Politics and Participation

Question 1

What is democracy?

Answer 1

Rule by the people. People get a say in how the country is run.

Question 2

What are some characteristics of a democratic country?

Answer 2

Free and fair voting. Freedom of speech. Freedom of the press.

Question 3

What is a representative democracy?

Answer 3

A system of government where people are elected to represent the public.

Eg: An MP.

Question 4

What is a direct democracy?

Answer 4

A system of government where citizens take part in decision making.

Eg: A referendum.

Question 5

What is an absolute monarchy?

Answer 5

A system of government where the royal family rules.

Question 6

What is a dictatorship?

Answer 6

A system of government which is run by one person who has total control.

Question 7

What is anarchy?

Answer 7

When there is no one in control/no form of government.

Question 8

What is a theodicy?

Answer 8

A system of government where religious leaders rule the country.

Question 9

What is Parliament?

Answer 9

Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch.

Question 10

What is the government?

Answer 10

The political party that won the election. The prime minister leads the government.

The Labour party is currently the government.

Question 11

What does bicameral mean?

Answer 11

Having 2 chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Question 12

What is the difference between the House of Commons and the House of Lords?

Answer 12

House of commons = where MPs sit. House of Lords = where life peers sit.

Question 13

What is a political party?

Answer 13

A group of people who share common ideologies and political beliefs.

Question 14

What are some examples of political parties?

Answer 14

Conservative, Labour, Green party, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK.

Question 15

What is the cabinet?

Answer 15

Senior MPs in the government who are secretary of states. (Run a government department).

Question 16

What is the official opposition?

Answer 16

The largest political party that is not in power.

Conservative Party is currently the official opposition.

Question 17

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

Answer 17

The head of the government.

The prime minister is Keir Starmer.

Question 18

What is legislature?

Answer 18

The body that decides upon the laws. In the UK, Parliament is the legislature.

Question 19

What is the civil service?

Answer 19

The people that carry out the work of the government.

Question 20

What is the difference between a codified and uncodified constitution?

Answer 20

Codified = one document containing the structure and power of the government. Uncodified = Many different documents outlining the constitution.

Question 21

What is the separation of powers?

Answer 21

System of checks and balances to ensure how part of the government has too much power. The Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary are all separate.

Question 22

What is the judiciary?

Answer 22

The system of courts and judges.

Question 23

What does sovereignty mean?

Answer 23

The person/organisation that has the most power.

In the UK, Parliament is sovereign.

Question 24

What is devolution?

Answer 24

The transfer of power to a lower level.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have devolved governments.

Question 25

What is local government?

Answer 25

Lowest tier of the government. Councillors represent us in the local government. ## Footnote Eg: Haringey council.

Question 26

What are reserved powers?

Answer 26

Powers of the UK central government located in Westminster.

Question 27

What is a general election?

Answer 27

When citizens vote for their representative in Parliament - their local MP.

Question 28

Who can stand for election?

Answer 28

Must be 18, a British citizen, and you cannot stand for more than one constituency.

Question 29

Who cannot stand for election?

Answer 29

If you work for the civil service, police, in the armed forces, a judge, or in the House of Lords.

Question 30

What is voter turnout?

Answer 30

The amount of people that vote in elections.

Question 31

What are some reasons people do not vote?

Answer 31

Voter apathy (lack of interest), lack of education on politics, belief that participation won’t make a difference.

Question 32

Who can and cannot vote in UK elections?

Answer 32

Can vote: British citizen, over 18s who have registered to vote. Cannot vote: under 18s, member of House of Lords, prisoners.

Question 33

How can voter turnout be increased?

Answer 33

Compulsory voting ## Footnote Eg: fines. Electronic voting. More education in schools to engage younger people.

Question 34

What are some reasons to lower the voting age to 16?

Answer 34

It is 16 in Scotland and has been positive there. Young people should get a say in matters that impact them. Will encourage younger people to take an interest in politics.

Question 35

What are some reasons to not lower the voting age to 16?

Answer 35

Lack of knowledge/experience of the real world. Not mature enough yet to make important decisions. Teenagers are very impressionable and are likely to just vote for what their parents do.

Question 36

How does the government get its money?

Answer 36

Through taxes.

Question 37

What is a constituency?

Answer 37

A geographical area consisting of around 70,000 people. One MP represents each constituency.

Question 38

What is the voting system for general elections?

Answer 38

First Past the Post.

Question 39

What are the positives and negatives of First Past the Post?

Answer 39

Positives: creates strong governments. Simple and easy to understand. Negatives: Doesn’t favour smaller parties. Isn’t proportional to the amount of votes cast.

Question 40

What are 3 proportional representation voting systems?

Answer 40

Additional member system, Supplementary vote, Single transferable vote.

Question 41

What are some key beliefs of the Conservative party?

Answer 41

Lower taxes, traditional family values, more freedom to spend your money, less rules for businesses.

Question 42

What are some key beliefs of the Labour party?

Answer 42

High taxes, more support from the government, more funding for public services.

Question 43

What is the difference between frontbench MPs and backbench MPs?

Answer 43

Frontbench MPs = most important, members of the cabinet. Backbench = MPs that don’t have an extra responsibility.

Question 44

What is the role of the Speaker in the House of Commons?

Answer 44

To keep order in the House of Commons.

Question 45

What is the role of a whip?

Answer 45

To ensure MPs are voting with the party line.

Question 46

What is the role of the black rod?

Answer 46

Controls access to the House of Lords. Ceremonial role.