Cit 1

• Democracy


  A political system in which the government is elected by the people. Types of democracy: Direct democracy, representative democracy, and constitutional democracy.
• Representative democracy


  A type of democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
• Political parties


  Organizations that represent different political views and compete in elections.
• Local government


  Responsible for local services such as education, housing, and transport.
• Rule of law


  The principle that laws apply equally to all citizens, including politicians and government officials.
• Free press


  A media that is free and independent, which is essential for holding politicians and other powerful individuals accountable.
• Accountability


  Being responsible for one's actions and being able to explain and justify those actions to others.
• Elections


  A process where citizens choose their leaders and hold them accountable for their actions.
• Political participation


  The act of engaging in activities that influence or support political processes and decision-making.
• Lobbying


  Attempting to influence politicians or other decision-makers to support a particular cause or policy.
• Pressure group


  A group of people who attempt to influence government policy or decision-making through lobbying or other means.
• Voter turnout


  The percentage of eligible voters who actually participate in an election.
• Judiciary


  The part of the UK system of governance that is responsible for its legal system and that consists of all the judges in its courts of law.
• Constituency


  A named geographical area consisting of an average of 56,000 voters in England who elect a single MP to Parliament.
• By-election


  An election held in a seat [constituency] after the retirement or death of a sitting MP.
• Apathy


  A lack of interest by citizens in the electoral and political process.
• Types of democracy


  • Direct democracy
  • Representative democracy
  • Constitutional democracy
• Democracy is a system of government in which power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives. It is based on the principles of equality, freedom, and justice, and is considered to be the most widely accepted and effective form of government in the world today.
• In a democratic society, citizens have the right to vote and participate in the political process. They also have the right to freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
• Direct democracy


  A type of democracy where all citizens have an equal say in the decision-making process, and laws are passed by popular vote.
• In the United Kingdom, citizens elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent their constituencies in the House of Commons. The party with the most seats in the House of Commons forms the government, and the leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister.
• Majority rule


  The principle that decisions are made by the majority of citizens.
• Minority rights


  The rights of minorities, such as ethnic or religious groups, are protected and cannot be ignored by the majority.
• Free and independent media


  Essential for holding politicians and other powerful individuals accountable.
• Rule of law


  Laws apply equally to all citizens, regardless of their social status or wealth, and no one is above the law, including politicians and government officials.
• Separation of powers


  Power is divided among different branches of government, such as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, to ensure that no one branch has too much power and that each branch can act as a check on the others.

  
• Civil society


  Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), charities, and community groups that provide important services and advocate for the interests of different groups in society, hold the government accountable, and provide a voice for marginalized communities.
• Elections


  A key component of the political process that allow citizens to choose their leaders and hold them accountable for their actions, and provide an opportunity for citizens to express their opinions and to influence government policy.
• Democracy is not perfect, and it can be challenging to balance the interests of different groups in society. However, it remains the most effective form of government for ensuring equality, freedom, and justice for all citizens.
• Non-democratic states are countries where the government does not operate based on democratic principles. Instead, the government is usually controlled by a small group of people, often a dictator or ruling elite, who hold onto power through force, propaganda, and intimidation.
• Types of non-democratic states

  • Absolute Monarchy
  • Dictatorship
  • Communist State
  • Theocracy
• Characteristics of non-democratic states

  • No free and fair elections
  • No separation of powers
  • Limited or no freedom of speech, press, or assembly
  • No independent judiciary
  • Human rights abuses
  • Censorship and propaganda
• The UK Parliament is the legislative branch responsible for making laws and holding the government accountable for its actions. It is composed of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
• House of Commons


  The lower house of Parliament, consisting of 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) elected by the people of the UK. The leader of the party with the most MPs is usually appointed as the Prime Minister, who leads the government and is responsible for setting the legislative agenda. The House of Commons is responsible for initiating and passing laws, scrutinizing the work of the government, and debating issues of national importance.
• House of Lords


  The upper house of Parliament, consisting of around 800 members who are not elected but are appointed by the Prime Minister or are hereditary peers. The House of Lords acts as a revising chamber, scrutinizing and amending legislation passed by the House of Commons, and is also responsible for conducting inquiries into important issues and holding the government accountable for its actions.
• Legislative process


  1. A bill is introduced

  2. The bill goes through several stages of debate, scrutiny, and amendment in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords

  3. If the House of Commons accepts the amendments made by the House of Lords, the bill receives Royal Assent from the Queen and becomes law.
• Scrutiny and oversight


  Members of Parliament can ask questions of government ministers, make speeches on important issues, and propose motions for debate. The House of Commons and House of Lords also have committees that scrutinize the work of the government, conducting inquiries and making recommendations for improvements.
• Scrutinising government and making it accountable

  Through parliamentary debates, questioning government ministers, and investigations undertaken by committees.
• Parliamentary Questions


  MPs and Lords can question government ministers either verbally or in writing. This includes Prime Minister's Question Time, where the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs in the House of Commons.
• Committees


  Select committees set up by the House of Commons for each key department to examine the spending, policy and administration of their specific government departments.