Unit 6 Learning Aim B

Question 1

What is Democracy?

Answer 1

• Representatives of the people are elected in free and fair elections to make decisions and run the country on their behalf.
Example of this…
• MPs are elected to the House of Commons and the winning party forms the government.

Question 2

What are 3 key principles of democracy?

Answer 2

•protection of human rights

•Chooses & replaces government through free and fair elections

•A rule of law, in which laws & procedures apply equally to all citizens

Question 3

What is republic?

Answer 3

In republic the head of state is elected as well as the bodies that make the law.

Eg. USA & France are republics as the president (head of state) is elected by the people

Question 4

What are 3 key principles of the republicanism?

Answer 4

•The power of the government is held by the people
•The people give power to leaders they elect to represent them & their interests
•The representatives are responsible for helping ALL people not just a few.

Question 5

There are two types of monarchy’s, absolute and constitutional.

What is An absolute monarchy?

Answer 5

Form of government in which a single person (king/queen) holds absolute power/total control

Eg. Oman, Saudi Arabia

Question 6

There are two types of monarchy’s, absolute and constitutional.

What is a constitutional monarchy?

Answer 6

Form of government in which a monarch (king/queen) shares power with the government (parliament)

Eg. Uk, Sweden, Japan

Question 7

What is communism?

Answer 7

The government and the state controls all businesses and property; no private ownership

(e.g., North Korea, China).

Question 8

What does separation powers mean?

Answer 8

Power is distributed to separate branches within the government. It ensures that no one person/ group don’t have all power which ensures fairness + the needs of the people are met.

Question 9

What are the three branches regarding separation of powers?

Answer 9

•Executive- Government, Prime minister, the cabinet

•Legislative-Parliament, House of Lords& House of Commons (debate legislation)

•Judiciary- judges interpret and apply laws.

Question 10

How does a bill become law?

Answer 10

First reading This stage then is
Second reading carried out in the
Committee stage other house if
Report stage changes are made
Third reading to the bill it gets
sent back and forth
⬇️⬇️⬇️ until both houses
agree (ping pong)

Once both houses agree it undergoes consideration of amendments followed by royal assent

Question 11

What is is definition of delegated legislation?

Answer 11

This means parliament has the ability to grant powers to other bodies to make laws on its behalf.

Question 12

What are the 3 types of delegated legislation?

Answer 12

•Statutory Instruments: Laws made by ministers for specific areas.

•Orders in Council: Laws made during emergencies or when Parliament is not sitting (Privy Council + Monarch).

•By-laws: Local laws for specific areas (e.g., speed limits, alcohol bans).

Question 13

What is the definition of statutory Interpretation?

Answer 13

Where wording of law are unclear and uncertain and judges may be called upon to interpret it.

Question 14

What are the different rules of interpretation?

Answer 14

1. Literal Rule: Take the law’s words at face value.
2. Golden Rule: Modify words to avoid absurd outcomes.
3. Mischief Rule: Focus on fixing the problem the law addresses.
4. Purposive Approach: Interpret based on the law’s purpose.

Question 15

What are the 3 main levels of government?

Answer 15

•Central Government
•Regional Government
•Local Government

Question 16

What are the 3 main roles and responsibilities of central government?

Answer 16

• taxation policy-income tax and VAT

•participate in international treaties and agreements

• maintenance of defence capabilities to allow government to protect citizens from enemies from home and abroad

Question 17

What is the House of Commons and what is their roles?

Answer 17

-consists of 650 elected members of parliament
- Each MP represents an area( aka constituency)

Roles…
•Making laws
•Debate important issues
•Protecting individual
•Hold the government to account (scrutiny)

Question 18

What is the House of Lords and the roles?

Answer 18

-aka upper house/ second chamber
-non elected body
-independent and compliments the work of the elected House of Commons

Roles…
•making laws
•holding government to account
•In depth consideration of public policy

Question 19

What’s the role of the cabinet?

Answer 19

Cabinet is the main body that controls policy of government departments. It is chaired by the PM. It is made up of 22 individuals who are in charge of departments of state

Question 20

What is civil service?

Answer 20

Civil servants are independent of the government and are not elected or appointed by political parties, they are politically neutral and are there to support the government in its policy, wishes and decisions

Question 21

What is devolution?

Answer 21

The transfer of power to a lower level especially by the central government to a local or regional administration

Question 22

What is Scottish parliament?

Answer 22

The parliament is a democratically elected body compromising 129 members known as members of the Scottish parliament (MSP’s).

What are they responsible for?

•Raise and lower their own taxes
•their own health service
•Their own education system
•Their own legal system and police force
•power to introduce laws that just impact on Scotland

Question 23

What is an act of parliament?

Answer 23

An act of parliament creates a new law or changes an existing law.

Question 24

Police and crime commissioners (PCCS) are elected within England and wales to ensure local police meet the needs of the community. What are they responsible for?

Answer 24

•How your area is policed
•The police budget
•The amount of council tax charged for the police
•The information you get about what the local police are doing
•appointing and dismissing chief Constable