Has met a politician.Can name the Prime Minister.Has signed a petition.Can name their member of parliament.

Who intends to vote at an election.

Donated money to charity in the last 3 months.

Has had to make a speech.

Thinks that sporting facilities need to improve in the local area.

Who is interested in Environmental Issues.

Can name three political parties.

Who can name five countries in the European

Union.

Who believes that you should be able to vote at 16 years of age.

Believes that you should not be able to vote at 16 years of age.

Thinks that more facilities for 14-18 year olds need to be provided in the

local area.

Knows what is meant by democracy.

Can name three laws that affect them.

What words do you think of when you think of Politics?

Call out words for your teacher to add

• It controls the planning and building of new roads, including motorways and by-passes

• Decides how much money is spent on maintaining the existing road network

• Says who can dig up the roads, and when

• Sets speed limits

• Decides where to put traffic lights, roundabouts, one-way systems and speed bumps

• Decides which roads should have bus or cycle lanes

• Controls how much public money goes into public transport

• Determines how well different transport systems, like buses and trains, work together

• Decides who actually runs the trains and buses

• Regulates how much those companies can charge you to travel with them

• Sets the level of tax on petrol and other fuels

• Decides how much road tax motorists have to pay every year

• Sets safety standards for public transport

• Decides where you can park and how much it’s going to cost you

• Sets driving test requirements, to make the roads safer

How politics affects.........

• It permitted the building of your home, and regulated how it was constructed

• Affects whether or not you can build an extension, in what style, and what materials you use

• Sets safety standards for your boiler and ensures the person who repairs it isn’t a cowboy

• Prevents your landlord chucking you out on a whim

• Ensures that rubbish gets collected and how much of it then gets recycled

• Keeps the streets clean and free of graffiti

• Installs and digs up speed bumps

• Maintains the roads and pavements in your area

• Affects the times and frequency of buses and trains, and creates bike lanes and paths

• Decides if you can park your car in your street and how much it will cost you

• Decides whether or not the pub next door stays open until 11pm or 3am

How politics affects.........

• It affects the price of CDs you buy • Says whether it’s legal to download music from the net

• Prevents your neighbours playing their music too loudly • Regulates mergers of large record

companies

• Affects what musicians can and can’t do on stage

• Prevents DJs playing songs with explicit lyrics on the radio

• Limits how loud music in nightclubs is played

• Decides which radio stations can and can’t play music

• Maintains bandstands in public places• Is responsible for the funding of public music events

• Prevents illegal raves from happening, and closes them when they do

• Licenses music festivals

How politics affects.........

• It decides where and when you can buy an alcoholic drink

• Says at what age you can buy an alcoholic drink

• Sets the amount of tax that you have to pay every time you buy one

• Decides where and when you can listen to music and whether it can be played live

• Controls how loud that music can be and whether or not you’re allowed to dance to it

• Decides whether your local town can have its own casino

• Affects the number of police officers patrolling town centres at night• Decides what is acceptable behaviour

when you’re under the influence and what is liable to get you arrested • Says how much you can legally drink

and still drive home

• Says what substances are illegal and what will happen to you if you’re caught with them

• Decides what time trains and buses stop running and whether or not there will be a night service• Controls the licensing of taxis

• Controls the licensing of doormen and bouncers• Sets hygiene standards for restaurants,

pubs and takeaways

How politics affects.........

• It determines which artificial additives, colourings and preservatives can and can’t be used

• Sets legal limits on levels of contaminants that can be present, like pesticides

• Assesses the safety of manufacturing processes, like irradiation

• Decides exactly what information is and isn’t required on labels

• Controls the use of genetically modified crops

• Decides exactly what information is and isn’t required on labels

• Decides what measures should be taken to protect us from diseases like CJD

• Controls the use of genetically modified crops

• Decides how those animals are transported, killed and stored

• Says what drugs, for example steroids and antibiotics, may and may not be given to animals we eat

• Sets hygiene standards for restaurants and takeaways• Controls the ‘Sell by’ and ‘Best before’

dating systems

• Determines how much tax must be paid on imported foods, which affects prices• Sets farming and fishing quotas, which

again affects prices

• Sets quality standards for fresh produce

How politics affects.........

