Course Introduction

National

Qualifications

Today we will…

• Outline the National 4/5 Courses.• Explain the structure of the political

system in the UK.

Success Criteria

•I can create a diagram which illustrates the structure of the political system in the UK.

Course Structure

•There will be two different types of questions at National 4 and 5

•Knowledge Questions: this is when you answer questions on the topics you have learned.

•Skills Questions: Using sources to answer questions:Democracy in Scotland

Using sources of information to identify and explain exaggeration and selective use of facts.

Social Issues in the United Kingdom

Using sources of information to make and justify a decision.

USA Using sources of information to draw and support conclusions.

Course Structure •Democracy in Scotland

•Social Issues in the United Kingdom: Social Inequality

•International Issues: The USA

Assessment National 4

National 4 Assignment Internal Assessments

for each unit.

Assessment National 5

National 5 Assignment Internal Assessments

for each unit.

National 5 exam

Democracy in Scotland

•This will be our first topic.

•You will be given two post-it notes.

•On one write down what you know already about this topic.

• Now write down what you would like to know.

Overview of the Political System in the UKThe UK’s political

system can be described as a constitutional

monarchy. This means that we have a king or

queen as Head of State.

The Scottish Parliament and the Westminster make our laws, not the monarch. The Monarch must remain

politically neutral. No Monarch has refused the Parliament’s wishes for

over 300 years.

For a law to be passed it must go through Parliament. It must be given Royal Assent- this means that the Monarch must approve it.

The Monarch reads the Queen speech which announces what the government plans to do in the coming year.

In the UK, the monarch’s in the governing of the UK is largely a symbolic one. The monarch has no real political power. Instead the monarch symbolises what the country stands for.

The issue of Scotland’s place within the United Kingdom is likely to be the subject of debate for some time.

The re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 led to speculation about Scotland’s constitutional future.

It has raised the issue of more decision-making power to be devolved to Scotland, ultimately Scottish Independence.

Democracy in Scotland

The Edinburgh Agreement

The Agreement, struck in Edinburgh, paved the way for a

vote in autumn 2014, with a single YES/NO question on Scotland

leaving the UK.It will also allow 16 AND year olds to take part in the

ballot.

The Prime Minister and the First Minister

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is

the head of Her Majesty’s

Government in the United Kingdom.

The main role of the First Minister is to represent

Scotland in areas that are reserved to the Scottish

Parliament. The First Minister is expected to have a vision for the

country and to lead the country in a positive

direction.

Local Councils All the nations within the UK have a system of local

government.

Councils make and carry out decisions pm local services such as transport, education. Social care and

libraries.

Local councillors are elected by the local community to represent views.

Local Councils receive their money from the government.

Task• Create a diagram which outlines the

political structure of the UK.• You should include:

The MonarchyThe different parliaments in the UK

Who is in charge of each Parliament- briefly describe their role.

Local Councils

Was I successful? • I can create a diagram

which illustrates the structure of the political system in the UK.