Year 7 - Citizenship
What do local councils do?
How does local democracy work?
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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
This unit explores the difference between local and national government. Pupils consider how governments are elected, the role of local councils and the key people within them.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe some of the key services a local council provides and how these are funded.
Key Notes
- Local councils provide and manage essential community services, including education, health and waste management.
- The local government system is different around the country and works in a tier system.
- Local government is funded by grants from central government, council taxes, business rates and local service fees.
- Councils only have a certain amount of income and so they have to make difficult spending decisions.
Vocabulary To Learn
- tier: layers or levels
- local council: a group of people elected to represent citizens and make decisions on how the local area should be run
- services: ways in which to help, support and / or serve the public
- income: the money a person or government earns
- tax: compulsory charges to citizens and businesses by government to finance some of its spending
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Councils only deal with minor issues, like park maintenance.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Local councils provide and manage essential community services, including education, health and waste management. The local government system is different around the country and works in a tier system.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'tier'
layers or levels.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Councils only deal with minor issues, like park maintenance. Correction: Local councils play a crucial role in many significant areas, including urban and housing planning, public health, education and community services. They have a say in local regulations, budgets and initiatives that greatly impact quality of life.
More Lessons In This Unit
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