Th2 - A) Power And Politics

Question 1

How does an election work

Answer 1

The country is split into constituencies.
Each constituency is allowed to elect 1 person.
The person who wins is called an MP.

Question 2

Where do MP’s belong to?

Answer 2

Political parties

Question 3

Three main political parties in the UK

Answer 3

Conservative
Labour
Liberal Democrats

Question 4

What is Britain’s voting system called?

Answer 4

First past the post

Question 5

What’s good about first past the post

Answer 5

It gives one winner who can make quick choices.

The leaders are therefore powerful.

Question 6

Proportional representation

Answer 6

It’s a form of voting where power is split depending on the % of votes received

Question 7

Is every vote important

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

How can people vote

Answer 8

Go to a polling station.
Through proxy.
Through the post.

Question 9

Why should people vote

Answer 9

It’s your chance to get your voice heard.

If you don’t vote then somebody you don’t like might get elected.

Question 10

Why shouldn’t you vote

Answer 10

Politicians never listen.

It’s a waste of time, 1 vote won’t make a difference.

Question 11

How do we choose our leaders?

Answer 11

An election is taken place every 4 or 5 years

Question 12

What’s the trend in voting recent years

Answer 12

• less people are voting
• the trend is decreasing
• 1997 election- 71.5% the public voted
• 2001 election - 59.4% the public voted

Question 13

Manifesto

Answer 13

Before an election, each part release promises that they will fulfil if they win.

Question 14

What happens after a person reads a manifesto

Answer 14

They decide which party to agree with

Question 15

Why do voters vote for political parties?

Answer 15

For important issues
Where you live
Who your family votes for
Their social class

Question 16

How do parties make sure you vote for them

Answer 16

Send out leaflets
Go door canvassing
Hold public meetings

Question 17

Why do people want to become MPs

Answer 17

To make a change in their community

To have a say in society

Express their views

Question 18

What is the leader of the government called

Answer 18

Prime minister

Question 19

What happens in parliament

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What does the government do

Answer 20

Runs the country, suggests new laws

Question 21

How does the government get money

Answer 21

Through tax

Question 22

Income Tax

Answer 22

Taken out of people’s salaries. More you earn the more tax you pay.

Question 23

VAT

Answer 23

When you buy food, clothes, books.

Question 24

Excise duty (TAX)

Answer 24

Things that are not good for us, alcohol & cigarettes.

Question 25

Corporation Tax

Answer 25

This is paid on the profit made by the business

Question 26

Why do we pay tax

Answer 26

So the government gives us services

Question 27

What do our tax pay for

Answer 27

``` Police Army Teachers Doctors Roads Street Lights ```

Question 28

Who is in charge of the governments money

Answer 28

The chancellor of exchequer

Question 29

How does the government make new laws | FIRST READING

Answer 29

The bill is introduced to the parliament

Question 30

How does the government make new laws SECOND READING

Answer 30

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

Question 31

How does the government make new laws STANDING COMMITTEE

Answer 31

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

Question 32

How does the government make new laws REPORT STAGE

Answer 32

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

Question 33

How does the government make new laws HOUSE OF LORDS

Answer 33

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

Question 34

How does the government make new laws THIRD READING

Answer 34

The changes bill is debated in the House of Commons. Each MP votes if they approve of it or not

Question 35

How does the government make new laws ROYAL ASSENT

Answer 35

Once the bill has passed the House of Commons and House of Lords it's sent to the queen to sign the bill. Once the bill is signed it becomes a law.

Question 36

Who are the House of Lords

Answer 36

They are lords who check bills.

Question 37

How are lords chosen

Answer 37

Some are chosen through family history / are picked by the government

Question 38

What can lords do

Answer 38

They can postpone a law if they disagree with it but they can't cancel a law.

Question 39

Referendum

Answer 39

A vote when all the public aged 18 and over vote on an issue to decide where it should become a law or not.

Question 40

Constituency

Answer 40

An area of Britain which elects 1 MP

Question 41

How many constituencies are there

Answer 41

650

Question 42

By-election

Answer 42

it's an election when an MP retires, is sacked or dies

Question 43

What did labour promise in their manifesto at the last election

Answer 43

To bring down hospital waiting lists

Question 44

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

Answer 44

Lower taxes

Question 45

What did liberal democrats promise in their manifestos at the last election

Answer 45

To stop university students paying tuition fees. | To increase income tax for the richest.

Question 46

What does the opposition do

Answer 46

Tries to stop the governments ideas becoming a law. They challenge the government & tries to make them look wrong

Question 47

What happens if the government makes unpopular laws

Answer 47

The public has got a chance to change the government every 4 or 5 years in a general election.

Question 48

Local council

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Councillor

Answer 49

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

Question 50

How are councillors elected

Answer 50

Through local elections

Question 51

Do councillors get paid

Answer 51

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

Question 52

Why do people want to be councillors

Answer 52

They want to make a change in their local area

Question 53

What does the council do

Answer 53

Responsible for the running of the local town

Question 54

What services is the local council responsible for

Answer 54

``` Education Social services Police Fire brigade Housing Transport ```

Question 55

How does the council get money

Answer 55

Money from central government Council tax Business rates

Question 56

How is council tax worked out

Answer 56

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

Question 57

What does the local council spend most of its money on

Answer 57

Education and social services

Question 58

How can you have your voice heard

Answer 58

You can vote at election. You can talk to your councillor. You can look at the councils plans for the future. Go council / cabinet meeting

Question 59

How can you complain to the local or government

Answer 59

You can write to the council. You can start a campaign and protest. Join a pressure group.

Question 60

Pressure group

Answer 60

A group of people who try to change public / government / council policy to agree with their beliefs

Question 61

How can pressure groups protest

Answer 61

``` Write letters Petitions Contact councillors / newspapers Contact MPs Marches Boycott Strikes Planned violence Letter bombs ```

Question 62

Why must pressure groups be careful

Answer 62

If they use violent or dangerous protests then they may scare away people who agree with them

Question 63

Are there any international pressure groups

Answer 63

Yes. One example is Amnesty International

Question 64

Amnesty international

Answer 64

World wide pressure group that campaigns to save people who are imprisoned, hurt or threatened by their government.

Question 65

Another international pressure group

Answer 65

Greenpeace- care about the environment