Year 7 - Citizenship
What is the role of the local councillor?
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 what a councillor is and explain some of their key roles and responsibilities.
Key Notes
- A local councillor in the UK is an elected representative who helps make decisions about local services and policies.
- A local councillor works with their community to address local issues, make decisions on local services.
- Local councillors are supported by council officers who have specialist skills knowledge in different areas.
- Skills, such as communication, listening, trustworthiness and commitment, are useful for local councillors to have.
Vocabulary To Learn
- councillor: elected representatives who make decisions, set policies and represent the views of the community
- ward: smaller, specific area within a local council's district
- council officers: often those with specialist knowledge who work for the council; support councillors to make decisions for the local area
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Local councillors are the same as MPs.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
A local councillor in the UK is an elected representative who helps make decisions about local services and policies. A local councillor works with their community to address local issues, make decisions on local services.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'councillor'
elected representatives who make decisions, set policies and represent the views of the community.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Local councillors are the same as MPs. Correction: MPs represent local areas on a national level. Councillors represent residents at a local level within cities, towns or counties. Councillors do not get a say in making laws, like MPs do. Councillors get an allowance, while MPs are paid a salary.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 7 Citizenship guide library.