Politics and Participation
Name 5 features of democracy
Regular, fair and open elections
An electoral system with a secret ballot, which allows all voters to participate
A system where citizens can stand for elections
The media can freely report on the work of the governement
The judiciary system is seperate from the government
Name the 3 forms of democracy
Liberal
Direct
Representative
Name 4 key values of democracy
Rights
Responsiblities
Freedoms
Equality
The UK constitution is described as being.........
unwritten and uncodified
Role of local government
Provide services at a local level
citizens can voice their opinion and stand for elected public office
provide a grassroots platform for political parties
make decisions on transport, social services, planning etc.
What is devoluton
transfer of power from a greater to a lesser body
eg National Parliament in Scotland
Name 2 powers devolved to all 3 nations
Health and Social services
Education
To be eligible in local election you must be
18+
British or eligible commonweath citizen
Must meet one of 4 qualifications:
registered elector for local council area
occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises within local council area for at least 12 months prior to handing in
election nomination papers
place of work in last 12 months in council area
have lived in council area for whole 12 months before election paper handed in
2 example of people who cant stand for local election
people employed by local authority
people who hold a politically restriced post
Cant stand in general election if
Civil servant
member of police force
what is the executive
made of prime minister and other ministers, senior civil servants and policy advisors
it drafts and then implements policy after it is agreed by the legislature
what is the legislature
The body that makes the laws
In the UK it is house of commons and house of lords
what is judiciary
made up of judges involved in the legal process
what is bicameral parliament
A parliament made up of two parts
eg house of lords and commons
Role of the speaker
Chairs debates in the house of commons
Role of a whip
MPs or members of house of lords appointed by party
they help organise parliamentary business and ensure their partys MPs vote according to the party's wishes
Frontbenchers ....
Sit nearest to speaker
on gov side these are ministers and on opposition side they are shadow ministers
Backbenchers ....
ordinary MP who holds no gov or opposition post
Role of black rod
responsible for security of house of lords and for major ceremonial events at palace of westminster
Name 4 types of bill
Public bills
Private bills
Hybrid bills
Private members bills
stages of a bill
the green paper
the first reading
the second reading
the committee stage
the report stage
the third reading
the royal assent
How many members in the cabinet
21 members, usually senior ministers
and further 97 juinior ministers
Senior posts in cabinet include:
chancellor of the exchequer
foreign secretary
home secretary
defence secretary
How often are elections for EU parliament
every 5 years