• It provides grants and financial support for sporting bodies and individuals

• Regulates the issuing of work permits for sports professionals from outside Europe who want to play in the UK

• Decides whether to maintain or sell off sporting facilities such as playing fields and swimming pools

• Decides whether you stand up or sit down to watch football in stadiums

• Says whether pupils should play competitive sport in PE lessons

• Legislates to stop hooligans travelling to watch football abroad

• Decides which types of companies can and can’t sponsor sports

• Supports bids for the Olympic and Commonwealth games

• Decides which sport you can watch free on TV

• Affects UK sports teams tours of foreign countries

• Sets skill levels and attainment targets for school children in PE

• Decides funding for public sports facilities

How politics affects.........

Every time you think you can identify an issue, location or conversation that involves politics within the programme shout ‘Politics’ and explain

the link.

Through everyone who votes helps to decide who wins and who loses it. If you don’t other people are making those decisions

for you. Because we live in a we have many rights that we take for

granted, for example: the right to have political that are different

from the governments; the right to join a party; the right to run a

on an issue; and the right to peacefully. There are

still many places in the world where people do not have the right to

who makes political decisions about their lives.

 

Elections power

vote

democracy

opinions

political

campaign

decide

protest

Across the world people have fighting for the right to vote and be

part of a democracy. In , less than 100 years ago, people were killed

during struggles to get the vote for . In ,

not until the end of the apartheid in 1994 were people able to vote

for the first time.

Today, across the world many people are the right to vote. When you think of all the ways in which politics affects you, you can see why it is so

important to be part of it.

died

The UK

women South Africa

black

denied

Why do you think it is important that the public decides who has

political power?

The voting age should be lowered to 16

Young people are not interested in politics

People should be able to vote using the internet or text message

There should be an equal number of male and female politicians

Politicians should be made to retire at the age of 60

David Cameron is a better person to have as Prime Minister than Gordon Brown

Voting at elections should be made compulsory

My vote counts

•You can leave school, get married (with parental permission), join the army and pay income tax at 16.

•Most democracies in the world have a voting age of 18.

•Countries that have a lower voting age include Iran at 15, Brazil at 16 and East Timor at 17.

•In 2004, The Electoral Commission recommended that the voting age should, at the moment, be retained at 18, but it should be reviewed again

in the future.

•Voting is compulsory in a number of countries including Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg and Italy.

•Voting is not compulsory in the UK. It is however an offence not to supply an Electoral Registration Officer with your details if you are sent a

voter registration form.

•A survey in 2001 found that 49% opposed compulsory voting while 47% agreed with it.

•Advocates of compulsory voting argue that: it raises turnout; makes elections more representative; relieves parties of the task of ‘getting out the vote’, enabling them to concentrate on the issues; encourages a more

informed debate and raises levels of political awareness.

•Opponents object that: it would be contrary to British political culture; it would be unpopular; is wrong in principle (the right to vote implies the right not to vote); would be difficult to enforce and would encourage ill-

considered votes to be cast by reluctant or apathetic voters.

•An estimated 37% of 18-24 year olds voted at the 2010 UK Parliamentary general election. This makes young people among the

least likely of all people to vote.

•An estimated 75% of people aged 65 or older voted.

•Research by The Electoral Commission shows that young people are very interested in ‘issues based’ politics but turned off by party

politics in general.

•Research also shows that young people aren’t apathetic, but feel strongly about issues that are of importance to them.

•More than 75% of young people have taken part in some form of civic activity.

A) Estimate the answers to the following questions.B) Fill in the correct answers supplied by your teacher. C) Work out how far you were away from the correct answer each time:D) Add up the total to work out how far away you were and record you position within the class.How many Members of Parliament (MP’s) are there? 

 How many Male MP’s are there? 

How female MP’s are there? 

How old is the oldest MP? 

How old is the youngest MP?

How many MP’s are from ethnic minorities? 

What is the average age of MP’s? 

What is the average salary of an MP? How much does the prime minister get paid?

