Understanding Government: Elections, Coalitions, and Lawmaking

1. Active Citizens: How are governments formed? There are currently 650 Members of Parliament (MPs). A government needs the support of half of all the MPs (325MPs). This was the result in 2015: Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results

2. Active Citizens: Majority Government Many people thought the 2015 General Election would result in a hung parliament; however, the Conservatives won the election by 12 seats. The Conservatives now hold a single-party majority government. Consider these questions: Why was the Conservative win such a surprise? Do you think a single-party majority government is a good thing? Source of predictions: http://www.may2015.com/category/seat-calculator/

3. Active Citizens: Coalitions Following the 2010 general election, there was a period of negotiating between the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties. The outcome was a coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. What this video clip and consider: Do you think more coalition governments are likely in the future? Do you think coalition governments are a good thing or not? Source: The Independent Newspaper, November 2014

4. Active Citizens: Cabinet Ministers Once elected, a Prime Minister is able to choose cabinet ministers. They are responsible for different government departments – for example education, healthcare, defence and international development. Cabinet ministers meet once a week. They decides on government policy and co-ordinate the work of the different government departments. Cabinet meetings are private and its members should not disclose any information about them. Question Who in this class is most likely to be a cabinet minister in the future? What attributes do they have that would make them a good minister?

5. Active Citizens: Cabinet Role Play • Each of you is going to take on the role of a cabinet minister. You will participate in a mock-cabinet meeting, in which one or more policy issue is discussed. • Think about how your cabinet minister would address these topics in a cabinet meeting. • Put forward your arguments. Listen to your cabinet colleagues and respond to their points. • Your cabinet group needs to come to a decision on the issue and present a summary of the meeting to the rest of the class.

6. Active Citizens: Cabinet Role-Play Choose one of more of the following topics to base your cabinet meeting on: • This government should reduce the voting age to 16 years old. • Food waste should be illegal. • Cut spending on international aid by 25% and spend this money in the UK instead. • Great Britain should stay in the EU. Even if the topic does not have a direct impact on your department, you are still entitled to share your views and take part in any votes!

7. Active Citizens: How are laws made? • Proposals • Bills • Parliamentary stages • The Queen’s Assent • Act of Parliament • Watch this video clip and answer these questions: • Who comes up with the ideas for a new law? • Could someone outside parliament propose a new law?

8. Active Citizens: How are laws made? • Who comes up with the ideas for a new law? • Could someone outside parliament propose a new law? • Election manifestos • Single MP (wants to change a law or create a new one) • Need someone in parliament to sponsor it. • Experts in a field or pressure groups can try to influence legislation • Can be response to something that has happened (increased risk of terrorism) or because something has changed (more people using mobile phones)

9. Active Citizens: How are laws made? House of Commons Consultation Stage Ask experts, ordinary people & MPs First Reading Green Paper White Paper House of Lords Watch this video and complete the flow chart above

10. Active Citizens: How are laws made? House of Commons First Reading Let MPs know its coming up Second Reading Minister explains Bill. Debate and vote Third Reading Look at all amendments and vote on the Bill Report Stage MPs can see what changes the committee has made Consultation Stage Ask experts, ordinary people & MPs Committee Stage Looks in detail at Bill. Line by line Green Paper White Paper Parliamentary Ping Pong Bill goes between Commons and Lords until both are happy with it Report Stage Committee Stage All Lords go through Bill line by line. Third Reading Second Reading First Reading House of Lords Watch this video and complete the flow chart above Royal Assent

11. Active Citizens: Make a law Imagine that you are a Member of Parliament. What new law would you like to make? Work in pairs to develop an idea. Pitch your idea to the class. Debate these proposals. Vote: Which ideas are supported by a majority of the class?

12. Active Citizens: Monitor your MP You can find out how your MP has voted in the House of Commons by visiting websites such as www.theyworkforyou.com To find out what new laws the candidates from the various parties want to pass in the future, look at their party manifestos.