theme B

• socialism

  • left wing
  • labour
  • common ownership
  • more equality in society
  • robust welfare for poor
• Liberalism

  • lib dems
  • laws only to improve society
  • less gov interference
  • individual rights
• conservatism

  • right wing
  • tradition and family values
  • private ownership
  • free enterprise
• Labour Key Principles

  • formed to rep working class
  • implemented welfare state and NHS
• Lib Dem Principles

  • middle ground between labour and conservatives
• Conservative Principles

  • protect British principles
  • British culture and traditions
  • private ownership
  • private ownership
• Education Principles

  1. Labour - national education service for free education
  2. Conservatives - selective schools to improve standards
  3. Lib Dems - reinstate uni grants for poor pupils
• Health Principles

  1. Labour - tax wealthy to fund NHS
  2. Conservatives - real terms increase in NHS spending
  3. Lib Dem’s - tax everyone to fund NHS
• Economic Principles

  1. Labour - reinstate public ownership of sectors like railways - increase rich man tax
  2. Conservatives - free trade - limit welfare - decrease gov spending
  3. Lib Dem’s - boost economy with capital investment programme
• Social Principles

  1. Labour - extend welfare for needy - more equality
  2. Conservatives - more home ownership
  3. Lib Dem’s - benefits for 18-21
• candidate conditions

  • 18 plus
  • 500 quid deposit
  • Irish or British
  • commonwealth
  • nominated by 10 electors in their constituency
  • authorised to be standing
• cant be a candidate if …..

  • civil servant
  • House of Lords
  • police
  • army
  • Church of England bishop
  • judge
  • convicted guy
  • electoral corruption in last 5 years
• How are Candidates Selected

  • people join and be active in their party
  • parties advertise for candidates and eligible guys apply
  • parties have a list of prospective candidates
  • candidates canvass for votes through interview, speaking at meetings, husting, and working for the party in their local constituency
  • party workers draw up a shortlist
  • local party members vote for the candidate and most votes is elected to rep the constituency
• good things about representative democracy

  • every citizen has a say on who reps them
  • high turnout means parliament is more representative of public opinion
  • local MP is aware of needs if their constituents
• bad things about representative democracy

  • every 5 years limits citizen input
  • MPs will vote with their party rather than rep their constituency
  • constituents who’s party didn’t win feel unrepresented by gov
  • MPs May be university educated so not representative of local constituents
• good things of direct democracy

  • referendums give clear directive from citizens on an issue to gov
  • every voter has a say
  • gives gov a mandate for action
  • most democratic way to make decision
• bad things of direct democracy

  • more complex than yes or no mate
  • not every citizen gets the complexit’s
  • media can influence
  • close results means unhappy citizens
• recent referendums

  • 2016 Brexit
  • 2014 scottish independence
  • 2011 voting system change
• frequency of general elections

  • every 5 years
  • first Thursday in May
  • vote of no confidence means earlier election called
  • House of Commons can vote anytime with two thirds majority
• who CAN vote

  • 18 or over
  • UK citizens
  • commonwealth citizen
  • resident at UK address
  • registered to vote on electoral register
  • MPs
  • candidates in election
  • homeless people who completed a declaration of local connection form
• who CAN’T vote

  • House of Lords
  • economic migrants without full citizenship
  • convicted prisoners
  • election corruption
• Yes for Voting at 16

  • education and training are directly affected
  • 5 years
  • medical treatment at 16
  • more mature
  • educated than previous gens
  • social media
• NO for Voting at 16

  • Not well informed
  • too immature
  • influenced by peers or parents
  • social media influence
  • 18 legal adult
• First Past the Post System

  • 650 constituents
  • ballot paper and X
  • candidate with most votes is elected as MP for that constituency
• STRENGTHS of FPTP ( first past the system )

  • easy to understand
  • cheap
  • quick results
  • usually produces two party system, resulting in single party government
• WEAKNESS of FPTP ( first past the post )

  • only winning votes count - candidates elected on little public support
  • encourages tactical voting if a voters preferred candidate won’t win
  • safe seats means voter apathy and low turnout
• STRENGTHS OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

  • less wasted votes
  • more choice to voters
  • fairer to small candidates
• WEAKNESSES of PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

  • makes more coalition governments
  • MPs may have no links to a constituency
  • allows extremism in the political mainstream
• Proportional Representation System

  • seats awarded depending on percentage of votes each party wins
  • parties have a list of prospective candidates
  • candidate allocated seats based on popularity in party
• Single Party Government

  • over half seats - 326
  • a majority is essential for Parliament to work - be each new law proposed by government needs to be voted on
  • if there is no majority - the opposition MPs could vote out proposed laws
• Coalition Government

  • aka hung parliament
  • if a party does not win a majority
  • party with most seats forms coalition gov with another party
  • more difficult to pass laws - party values need to be compromised to agree with coalition partners to vote laws through
• Role of the Monarch in Government

  • appointing them - meets the leader of winning party and appoints them as PM
  • reading the speech at the state opening of Parliament - reads speech in House of Lords to open new sitting of Parliament. Written by new gov and contains policies and proposed legislation
• Government Ministers VS Civil Servants

  • Elected VS Appointed
  • political party VS politically neutral
  • temporary VS permanent
  • responsible to Parliament VS responsible to Ministers
  • decide policies to implement VS prepare and advise on policy
• Ministerial Departments

  • Prime Minister appoints cabined ministers from House of Commons and House of Lords who are given responsibility for departments
  • departments change depending on needs of country
  • Department for Education, Home Office, Ministry of Defence
• Senior Civil Servants

  • 4000
  • permanent jobs
  • not affected by outcome of elections
  • they prepare and present new policies and are experts in their particular area
  • often advise minister - newly appointed or on policies ministers wish to present in gov
• Roles of a Senior Civil Servant

  • prepare legislation
  • answer parliamentary questions
  • brief their government ministers
  • meet with representatives of different groups
  • advise government ministers
  • impartially serve all government
• civil servant values

  • INTEGRITY - needs of public over personal interests
  • HONESTY - subjected to public scrutiny so open and honest
  • OBJECTIVITY- make decisions after evaluating all relevant evidence
  • IMPARTIALITY - serve all governments equally
• Normal Civil Servants

  • 400,000
  • administer funds, institutions, departments
  • benefits and pensions
  • administration
  • running prison service
• Separation of Powers

  • protects citizens
  • ensures that no one has too much power
  • system of checks and balances
• the Executive

  • Prime Minster and Cabinet Propose New Laws
  • they draw up and prepare majority of new laws with help of Civil Service
  • being in the majority go means they have numbers to vote laws through House of Commons