650

507

143

80

25

50

27

£66,000

£143,000

Has many years experience in

politics

Was born in the local area

Knows a lot about national politics

Knows about popular culture

Has children Male Female Aged 16-18Aged 18-22 Aged 22-30 Aged 30-40 Aged 40-50Aged 40-50 Aged 50-60 Aged 60-70 Aged 70+Is Married Has a degree Is friendly and

approachableKnows a lot about

the local areaCan talk to old

peopleIs good at speaking Can keep a secret Knows a lot of

peopleIs determined Follows all the rules Wears a suit Is independently

mindedHas good dress

senseLikes animals Is ambitious Understands

figuresLives in the local

areaIs diplomatic Is hardworking Can use a

computerCan chair meetings Can be tough if

requiredCan talk to young

peopleOwns a business

A member of a political party

Is loyal to their national party

Can talk to business people

Has always voted in elections

Is fit and healthy Is retired Has a full-time job Has a part time jobUses the local

shopsIs punctual and

reliableKnows local dignitaries

Does voluntary work

Uses unconventional

methods

Can make tough decisions

regardless of their consequences

Donates money to charity on a regular

basis

Attends regular events to meet

people in between election times

Can speak another language

Has worked in the service industry

Supports the local rugby or football

team

Visits people at election time

Knows about the European

Parliament

Can deal effectively with Journalists

Is not involved in scandals

Runs regular surgeries for local

residentsDeals quickly with people’s problems

Understands how the local council

works

Is honest and trustworthy

Will tackle problems head on

Is happy to work hard for little

reward

Wants to be the Prime Minister

Will represent your interests

Will represent their own interests

Ed Balls Andy Burnham Diane Abbott ‘August 2010’ Ed Milliband David Milliband

?

•Scrapping all politically-motivated targets

•Putting more detailed NHS performance data online

•Improving cancer and stroke survival rates

•Enabling patients to rate hospitals and doctors

•Giving anyone the power to choose any healthcare provider that meets NHS standards

•Putting patients in charge of their own health records

•Opening up the NHS to new independent and voluntary sector providers

•Linking GPs' pay to the quality of results they deliver

•Raising the entry requirement for taxpayer-funded primary teacher training

•Requiring new graduates to have at least a 2:2 in their degree to get state-funded training

•Paying the student loan repayments for top maths and science graduates while they remain teachers

•Giving teachers the strongest possible protection from false accusations

•Strengthening home-school behaviour contracts

•Establishing a simple reading test at the age of six

•Reforming the National Curriculum

•Overhauling Key Stage 2 tests and league tables

•Allowing all state schools to offer high quality international examinations

•Giving parents the power to save schools threatened by closure

•Extra funding for children from disadvantaged backgrounds

•Providing 10,000 university places this year, paid for by giving graduates incentives to pay back their loans early

•Doubling the operational bonus for troops serving in Afghanistan

•Ensuring that Forces' families and veterans are taken care of

•Tracking and monitoring veterans' mental health after they leave the Armed Forces

•Launching a Strategic Defence Review

•Maximising efficiency in the Ministry of Defence

•Streamlining the procurement process

•Working towards zero waste

•Providing incentives to recycle

•Encouraging sustainable water management

•Work for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy

•Offering every household a Green Deal

•Transforming electricity networks with 'smart grid' and 'smart meter' technology

•Expanding offshore wind and marine power

•Building a high-speed rail link connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds with the Continent

•Blocking moves for a third runway at Heathrow Airport

•Blocking plans for second runways at Stansted and Gatwick airports

•Report Air Passenger Duty

•Improving Britain's railways

•Cutting congestion and making Britain's roads safer

•Making local transport greener

•Creating a National Security Council

•Committing to the transatlantic alliance

•Deepening of alliances beyond Europe and North America

•Reforming older institutions such as the UN and making effective use of new ones such as G20

•Upholding our own values abroad

Cymru am byth – Wales Forever

New Labour New Britain

Taking a stand on issues that matter

Change that works for you.

On Your Side

A future fair for all

Change that works for you –

Building a better Britain - 2010

election

Vote for Change - 2010 election

WALESClick on each level to

find you representati

ves

Local Local CouncillorsCouncillors

Welsh Welsh Assembly Assembly MembersMembers

Member of Member of ParliamentParliament

Member of Member of European European

parliamentparliament

Problem Representative

I cycle to school and there is a dangerous intersection that I have to cross every day. I want to know if a bike path can be

put in.

