The tripartite system of UK democracy Understand that

The tripartite system of UK democracy Understand that there is a separation of power between the government, parliament and the law courts. British Valu

Starter: Answer these questions before you start the lesson, then again at the end of the lesson - when you will be given the answers and a grade for both. A sheet of two columns is provided for this purpose. See how your score changes! You have 3 minutes. 1. The three aspects of the tripartite system are the Executive, Legislative and the J 2. The two Houses in Parliament are called the House of Commons and the House of L 3. The number of MPs in the House of Commons is 4. P 5. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate Parliaments or Assemblies through which their own laws can be created and passed. This is called D. 6. Bills made in to laws are called an A 7. The Queen must give her Royal A 8. There are 9. The government department overseeing schools is called the Department for E 10. The Magistrates Court deal withs criminal cases where the maximum jail term is less. . has the power to make and pass laws in the UK. of Parliament? to any new laws. government departments. . years or 3 2 1 British Valu

Starter. Answer these questions before we start the lesson, then again at the end of the lesson, when you will be given the answers and a grade for both. See how your score changes! You have 3 minutes. 1. The three aspects of the tripartite system are the Executive, Legislative and the 2. The two Houses in Parliament are called the House of Commons and the House of 3. The number of MPs in the House of Commons is 4. . has the power to make and pass laws in the UK. 5. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate Parliaments or Assemblies through which their own laws can be created and passed. This is called. 6. Bills made in to laws are called an 7. The Queen must give her Royal 8. There are 9. The government department overseeing schools is called the Department for 10. The Magistrates Court deals with criminal cases where the maximum jail term is less. of Parliament? to any new laws. government departments. . years or 3 2 1 British Valu

End of lesson answers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Grade given: . Student worksheet Name Start of lesson answers: British Valu

The Tripartite System As the word suggests, the tripartite system of democracy involves 3 separate items: The Executive The Legislative The Judiciary What are the names of the institutions to which these terms apply, in the UK ? Try thinking of the meanings of the words ‘execute’ (meaning ‘to carry out’), ‘legal’ and ‘judge’. British Valu

The Tripartite System Legislative Power Parliament Executive Power The Government The Judiciary Courts of Law The Voting Public British Valu

Executive Power – the government As you know, the government is elected by people in the UK through a vote at the General Election. Once the government takes control it is their responsibility to run the country in a way that is beneficial to its people. This includes trying to change existing laws and creating new laws. When a government wants to make legal changes they must pass their ideas through the Houses of Parliament. The UK government submits a draft bill which is a rough outline of the laws they wish to pass. The Executive Power is the government, the leader of which lives at 10 Downing Street. Bills are made into law (called an Act of Parliament) once they have been discussed and approved by the Houses of Lords and Commons and given ‘the Royal Assent’ by the Queen. A law cannot be made legal by the government without Parliament’s approval. After discussion, the draft is amended and submitted to Parliament for discussion as a Why do you think this is? first bill. British Valu

• • • • • • Attorney General’s Office Cabinet Office Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Department for Communities and Local Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport Department for Education Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for International Development Department for Transport Department for Work and Pensions Department of Energy and Climate Change Foreign and Commonwealth Office Department of Health HM Treasury Home Office Ministry of Defence Ministry of Justice Northern Ireland Office for the Advocate General of Scotland Office of the Leader of the House of Commons Office of the Leader of the House of Lords Scotland Office UK Export Finance Wales Office 24 Government Departments British Valu

Legislative Power - Parliament • The Houses of Parliament are in Westminster Palace, next to the river Thames in London. • Inside is the House of Lords and the House of Commons. • There are 675 lords who sit in the House of Lords and 650 MPs in the House of Commons. • Parliament has the power to create and pass new laws. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate Parliaments or Assemblies in which their own laws can be created and passed. This allows them to have a greater say on their own countries whilst still remaining part of the UK. His is called Devolution British Valu

Judiciary – The Courts Judges rule over courts and hear cases where laws have allegedly been broken. There are two types of court: Magistrate Courts: Deal with criminal cases where the maximum jail term is 2 years or less. Magistrates are usually specially trained members of the public who work voluntarily. Magistrates can impose fines and orders banning people from doing certain things. Crown Courts: Deal with criminal cases where the maximum jail term is likely to be over two years. Cases are presided over by a judge and a jury of 12 selected members of the public. British Valu

So, there is a separation of power in the UK… • People vote for the government. • The government decides which laws it wants to enforce. • Parliament decides whether the government’s laws can be passed or not. • The law courts apply the Parliamentary laws to real – life individual cases and either dismiss the case or set a punishment. Do you think this separation is a positive thing? What do you think are the benefits of having this separation? British Valu

ANSWERS 1. The three aspects of the tripartite system are the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary. 2. The two Houses in Parliament called the House of Commons and the House of Lords. 3. The number of MPs is the House of Commons is 650. 4. Parliament has the power to make and pass laws in the UK. 5. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate Parliaments or Assemblies through which their own laws can be created and passed. This is called Devolution. 6. Bills made in to laws are called an act of Parliament? 7. The Queen must give her Royal Assent to any new laws. 8. There are 24 government departments. 9. The government department overseeing schools is called the Department for Education. 10. The Magistrates Court which deal with criminal cases where the maximum jail term is 2 years or less British Valu

Score yourself for before and after… Score /10 % Grade 10 9 8 7 100 90 40 70 A* A B C 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 D E F G U U U British Valu

The tripartite system of UK democracy Understand that there is a separation of power between the government, parliament and the law courts. British Valu