Year 9 - Citizenship
How is the country run?
How is the UK governed?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils explore the difference between local, regional and national governance and compare the political systems in the UK and US.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain who governs the UK, how they get the authority and describe some of the responsibilities of the Cabinet.
Key Notes
- The Government has the authority to govern the UK. The Government is chosen and led by the Prime Minister (PM).
- The UK Government has three main branches: legislative, executive and judiciary.
- The Cabinet is chosen by the PM. It leads government departments and makes key decisions on government policies.
Vocabulary To Learn
- government: the group of people with the authority to govern a country; in the UK, the Government is chosen and led by the Prime Minister (PM)
- Cabinet: a group of MPs who lead major government departments; the Cabinet meets weekly to make decisions about how government policy will be carried out
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The Prime Minister and the Cabinet have total control over the UK.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
The Government has the authority to govern the UK. The Government is chosen and led by the Prime Minister (PM). The UK Government has three main branches: legislative, executive and judiciary.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'government'
the group of people with the authority to govern a country; in the UK, the Government is chosen and led by the Prime Minister (PM).
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: The Prime Minister and the Cabinet have total control over the UK. Correction: The Prime Minister leads the Government but must answer to Parliament. Members of Parliament (MPs) debate and approve laws and can challenge a Prime Minister. The Cabinet makes decisions but is accountable to Parliament and the law.
More Lessons In This Unit
- How does the UK political system compare to other systems? Study Guide
- What are direct and representative democracies? Study Guide
- What are the differences between local, regional and national governance? Study Guide
- What are the differences between the UK and US political systems? Study Guide
- What does the Civil Service do? Study Guide
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