GCSE Government and Politics

Unit 1 - Democracy in Action

Table Key: Activity Watch Read

Decision making

Decision making in a democracy

Content Elaboration	NIA Education Service Resources
Role of MLAs: Representation role	Introduction to the Assembly Interactive constituency map & election results and performance Interactive game - ‘Work of an MLA’ Interactive game - ‘Question Time’ challenge Interactive game - ‘Constituency Surgery’ challenge Representation explained animation Getting Involved Relationship between the Assembly and Executive Visit to Northern Ireland Assembly through its Education Service - opportunity to meet with MLAs
Making Legislation	How laws are made in the Northern Ireland Assembly The Power to Make Laws Legislative role of an MLA and examples of recent bills Bills 2017-2022 (www.niassembly.gov.uk) To watch a debate live: www.niassembly.gov.uk
Scrutiny role	How the Assembly scrutinises the Executive i.e. opposition, committees, questions and debates The Assembly and Executive Scrutiny explained animation The Opposition
Voting	How MLAs vote in the Assembly chamber and cross community voting Voting in the Chamber explained animation
Question Time	Questions i.e. written/ oral and the role of the Speaker in Question Time Interactive game - Take the Question Time challenge Watch clips of previous Question Times: Assembly’s YouTube channel niassembly.tv/categories/question-time From this page you can access information regarding Assembly questions which have been submitted for either written or oral answer
Committees	Information on the different types of Committees in the Northern Ireland Assembly Information can be accessed here on current Assembly Committees and their work
See also	The Belfast Agreement Agreements after 1998 Consociationalism (Power-sharing) explained The Budget for Northern Ireland

Elections and voting

Elections and voting in a democracy

Content Elaboration	NIA Education Service Resources
How MLAs and MPs in Northern Ireland are elected and the pros and cons of each of these electoral systems.	Race to Stormont - what happens before, during and after an Assembly election What happens when an Assembly election is called? Single Transferable Vote Different ways to choose your elected representatives in a democracy Proportional representation and STV Animation explaining how STV works Counting votes in an STV election Links to research papers on election results Debate on Lowering the Voting Age
Voting trends	This research paper, produced by the Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISE), provides an analysis of the Assembly election held on 5 May 2022. The paper also includes an analysis of voter turnout and results by party and constituency. Performance of the 5 main parties from 1998 to 2022

Content Elaboration

NIA Education Service Resources

How MLAs and MPs in Northern Ireland are elected and the pros and cons of each of these electoral systems.

Race to Stormont - what happens before, during and after an Assembly election

What happens when an Assembly election is called?

Single Transferable Vote

Different ways to choose your elected representatives in a democracy

Proportional representation and STV

Animation explaining how STV works

Counting votes in an STV election

Links to research papers on election results

Debate on Lowering the Voting Age

Voting trends

This research paper, produced by the Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISE), provides an analysis of the Assembly election held on 5 May 2022. The paper also includes an analysis of voter turnout and results by party and constituency.

Performance of the 5 main parties from 1998 to 2022

Political parties

Political parties in a democracy

Content Elaboration	NIA Education Service Resources
The policies of the five largest political parties in Northern Ireland – including similarities and differences on the major issues of: the economy education the environment immigration	Interviews with political parties can be found in the video gallery. Politicians explain what their party stands for and discuss their views on the issues affecting young people e.g. education, student fees, votes at 16 Revised GCSE Student Guidance for Government & Politics - The Northern Ireland Political Parties (www.ccea.org.uk/) Visit to Northern Ireland Assembly through its Education Service – opportunity to meet with MLAs

Content Elaboration

NIA Education Service Resources

The policies of the five largest political parties in Northern Ireland – including similarities and differences on the major issues of:

the economy
education
the environment
immigration

Interviews with political parties can be found in the video gallery. Politicians explain what their party stands for and discuss their views on the issues affecting young people e.g. education, student fees, votes at 16

Revised GCSE Student Guidance for Government & Politics - The Northern Ireland Political Parties (www.ccea.org.uk/)

Visit to Northern Ireland Assembly through its Education Service – opportunity to meet with MLAs

Taking action

Taking action in a democracy

Content Elaboration	NIA Education Service Resources
The range of actions a citizen can take to achieve their aims and hold the powerful in society to account	Visit to Northern Ireland Assembly through its Education Service – opportunity to meet with MLAs Getting Involved
Opportunities to give your views on Bills and other issues being considered by Assembly Committees are posted on the front page of the main website	The Northern Ireland Assembly

Content Elaboration

NIA Education Service Resources

The range of actions a citizen can take to achieve their aims and hold the powerful in society to account

Visit to Northern Ireland Assembly through its Education Service – opportunity to meet with MLAs

Getting Involved

Opportunities to give your views on Bills and other issues being considered by Assembly Committees are posted on the front page of the main website

The Northern Ireland Assembly