Theme B Flashcards
What are political parties?
Groups of people who share political views and goals
What is a manifesto?
The ideas of a political party written in a document
Labour Party
- Represent working class - Implement the welfare state and NHS - Free education - Increase top earners’ tax
Liberal Democrats
- Middle ground between Labour and Conservatives - Reinstate university grants - Tax everyone to fun NHS
Conservatives (Tories)
- Promote British culture and traditions - Promotes private ownership - More selective schools to improve standards - More home ownership
Eligible to be an MP candidate
- 18 or over - British citizen - Irish citizen - Eligible Commonwealth citizen
Not eligible to be an MP candidate
- Civil Servant - Member of Police - Member of the armed forces - Judge - Bishop - Peer in HoL - Convicted and imprisoned for over a year - Guilty of electoral corruption in the last 5 years
How are candidates selected?
- Parties advertise, then you apply. 2. Parties have a list of expected candidates who are politically active. 3. Those candidates gain votes through interviews, public speaking at hustings (meetings) and work for the party in their local constituency 4. Creates a shortlist ( most suitable people). 5. Local party members vote for the candidate to represent that constituency and the one with the most votes is selected
What is a safe seat?
A seat in parliament that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election.
Democracy
Rule of the people, by the people
Representative Democracy
Via elections - the people vote for a person to represent them
Direct Democracy
Via referendums - every decision is made by the people usually a yes or no
Strengthens of Representative Democracy
- Everyone has a say in who they want to represent them - A local MP is aware of the people’s needs specific to the area
Weaknesses of Representative Democracy
- Elections take place every 5 years which limits the people’s input - People whose party didn’t win will feel let down and unrepresented - University educated MPs so are not similar to the people
Direct Democracy examples
- Brexit - Scotland independence - Change voting system from FPTP to an alternative vote like PR
Strengths of Direct Democracy
- Referendums give a clear direction from the people - Every voter has a say - Most democratic way to make a decision
Weaknesses of Direct Democracy
- Issues are usually more complicated than yes/no - Hard to understand the issue - Media can influence the electorate (person who votes) - Many are unhappy if votes are close
How many constituencies are there in the UK?
650
Frequency of general elections
- At least every 5 years on the first Thursday in May under the FIXED TERM PARLIAMENTS ACT 2011. - No vote of confidence means an earlier election is held. - HoC can hold an election any time with a 2/3 majority
Who can vote?
- 18 year olds who are: • UK or Commonwealth citizen • Resident at an address in the UK or a UK citizen living abroad • Homeless people who have completed a declaration of local connection from - Candidates standing in the election - MPs
Who can’t vote?
- Members of HoL - Economic migrants from the EU who DO NOT have full UK citizenship - Convicted prisoners - Person found guilty of electoral corruption in the last 5 years
Should 16 year olds vote?
YES - Education and training is affected by the policies - They can choose their own medical treatment - They can work full time - They can join the British army with parent’s consent - Age of consent (sex) NO - Too immature - Not well informed - Influenced by peers or parents - Legal age recognised is 18 for most things
What is FPTP voting system?
- 650 constituencies with 650 MPs (one in each) - Voter’s put a cross in which candidate they vote for (completely anonymous) - Candidate with the most votes is the MP for that constituency
Strengths of FPTP
- Simple to understand - Cheap - Quick
Weaknesses of FPTP
- Two party system - Safe seats in some area leading to a reduced turnout - Could be a little amount of popularity but still a majority so people are upset
What is PR voting system?
-Seats are awarded depending on the percentage of votes each party wins. - Party creates a list of candidates to be MPs (not linked to area)
Strengths of PR
- Fewer wasted votes - More choice to voters - More chance for the smaller or independent parties - Doesn’t create a two party system
Weaknesses of PR
- More coalition governments which break apart easily - MPs have no link to the constituency - Allows extremist parties in
Single-party government
When a party has a majority (at least 326 seats)
Coalition government
- AKA Hung parliament - When no parties win the majority - So, the party with the most seats may form a government with the support of another party
Disadvantages of a Coalition government
- Easier to break apart - Difficult to pass laws as parties may disagree - Longer to pass laws
Confidence and Supply government
Instead of forming a coalition government, an agreement can be made with another party to support the government on a vote by vote basis.
Role of the Monarch (two things)
- Appoints the government and the Prime Minister - Reads a speech at the State opening of parliament
Black Rod
- HoC doors shut in his face to symbolise independence from the monarch - Black Rod strikes the door 3 times and leads them to HoL to hear the speech
Forming a cabinet
Prime Minister appoints 22 people for his cabinet
Government Ministers & Civil Servants rhyme
Ministers decide, Civil Servants advise, Civil Servants on tap but not on top!
