joint uk gov

Conquest Joint Lesson Conquest Joint Lesson How is the United How is the United Kingdom governed?Kingdom governed?

Student Outcomes-Student Outcomes-

An understanding of how the United Kingdom is governed.

The roles, now and in 1066, of:The MonarchThe Prime MinisterParliament

Lesson 1 Starter-Lesson 1 Starter-

For this task you will need to work in groups of 4.

Think of your school and all of the different types of people in it- from the Principal all the way to you the student.

Now put them into order on a pyramid chart, the ‘top-boss’ at the top, down to the person who has the least control.

Your pyramid chart should Your pyramid chart should look something like this: look something like this:

Lesson 1 Main Activity 1Lesson 1 Main Activity 1

Assign roles: Each person in your group will be play a particular role in today’s lesson.

William the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror

You are a powerful and highly respected leader of England and France.

Design a shield that will depict just how powerful you are. Include designs that depict France and England, and also how strong you are.

Queen Elizabeth IQueen Elizabeth I

As the ruler of this country today you have a very important job to do. You often wear a crown at important events.

Design your own crown with detail and finesse that shows what an important leader you are in this country.

Tony BlairTony Blair

As the Prime Minister of England you are a very busy man and work incredibly hard to improve this country.

Design a tie that shows some of the things you believe in and are trying to improve in this country.

Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament

You have been voted in to parliament by the citizens of this country. You are busy making sure that ordinary people have their say about how the country works.

Design a rosette (badge) that shows what campaigns the members of your constituency are fighting for (e.g. better schools/hospitals etc).

William the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror

Design a shield that will depict just how powerful you are. Include designs that depict France and England, and also how strong you are.

Queen Elizabeth IQueen Elizabeth I

Design your own crown with detail and finesse that shows what an important leader you are in this country.

Tony BlairTony Blair

Design a tie that shows some of the things you believe in and are trying to improve in this country.

Design a rosette (badge) that shows what campaigns the members of your constituency are fighting for (e.g. better schools/hospitals etc).

Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament

His Majesty King William the His Majesty King William the Conqueror of England 1066Conqueror of England 1066

All powerful, all conquering,

he ruled and governed,

his word was law and if

you disagreed he had a big

army.

Q Did ordinary people

have the right to argue with

the King?

The United Kingdom Government The United Kingdom Government 2005 – Head of State2005 – Head of StateHer Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIof the United Kingdom of Great Britain andNorthern Ireland

Q- Can the Queensay ‘off with his head’if you upset her?

Roles of the QueenRoles of the Queen All laws in the UK are signed by The Queen, until they are, they

are not law. Theoretically the Queen can refuse to sign, but no monarch has since 1716.

All judges, ambassadors and ministers are appointed by the Queen. However they are in reality chosen by either the Prime Minister or elected by the people.

The main job of the Queen is to be a symbol of the UK, she goes on Royal Tours, she awards honours, she attends ceremonies and opens things.

The Queen is not allowed opinions, she must be fair and never speak for or against the Government or country. She rules but does not govern.

Q- How is this different to the King in 1066?

The Prime The Prime Minister 2005Minister 2005

He is the leader of the biggest political party in Parliament, the Labour Party. He runs the country, advises the Queen who to appoint and asks parliament to make laws. He is the most powerful person in the country although formally the Queen is his boss and the people can remove him by election.

He governs but does not rule.

Tony Blair

ParliamentParliament House of Commons

The most important part of parliament. MPs elected by the people debate and pass laws. They then pass them to the House of Lords for checking.

House of LordsMade up of 91Nobles and 500Lords appointed by the Prime

Minister. They are usually experts on things and they improve laws made by the Commons. Once they pass a law it goes to the Queen who gives it Royal Assent which makes it law.

What do we know?What do we know? How is the Queen’s power different to the King’s

in 1066? Can the Queen say ‘off with his head’

if you upset her? Did ordinary people

have the right to argue with the King?

What does MP stand for?Who chooses MPs?How old do you have to be to be able to

vote?

Which is which?Which is which?

Liberal Democratic Party Leader Sir Menzies Campbell?

Conservative Party Leader David Cameron?

The Legislature – In 1066 the The Legislature – In 1066 the King made laws. In 2006 King made laws. In 2006 Parliament makes laws.Parliament makes laws.

What does MP stand for?

Who chooses MPs?

How old do you have to be to be able to vote?

Click on the link below and then on a Click on the link below and then on a video link to see some of Prime Ministers video link to see some of Prime Ministers Questions, a weekly debate in the House Questions, a weekly debate in the House

of Commons when the Prime Minister of Commons when the Prime Minister defends his government from opposition defends his government from opposition

complaints.complaints.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/3832639.stm#

Lesson 1 Plenary- Fill in this table Lesson 1 Plenary- Fill in this table comparing the government of the UK now comparing the government of the UK now and England in 1066and England in 1066

Role 1066 2006

Queen or King

Prime Minister

Parliament

Nobles They were the King’s main advisors

HomeworkHomework

For next lesson find out the name of your local MP and find out what a local council does.

Web links:MP - http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/Council - http://www.kent.gov.uk/

Lesson 2 - StarterLesson 2 - Starter

In your groups of three tell each other what you found out for homework and answer the questions found on the word worksheet ‘politics starter.’

Main Activity 1Main Activity 1

Between 1066 and 2005 the Monarch has slowly given up power and the Prime Minister and Parliament have become more powerful.

This makes Britain a democratic constitutional monarchy e.g. the Queen has a role but must follow the law as it is written by the people’s elected MPs.

Task:The class is Parliament. The teacher

is the Speaker of Parliament.Split the class so that half the groups

are on one side of the room and half are on the other. Half represent the Government, and half represent the Opposition.

In 15 minutes time the Government will argue for a new law and the opposition will argue against it.

The Bill before Parliament is:The Bill before Parliament is:

‘All children under the age of 16 should be in their houses by 7 o’clock each night.’

Prepare your arguments as the Government for this and the Opposition against it.

PlenaryPlenary

Debate the Bill.Vote on it, each student should vote

for the side they think argued best, not for their own argument.

Then either reject the Bill or pass it to the Queen for Royal Assent making it an Act of Parliament and a new law.

HomeworkHomework

During the debate you used listening and arguing skills.

Write a paragraph explaining how well you used them. Think about whether you listened to others well, if others listened to you well, if your argued your point well and what things you saw other people doing that could help you do better in the future.