I love wearing make-up, but am concerned that it is tested on animals. What is being done to stop this?

I live on a council estate and they haven’t fixed the broken street lights for ages.

Kids at my brother’s school are messing about with drugs. What is being done to educate young people and stop them

getting involved?

My sister is very sick and there are often not enough nurses on duty in the hospital.

Member of National

Assembly for Wales

Member of European

Parliament

Local Councillor

Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

What issues affect your local area?

If you were a local councillor what would you do about these issues?

Local Councillor Individual Extension Activity – Scenario 1 Who you areYou have been a local councillor for just over a year. You won the election – but only just!You had 75 votes more than the candidate who came second. Your achievements so far:• Improvements have been made to a local community centre.• You helped a local primary school recycle their old computers and get money back for new ones.• You influenced a committee to increase the budget for meals on wheels – a service in yourarea for isolated older people. The issue and dilemmaThere are proposals to build a drug rehabilitation centre on the boundary of your ward. Drugs area problem in your area. However, some local residents feel that the rehabilitation centre couldcause problems and are concerned that younger children could come into contact with patients. The views of people in the local area‘There are a lot of vulnerable people in this area that deserve the chance for treatment andrehabilitation.’ ‘Everyone deserves a second chance, but I don’t want those sort of people around here, theydrag the neighbourhood down.’ ‘

Local Councillor Individual Extension Activity – Scenario 1 (continued)

The views of people in the local area (cont.)‘People around here do not understand the sorts of problems that drug-users face. We need toeducate everyone in the community about these issues. They are not going to go away if webury our heads in the sand.’ ‘They thieve, lie and cause nothing but problems for us. I don’t want anything that encouragesthem round here.’ As the local councillor you will be expected to take a position. Questions• What things do you have to think about when you decide whether or not to support therehabilitation centre?• Which of these things is most important?• How will you convince those that will disagree with your position? The decision What is your decision and why? ‘

 Local Councillor Group Extension Activity – Scenario 2 Who you are A committee of local councillors looking into crime and safety issues in your area. The issue and dilemma There has been an increase in crime in your area. Muggings and vandalism have becomeparticular problems. The council has asked your committee to recommend how a small crimeprevention fund should be spent. There are lots of options but due to the limited budget youwill have to choose only a couple of ways forward. People in your area have different viewson the causes of the crime, who is responsible and how the problems should be tackled.As a committee you must agree on your recommendations to the council. You will have tocompromise, as there is not enough money to do everything. The views of people in the local area ‘It is the same kids who always cause the trouble. What we need is to spend money on a schemeto encourage people to report known trouble makers and then name and shame them!’ ‘I don’t feel safe on the streets, if only there was more CCTV to deter people from criminal activity.’ 

 Local Councillor Group Extension Activity – Scenario 2 (continued)  The views of people in the local area (cont. ‘There is no point taking a short-term view of this. We should be funding education schemes tohelp people understand the effects of their crimes and give them alternatives to this behaviour.’ ‘It is only boredom that causes people to get involved in vandalism. Let’s provide better leisurefacilities and get people off the streets.’ ‘Prevention is better than cure. It is because people are not careful when using mobile phones thatthey get mugged. Let’s do an awareness campaign to encourage people to be more careful.’ ‘It is important to improve the look of the area to make it clear that we will not tolerate crime.We should spend some money on cleaning up the graffiti and fixing streetlights and bus stops.’ Questions• Who should the committee consult before making their decisions?• How will you reach a compromise on the problem?• What will be the main factors in making your decisions?• How will you explain your decision to the community, especially to those people whodisagree with you?• What are the cost implications of the different approaches? The decisionHow will you spend the money and why? 

Ever wondered what politicians are up to when they are filibustering? Or who on earth Blackrod or the Chief whip are? Didn’t think so, a number of strange words and terms are associated with politics and

sometimes politicians! You will now find out about a few of these terms by completing in ‘Political Call My Bluff’. Pull the wool over your

opponent’s eyes as they try to match obscure political words with their correct meaning.