Government Ministers Jobs
- Elect politicians - Represent a political party - Can be changed through elections or cabinet reshuffle - Responsible to Parliament - Head of a department e.g. Department of Education - Decide policies to implement
Civil Servants Jobs
- Appointed officials - Politically neutral - Permanent - Responsible to ministers - Work in ministerial departments - Prepare and advise on policies - 400,000
Senior Civil Servants
- 4,000 - Permanant - Prepare policies - Advise ministers - Answer Parliament questions
4 parts make up Westminster Parliament
- Executive - Judiciary - Legislature - Monarch
Executive (Prime Minister and Cabinet)
Draw up and propose majority of new laws
Judiciary (Judges)
Judges interpret the law and apply appropriate sentencing for criminals
Legislature (bicameral HoL & HoC)
- Debate, scrutinise, vote and create special legislature - HoL is an effective opposition if there is a law proposed in HoC
Monarch
Gives Royal Assent to each new law
HoC
- 650 MPs (one per each constituency) - Publicly elected - Debating, scrutinising, creating laws - Preparing questions to be answered on Wednesdays at Prime Minister’s Question Time
HoL
- Around 800 members - Unelected - Debating, scrutinising, creating laws - Providing expertise in certain specific areas
Prime Minister
- Leader of country - Leader of party - Answers questions at Question Time
Cabinet Ministers
- Make decisions about national issues - Direct government policy - Running government departments - Proposing new laws
Opposition
2nd popular party leads the opposition
Shadow cabinet
- Opposition selects a cabinet to mirror the PM - Shadow cabinet often becomes the cabinet
MP roles
- Party roles, promoting the manifesto etc - Common responsibilities, debating etc - Constituency responsibilities, attending local events etc
Front benchers MPs
Ministerial positions who are spokespeople
Back benchers MPs
Normal MPs without ministerial positions etc
Whips
Tell the MPs to vote for the same party
Speaker of the HoC
- Maintains peace - Chair debates - Suspend the House or MPs if there is serious trouble
Law Making Process
- Green Paper - lots of discussion everywhere 2. White Paper - this is presented to HoC and HoL 3. First Reading (in both houses) - looked at 4. Parliamentary Ping Pong between the houses 5. Second Reading - debated 6. Committee Stage - scrutinise and propose amendments 7. Report Stage - amended bill presented to the House and some small changes 8. Third Reading - MPs vote on a fully amended bill. 9. Royal Assent - monarch says yes and it’s made an Act of Parliament
British Constitution
- HoC - HoL - Monarch
Parliamentary Sovereignty
Parliament is the supreme legal authority to make and change laws
Codified
A set of rules and laws written down in one document e.g. USA
Uncodified
A set of rules and laws not completely written down e.g. UK
3 Main principles of a codified constitution
- Authoritative - Entrenched (hard to change) - Judiciable (the highest law)
3 Main sources of the UK’s constitution
- Legislation (laws) - Conventions (practices over time) - Common law (judges)
Advantages of Codified
- All in one place - Easy to understand
Disadvantages of Codified
- Difficult to change - Takes a long time to change
Advantages of Uncodified
- Easy to change laws - Quick to change laws e.g. during Covid
Disadvantages of Uncodified
- Not all in one place - Easier to change a law that could be controversial - Hard to understand
Judicial Review
Type of court proceeding
Select Committees
- In HoC and HoL - Check and report back the work of the government departments
Parliamentary Inquiry
Called to scrutinise the work of the government in a specific area e.g. the children of the Windrush scandal
Devolution in the UK
Delegation of powers from the central government in Westminster to other places like in Scotland
Examples of things that have NOT been devolved
- Drug control - Employment - Defence - Immigration - Foreign affairs
Scottish devolved powers examples
- Environment - Agriculture - Fishing - Forestry - Education
For Scottish independence
- They can rejoin the EU - Decisions about Scotland should be made from the Scottish people - Not have to fight British wars - Focus on Scottish issues
Against Scottish independence
- UK is incredibly powerful and wins wars and built an empire for 300 years - Joint security is better - Businesses could move to other parts of the UK - Need to establish a new currency if they leave - UK is influential like in NATO
Direct Tax (cannot be ignored)
- Income (on wages) - Inheritance (money left in a will) - Corporation (business) - Council (value of your home)
Indirect tax (goods and services)
- VAT - Excise (alcohol, smoking etc.)
Role of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Budget for income, expenditure and debts - Make decisions about the allocation of the public funding
Budge is carried to where? in what?
HoC in a red suitcase
Austerity
Government cuts the money in the budget
Budget should be spent on…
- Health (NHS is in need of desperate help) - Welfare (more mental health issues now) - Education (train the next generation) - Care of the elderly (ageing population - needs more help) - Charities (helps homelessness and poverty)
