Year 11 - Citizenship
How is local government structured?
Where does power reside in the UK?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils look at the role of local and national government and identify reserved and devolved powers in the UK.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the branches of local government and the different roles within it.
Key Notes
- Local government in the UK are structured into single and two-tiers.
- Single-tiers include unitary authorities, London boroughs and Metropolitan borough councils.
- Two-tiers include county and district councils.
- Council roles include local councillors, cabinet members, backbench councillors, mayors and council officers.
Vocabulary To Learn
- local government: a system of government that operates at a local level providing services to its community
- local councillor: a person elected to represent their ward or division and the people who live in it; they provide a bridge between the community and the council
- council officer: often those with specialist knowledge who work for the council; support local councillors to make decisions for the local area
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Every local government runs in the same way.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Local government in the UK are structured into single and two-tiers. Single-tiers include unitary authorities, London boroughs and Metropolitan borough councils.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'local government'
a system of government that operates at a local level providing services to its community.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Every local government runs in the same way. Correction: Local governments do not all run in the same way. There are different type of councils including, county and district councils.
More Lessons In This Unit
- How do elections in the UK work? Study Guide
- How does devolved government operate in the UK? Study Guide
- How is local democracy different to national government? Study Guide
- What are local councils and what do they do? Study Guide
- What roles do NGOs, charities and civil society play in local communities? Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Citizenship guide library.