Blackrod

Chief whip

Guillotine Motion

Annunciators

Backbencher

Gangway

Bisque

Green Paper

Mace

Portcullis

Prorogation

A Writ

8am 9am 10am

11am 12 noon 1pm

2pm 3pm 4pm

5pm 6pm 7pm

1. Answer emails from constituents.2. Run a surgery for constituents3. Write an article for the local newspaper.4. Have coffee with someone important in the conservative party (your MP’s party)5. Visit a local hospital.6. Meet with representatives from an international business and try to persuade them to invest in your area.7.Go for a run.8. Go to a press launch of a new initiative.

9. Visit a local school and answer questions from pupils.10. Ask a question in Parliament about a local hospital.11. Attend a branch meeting of local party members (conservative).12. Vote in Parliament for the introduction of a new law.13. Attend a select committee about after-school provision for young people.14. Read the newspapers.15. Have lunch.

Area of Responsibility Level responsible

Area of Responsibility Level responsible

Passing European laws Planning decisionsLocal roads and footpaths Education and training in Wales

UK law Protects the public and safeguards the rights of individuals

Developing and funding the NHS in Wales

Dealing with funding from the EU

Dealing with funding for local authorities in Wales

Monetary policy for the Euro

Council housing Looks closely at national policiesConcluding international

agreementsCo-ordinating policies of member

statesWaste and recycling Youth and leisure facilities

Housing policy including tackling homelessness in Wales

Debating issues affecting Wales

Libraries How long we should work and how often we should have breaks

Hears legal cases in the house of lords, the highest law court in the

UK.

Sponsoring bodies that protect the environment and conserve wildlife

and natural habitats.

Looking after streets Education servicesDebating major UK based issues Social servicesLevels of pesticides used on food

cropsExamines EU proposals before they

become lawManaging parks and other public

placesChecking up on and regulating

business

EU

EU

EU

EU

EU

EU

UKG

UKG

UKG

UKG

UKG

WAG/UKG

WAG WAG/UKG

WAG/UKG

LC

LC

WAG

LC

LC

LC LC

LCLC

LC

LCWAG

WAGWAG

LC

•The views of my parents, guardians or carers

•Who is the most popular in the opinion poles

•The election campaign of a political party

•The views of my friends •Political party leaders •The state of the economy

•What I have read in the newspapers

•Talking to a political party campaigner when they knock

on the door

•My personal experience of the political party or candidate

•The political parties’ policies or manifestos

•Trustworthiness of a candidate or political party

•Celebrities that endorse a political party

•Meeting a candidate •Performance in televised debates.

•A candidate’s former job

•My gender •A candidate’s gender •My religion

•A candidates religion •A candidates educational background

•Where I live

•Where a candidate lives •My age •A candidate’s age

•My background•A candidate’s background •What I have read on the

internet

•Leaflets about the candidate •How the candidates look •What I have seen on the TV

True False

1. The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 19702. The older you are, the more likely you are to vote3. If you pay council tax you are automatically registered to vote4. You need to ‘take your vote with you’ by registering to vote every time you move house5. You can vote by post in elections6. You can only register to vote in one place7. You don’t have to take your poll card with you when you vote8. You can cast your vote at any polling station9. You can only register to vote during the annual canvass in the autumn10. You have to be 18 to register to vote11. You can vote over the internet

A law was passed to lower the voting age for men and women to 18 in

1969. This took effect from 1970.

75% of people aged 65 and over claim to have voted at the 2010 UK Parliamentary

generalelection compared with 37% of 18–24 year olds.Voter registration is

not linked to council tax.You need to send an

electoral registration form to your local

electoral office every time you change

address. There are three ways you can vote in all

elections: in person, by post or by proxy.If you are a student

living away from home, you can register to vote

at more than one address. So you can be registered where you live at home and at

university. But you can only vote once in any

single election.You don’t need to

take anything to the polling station to

vote unless you live in Northern Ireland where you need to take an approved

form of ID.

You must vote at the polling station

indicated on your polling card. If you can’t make it to thepolling station apply

to vote by post or proxy.You can register to

vote at any time of the year.

