Starter quiz
- Match the following terms to their correct definitions.
- election⇔when people vote to choose their leaders or representatives. ✓
- majority⇔holds more than half of the total seats in a legislative body ✓
- opposition⇔the political parties that challenge the Government ✓
- What happens immediately after a general election?
- The new Prime Minister is chosen by the monarch.
- The winning party’s leader is invited by the monarch to form a government. ✓
- The leader of the opposition automatically becomes Prime Minister.
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- What is a minority government?
- a government formed by a party that does not have a majority of MPs ✓
- a government where the opposition takes turns in leading
- a government that does not make any decisions
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- What do political parties do?
- They campaign, create policies and compete in elections. ✓
- They only debate issues, but do not run for elections.
- They make laws without input from Parliament.
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- What happens if no party wins a majority in a UK general election?
- The party with the most votes automatically forms the government.
- Parties may negotiate to form a coalition or try to govern as a minority. ✓
- A second election is ordered to be held immediately.
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- A government formed by more than one political party is called a ______ government.
- 'coalition' ✓
Exit quiz
- Match the following terms to the correct definitions.
- political party⇔a group who share similar beliefs about how society should be run ✓
- policies⇔goals that people plan to carry out ✓
- political spectrum⇔a concept that models political beliefs and ideologies as a continuum ✓
- What is the purpose of a political party?
- to entertain people with debates and speeches about how a country should run
- to organise a group of people with shared beliefs about how a country should run ✓
- to make laws how a country should run without public input
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- Why are there multiple political parties in the UK?
- to ensure that different ideas and perspectives are represented ✓
- because people enjoy voting for different things
- to make elections more complicated and last longer
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- What is the main purpose of a political party’s policies?
- to outline what a political party plans to do if they are elected ✓
- to make sure all political parties have the same goals
- to confuse voters before an election
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- Which of these statements is true about the political spectrum?
- It shows where parties stand on political issues, from left wing to right wing. ✓
- It only includes left wing and right wing parties, with no middle ground.
- It shows where parties stand on political issues, from left wing to right wing. ✓
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- A political party’s ______ outlines its key policies and goals for an election.
- 'manifesto' ✓
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A political party is an organised group of people who share similar beliefs and goals about how society should be run.
- Political party policies align with their values. This influences what their manifesto is.
- There are many UK political parties to ensure that different ideas are represented and that every voice can be heard.
- The political spectrum shows where parties stand on political issues, from left wing to right wing.
Common misconception
Political parties are all either left wing or right wing.
Many parties mix both views or focus on specific issues, like regional concerns. Some parties are centrist or have ideas that don’t fit neatly into either side.
Keywords
Political party - an organised group of people who share similar beliefs and goals about how society should be run
Policies - courses of action or goals that people plan to carry out, or are in the process of carrying out
Political spectrum - a concept that models political beliefs and ideologies as a continuum (from left wing to right wing)
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