Starter quiz
- What does Parliament do?
- runs the country
- organises community events
- debates and makes laws ✓
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- What is a general election?
- a school council vote for pupil representatives
- a charity fundraiser for a local organisation
- a formal process for the electorate to choose their representative ✓
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- Match the words to the correct definition.
- ballot box⇔where a voter puts their vote before it is counted ✓
- constituency⇔the specific area that is represented by each MP in Parliament ✓
- Prime Minister⇔the leader of the political party who is in power ✓
- Who has the authority to govern the UK?
- the monarch
- the House of Lords
- the Government ✓
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- Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of ______ and the monarch.
- 'Lords' ✓
- What is the main role of the Government?
- to run the country and enforce laws ✓
- to debate and scrutinise laws
- to hold meetings with citizens
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Exit quiz
- What happens during a general election in the UK?
- MPs are voted for by people in their constituency ✓
- the monarch selects new MPs
- the Prime Minister decides who becomes MPs
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- After a general election, the Prime Minister is accepted by the ______ and is invited to make a government.
- 'monarch' ✓
- Match the word to its correct definition.
- Oath of Allegiance⇔a promise of loyalty to the monarch and UK laws by MPs and Lords ✓
- minority⇔a government formed by a party that does not have 50% or more MP seats ✓
- majority⇔holds more than half of the total seats in a legislative body ✓
- Governments may be run with a majority, minority or ...
- 'coalition' ✓
- General elections happen at least every __________ years.
- two
- five ✓
- eight
- ten
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- What is the oath that MPs take during their swearing in called?
- the Oath of Allegiance ✓
- the Oath of Affirmation
- the Oath of Agreement
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A general election in the UK is when MPs are voted for by people in their constituency.
- After a general election, the Prime Minister is accepted by the monarch and is invited to make a government.
- Governments may be run with a majority, minority or coalition.
Common misconception
The party that wins the most seats will form the Government and have all the power.
If a party does not have the majority of seats (50%+1) in Parliament, they may not be able to form a government. They might have to form a formal coalition or a voting agreement with a smaller party to get the majority. Power may have to be shared.
Keywords
Election - when people vote to choose their leaders or representatives
Prime minister - the leader of the political party who is in power and head of the Government
Majority - holds more than half of the total seats in a legislative body, such as a Parliament
Coalition - a government formed jointly by more than one political party
Minority - a government formed by a political party that does not have an overall majority of MPs