You can register to vote if you are 17. Depending on the time of year; some

16 year-olds can also register to vote. The date that you turn

18 will be shown on the electoral

register. You can vote as soon as you

are 18. Contact your local electoral office

for more information.

Click on the Flags to be directed to the europa.eu website

2007

Bulgaria

Romania

France Finland NiceGermany 15 BulgariaItaly Euro RomaniaBelgium United Kingdom

TurkeyNetherlands SwedenCroatiaLuxembourg Denmark FYR MacedoniaRome 2004United Kingdom CyprusDenmark EstoniaIreland Hungary1981 LatviaPortugal LithuaniaSpain Malta1992 PolandMaastricht SlovakiaAustria SloveniaSweden Czech Republic

FranceItalyBelgiumGermanyNetherlandsLuxembourg

United KingdomDenmarkIreland

Greece

SpainPortugal

AustriaSwedenFinland

CyprusEstoniaHungaryLatviaLithuaniaMaltaPolandSlovakiaSloveniaCzech Republic

RomaniaBulgaria

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

Treaties of Romesigned

Maastricht Treaty signed, creating the EU and the single

market

Treaty of Nice signed

End of the Second World War

History of the EU Timeline

Q5. Who does it affect? 

Q6. How old is it and how did it come about? 

Q7. Where is the EU based (where do they meet)?  

Q8. What is the EU responsible for?

Q9. Name the four main political institutions in the European Union that work closely together. 

 

 

Everybody who lives in one of the 27 countries of the European Union (EU).

The European Union’s political system has constantly changed over the past 50 years. It is founded on a series of treaties (international agreements).

The European Parliament meets in Strasbourg, France and Brussels, Belgium. Committees and political groups meet in Brussels. The European Commission is based in Brussels and Luxembourg.

The institutions of the European Union, including the European Parliament, make decisions that affect all 27 member countries listed below. About half of our laws in the UK stem from the European Union. This includes laws to do with trade, the environment and anti-discrimination.

The European Parliament, The Council of Ministers, The European Commission, The European Council

This is the only institution of the European Union directly elected by the public. It is made up of 732 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are elected every five years. The United Kingdom is represented by 78 of the MEPs. They do most of their work in Brussels, but the whole Parliament comes together once a month in Strasbourg and several times a year in Brussels. The main job of the European Parliament is to debate and pass laws affecting the EU. It does this in collaboration with the Council of Ministers. It also checks the work of all EU decision-making bodies, in particular the European Commission. It has the power to approve or reject the nomination of Commissioners (who are nominated by member states) and it can call for the resignation of the Commission as a whole. Along with the Council, the European Parliament can influence EU spending because it has the power to agree or reject the EU’s budget.

The Council of Ministers is made up of one minister from each EU member state. Which minister attends depends on the subject being discussed. For example environment ministers meet to pass laws on controlling pollution. The Presidency of the Council moves between each member state every six months. The country that holds the presidency chairs all Council meetings and decides, in consultation with the European Commission, the policy agenda of the European Union. The Council also jointly approves the European Union’s budget with the European Parliament. The Council of Ministers meets in Brussels and Luxembourg. It is also sometimes known as the Council of the European Union.

The Commission is responsible for proposing laws, which are then debated and approved by the European Parliament. It is made up of one Commissioner per member state. Each Commissioner is responsible for a particular area of work, such as trade or the environment. The Commission is based in Brussels and has about 16,000 permanent staff.

The European Council is made up of the political leaders of EU member states – for example our Prime Minister is a member – and the President of the European Commission. It can’t make or amend laws, but it does set the overall agenda for EU policies. The European Council meets in Brussels four times a year and also has summits in the country holding the Presidency.Not to be confused with: The Council of Europe, which is not part of the EU and was founded in 1949 to promote cultural diversity, democracy and human rights.

WALES, EUROPE AND THE WORLD (WEW) – ELEMENT 1: Political Issues

1. Describe activities you have taken part in:

2. Write about what you have learnt from taking part in these activities and what you enjoyed about them.

3. Select one piece of evidence from your economic and technological issues booklet which backs up comments made in your evaluation

4. Add your evaluation sheet and evidence for this element after your social issues evaluation and evidence in your diary folder.