How Representatives Help their Constituents…

• Can you think how your MP or MSP represents you?

How Representatives Help their Constituents…

• Can you think how your MP or MSP represents you?

• Over the next few slides we will go through different ways you are represented…

How Representatives Help their Constituents…

• Can you think how your MP or MSP represents you?

• Over the next few slides we will go through different ways you are represented…

• Create a mind-map which you can add to as we work through slides.

HOW MPs and MSPs Represent us…

How MPs and MSPs Represent us

• Can split into two sections

1. In constituency2. In House of Commons or Scottish

Parliament

1. In a Constituency…

• Constituents can contact MP or MSP and raise issues by phone, letter, email or:

• SURGERY – this is where you can meet your representative and raise issues

• These are held regularly in places like schools, libraries etc…

http://margaretcurran.org/advice

-surgery-details-

What can MPs and MSPs then do…

• Can contact Government Department, Agency or Local Council to enquire about a problem.

• Can contact local media – gain publicity.

• Can raise matter in Parliament…

2. In House of Commons/Scottish

Parliament…• Question Time –

• Debates -

• Voting -

2. In House of Commons/Scottish

Parliament…• Question Time – Ask a question to be

answered by government leaders

• Debates – Have a discussion about a matter in Parliament

• Voting – MPs and MSPs can vote for or against an issue to the benefit of their constituents.

2. In House of Commons/Scottish

Parliament…• Question Time

• E.g. In House of Commons, can ask David Cameron a question at Prime Minister’s Question Time

• Or in Scottish Parliament can ask Alex Salmond a question at First Minister’s Question Time

Why ask questions?

•Puts pressure on

government to do

something

•Gets a problem

solved

•Gains publicity for

issue – media

involvement

2. In House of Commons/Scottish

Parliament…• Debates

• Why debate? Because the government does not like to hear about bad problems and to avoid bad publicity they’ll try to fix things quickly

• E.g. in Scottish Parliament, debates about sectarianism led to tougher laws being passed regarding this

2. In House of Commons/Scottish

Parliament…• Voting

• Why vote on bills? If an MP or MSP doesn’t think a new law will benefit their constituents they can vote against it.

• Or if they think it would benefit their area then they might vote for it.

• For example, in October 2012, MPs voted “NO” to a badger cull

Task…

• Think of specific examples for the ways that MPs and MSPs help constituents

• E.g. Surgery – might meet local MSP to raise concerns about the state of the roads in your constituency

• Think of a relevant example for each and add to mind-map

Homework

• Find more current examples of how MPs and MSPs represent their constituents and add to your notes

• You will remember these better if you find them yourselves!!!!

KU Question

• How can MPs and MSPs represent their constituents?

8 marks

Use Point Explain Example

Something that MPs do, explain then give an example.