like Law and order but should step back and let people take care of their own lives. The Conservative party is right wing.

49
Q

What did Labour promise in their manifesto at the last election

A

To bring down hospital waiting lists

50
Q

What did the Conservatives promise in their manifesto at the last election

A

To lower taxes

51
Q

What did the Liberal Democrats promise in their manifesto at the last election

A

To stop university students paying tuition fees

To increase income tax for the richest

52
Q

What is the difference between an MP and a government minister

A

A government minister is an MP who is in charge of a department, for example health , schools and foreign affairs

53
Q

What does the opposition do

A

The opposition has got different ideas to the governments and tries to stop the government’s ideas becoming law. The opposition challenges the government and tries to make it look wrong

54
Q

What happens if the government makes unpopular laws

A

The public has got a chance to change the government every four or five years in a general election

55
Q

What is the local council

A

A group of people who are elected to look after the affairs of the town, district or County

56
Q

What is a councillor

A

A member of the local council who has been selected by people in the area

57
Q

How are councillors elected

A

In the same way as MPs. The councillors also belong to political parties

58
Q

How is the council organised

A

After the election, the political party with the most councillors chooses a leader
The leader then picks a cabinet
Each member of the cabinets will have responsibility for one area of the council’s work
The leader and cabinets are chosen from members of the party with the most councillors
All the other councillors work under the cabinet in different areas of the council’s work

59
Q

Do councillors get paid

A

No. They do a voluntary job. They can claim expenses

60
Q

Why do people want to be councillors

A

They want to make a change in their local area. They want to make sure their area is run in a way they agree with. They want to have their voices heard.

61
Q

What does the council do

A

The council is responsible for the running of the local town. Every year the council has a budget and must decide what to spend its money on

62
Q

What services is the local council responsible for

A 
Education
Social services 
Leisure
Fire brigade 
Police
Housing 
Transport
Planning 
Environment
63
Q

How does the local council gets money

A

Money from central government, council tax and business rates

64
Q

How is council tax worked out

A

Charges are based on the value of the property that one lives in

65
Q

What does the local council spend most of its money on

A

Education and social services

66
Q

How can you have your voice heard

A

You can vote at election
You can talk to your councillor
You can look at the council’s plans for the future
You can go to a council meeting
You can go to a cabinet meeting
You can visit the councils website and air your views

67
Q

How can you complain to the local council or government

A 
You can talk to an ombudsman, whose job it is to investigate complaints 
You can write to the council 
You can contact the local newspaper
You can start a campaign and protest
You can join a pressure group
68
Q

What is a pressure group

A

A group of people who try to change policies to agree with their beliefs

69
Q

How is a pressure group different to a political party

A

A pressure group is only interested in one issue
A pressure group often has a short m lifespan. They don’t want to win elections, they want people to hear their views and to make a change on an issue
Political parties are interested in running the country and a range of issues. They are more organised and are around for good

70
Q

How can pressure groups protest

A 
Write letters
Petitions 
Contact councillors 
Contact newspapers 
Contact MPs 
Marches
Demonstrations 
Boycott 
Strikes
Planned violence 
Letter bombs
71
Q

Are there any international pressure groups

A

Yes. One example is amnesty international

72
Q

Who are amnesty international

A

It is a global pressure group that campaigns to save people who are imprisoned, hurt or threatened by their government. It promotes the values of the universal declarations of human rights

73
Q

How does amnesty international work

A

It has 1 million members and supporters in 162 countries
It doesn’t belong to any government or religion
It is run by its members
If Amnesty International see people who aren’t getting their human rights they arrange public demonstrations, writes letters, put up posters, educates people, have fundraising concerts and make appeals
It’s aim is to put pressure on governments and other organisations to change the way they behave

74
Q

Are there any other international pressure groups

A

Yes. Greenpeace are a pressure group who cares about the environment

75
Q

How do you Greenpeace protest

A

They encourage people to send messages to protest and to gain new members
It has the ships which are sent to places where the environment is under threat
They have boarded an oil platform which was sunk with threat of pollution
Greenpeace sometimes breaks the law. Greenpeace feel strongly that its actions are the most effective way to get noticed. It’s important to remember that by breaking the law it may lose public sympathy

Citizenship (8 decks)

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