Democracy in action

Lesson objectives

• To understand terms such as: Prime To understand terms such as: Prime Minister, Cabinet, Chancellor of the Minister, Cabinet, Chancellor of the exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary.Secretary.

• To practice the skill of negotiation.To practice the skill of negotiation.• To develop the ability to work in a group. To develop the ability to work in a group.

So what do you know?

1.1. How old do you have to be to vote?How old do you have to be to vote?

2.2. Who is the Prime Minister?Who is the Prime Minister?

3.3. Who is the leader of the Opposition?Who is the leader of the Opposition?

4.4. When voting do people use a tick or a When voting do people use a tick or a cross?cross?

5.5. Who is the Chancellor of the Exchequer?Who is the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

So what do you know?

6.6. How often should General Elections take place?How often should General Elections take place?

7.7. Who is the MP for Hall Green?Who is the MP for Hall Green?

8.8. How often do Local Council elections take How often do Local Council elections take place?place?

9.9. What is the name of the clock in the Houses of What is the name of the clock in the Houses of Parliament?Parliament?

10.10. What is the name of the third largest party in What is the name of the third largest party in Britain?Britain?

Answers

1.1. 1818

2.2. Tony BlairTony Blair

3.3. David CameronDavid Cameron

4.4. CrossCross

5.5. Gordon BrownGordon Brown

6.6. Every five yearsEvery five years

7.7. Steve McCabeSteve McCabe

8.8. Every yearEvery year

9.9. Big BenBig Ben

10.10. Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats

Your Government

• In your groups I want you to elect a Prime In your groups I want you to elect a Prime Minister.Minister.

• Before you do this I want you to think of Before you do this I want you to think of the qualities needed by a Prime Minister.the qualities needed by a Prime Minister.

Qualities of the Prime Minister

The Cabinet

• The cabinet is made up of the most important The cabinet is made up of the most important people in the government. They advise the people in the government. They advise the Prime Minister and also run important Prime Minister and also run important departments.departments.

• According to how many there are in your According to how many there are in your group I want the Prime Minister to choose: the group I want the Prime Minister to choose: the Chancellor of the Exchequer; Home Secretary; Chancellor of the Exchequer; Home Secretary; Foreign Secretary; Minister for Education; Foreign Secretary; Minister for Education; Minister for Health; Minister for Sport; Minister for Health; Minister for Sport; Minister for the Environment.Minister for the Environment.

Your Cabinet

• Chancellor of the Exchequer – you have to Chancellor of the Exchequer – you have to work out the taxes the government needs.work out the taxes the government needs.

• Home Secretary – you have to decide on Home Secretary – you have to decide on issues to do with law and order.issues to do with law and order.

• Foreign Secretary – you have to work out Foreign Secretary – you have to work out our relation ship with other countries.our relation ship with other countries.

Your Cabinet

• Minister for Education – you have to decide on Minister for Education – you have to decide on how the schools should be run.how the schools should be run.

• Minister for Health – you have to decide on the Minister for Health – you have to decide on the government’s health policy.government’s health policy.

• Minister for Sport – you in charge of the ploicy Minister for Sport – you in charge of the ploicy towards all sports. towards all sports.

• Minister for the Environment – you have to decide Minister for the Environment – you have to decide the policy of the government on the enviromnentthe policy of the government on the enviromnent

Task

• I want each of the ministers to come up I want each of the ministers to come up with a plan for their department. What with a plan for their department. What issues do you think the government should issues do you think the government should be concentrating on.be concentrating on.

• Prime Minister – you can sit back and Prime Minister – you can sit back and watch them or maybe give them a hand.watch them or maybe give them a hand.

Cabinet Meeting

• Each minister presents their thoughts to the Each minister presents their thoughts to the group.group.

• The Prime Minister has to choose two of The Prime Minister has to choose two of these to be the most important.these to be the most important.

• Ministers – if she doesn’t choose yours you Ministers – if she doesn’t choose yours you can try and argue your point to make her can try and argue your point to make her change her mind.change her mind.

Meeting of all governments

• All the groups are now going to report back All the groups are now going to report back with the Prime Minister making the report with the Prime Minister making the report on their chosen items.on their chosen items.

Report back

Group 1Group 1 Group 2Group 2 Group 3Group 3

Group 4Group 4 Group 5Group 5 Group 6Group 6

Who was the best group?

GroupGroup ChoiceChoice ReasonReason

11

22

33

44

55

66

Self-evaluation• Use the following headings to evaluate how you Use the following headings to evaluate how you

think you have done on this activity:think you have done on this activity:• My understanding of terms such as Prime My understanding of terms such as Prime

Minister, Cabinet, Chancellor of the Minister, Cabinet, Chancellor of the exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary.Secretary.

• My performance in the group: Listening, My performance in the group: Listening, making points, understanding someone else's making points, understanding someone else's point of view, not dominating a conversation, point of view, not dominating a conversation, changing my mind.changing my mind.