Politics and Democracy

MP’s

My Expectations

• Listen while the teacher is talking• Listen while other students are talking• Put up your hand if you would like to speak• Be reliable• Respect others at all times• Use appropriate language

Learning Objectives

• 1. To understand what a Member of Parliament is

• 2. To explore the role of an MP• 3. To express an opinion on the work of an

MP

Who represents you?

Do they really represent us?

• Or are we just fans?

• Represent =

• if you represent someone, you speak out for them

Who’s representing….

• What’s popular now?• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=t4H_Zoh7G5A

But…Jaylo and Pitbull don’t speak for us…..

• Who speaks for us?...• And Why?

• Last week – Politics is everywhere…in everything we do…

What is democracy?

• People power!• Power to the people!

• We have to pick people to represent our views and what we want…we elect representatives

• (like the school council?)

Who represents us?

• In the UK, we have Members of Parliament…(MP’s)

Introduction to democracy and representation….

• http://www.youtube.com/user/UKParliament#p/c/13/LX1Ul0oX9DY

So…what does an MP do?

So…the role of an MP is…

• http://www.youtube.com/user/UKParliament#p/c/14/1iL3F-q1aLA

Who is my local MP?

• The MP that represents the area around the City of Leicester College is this guy…

• This is Keith…

• http://www.keithvaz.labour.co.uk/

What can I do to change my world?

• If we want to see change – we have to do something to achieve it!

• Writing to your local MP or campaigning to Parliament is one way….

• In pairs – create a mind map‘what could be changed in my local area?’

Using one of your ideas….

• Write a letter to Keith Vaz about an issue that affects you

• It could be in Leicester or a national (UK) issue, or it might be a global problem

My addressMy address

My postcode

Today’s Date 2011

Dear Mr Vaz, I am writing to you because…..I feel we could do….I think this issue is important because….Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. Yours sincerely, YOUR NAME

• What do we feel MP’s do?• What would we like them to do?• Do they do a good job? Could they do more?

Are you working up your levels?Level 3 • recognise that issues affect people in their neighbourhood and

wider communities in different ways. • discuss and describe some features of the different groups and

communities you belong to.

Level 4 • explore a range of sources of information to examine topical and

controversial issues, including where rights compete and conflict. • appreciate that there are many diverse groups and communities

in the UK and the wider world and use this understanding to explore the communities you belong to.

Level 5 • consider what is fair and unfair to different groups involved

and make reference to relevant national, European and international dimensions of the issues.

• identify the contributions of different cultures and communities to society and describe ways in which the UK is interconnected with the wider world.

Level 6 • interpret different sources of information and begin to assess

these for validity and bias. • consider a range of scenarios (from local to global) where there

are inequalities and explain how different kinds of rights need to be protected, supported and balanced.

• show understanding of interdependence, describing interconnections between people and their actions in the UK, Europe and the wider world.

Level 7 • argue persuasively and represent the views of others including those

they do not agree with. • analyse the reasons for diversity in the make-up of UK society and

explain how it changes over time. • begin to evaluate the roles citizens can take in shaping decisions and the

extent to which they can influence the operation of political and legal systems.

• compare the role of citizens in the UK with those in other parts of the world to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of different forms of government.

Level 8 • make connections between information derived from different sources

and their own experience in order to make perceptive observations. • have a detailed understanding of the key citizenship concepts of

democracy, justice, rights and responsibilities, identities and diversity, including how these can change over time.