AQA GCSE Citizenship Paper 1 - Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Free Resources: Revision checklist and workbook available on the website to aid learning.
• Note-taking: Use timestamps in comments for easy reference.

Participation in Democracy

Ways to Participate

• Voting in elections and referendums.
• Joining political or interest groups, pressure groups, protest groups.
• Using social media and petitions.
• Participating in magistracy and civil courts.

Barriers to Participation

• Age restrictions (usually 18+).
• Time and money commitments.
• Apathy and indifference.
• Misinformation, fake, or biased news.

Interest Groups

• Advantages: Promote a cause, meet like-minded individuals, community impact.
• Disadvantages: Echo chambers, online abuse, time and money commitments.

Political Parties

• Advantages: Career progression, influence policy, support values.
• Disadvantages: Cost, time investment, potential alienation from peers.

Standing as a Candidate

• Advantages: Increased profile, influence debates.
• Disadvantages: Time, effort, money, exposure to ridicule.

Roles of Groups

• Interest/Pressure Groups: Campaign for causes, represent specific demographics.
• Trade Unions: Represent employees, campaign for rights, organize industrial action.
• Charities/Volunteer Groups: Provide care, campaign, and fundraise for issues.

Media Influence

• Social media for campaigns, events, and memes.
• Traditional media reaches wider audiences.

Legal System Involvement

• Roles include jurors, witnesses, victims, magistrates, special constables, police commissioners.

Research in Citizenship Studies

Steps for Practical Investigation

1. Form a reasonable question.
2. Develop a hypothesis.
3. Plan the investigation method.
4. Conduct research.
5. Analyze data/results.
6. Evaluate research.

Types of Sources

• Primary Sources: Direct sources like speeches, census data.
• Secondary Sources: Articles, books post-events.
• Reliable Sources: Fact-based, unbiased, clear authorship.

Hypothesis vs. Theory

• Hypothesis: Yet to be proven/disproven.
• Theory: Supported by available evidence.

Formulating Research Questions

• Should be feasible, unbiased, and relevant.

Democracy and Government

Types of Democracy

• Representative: Like the UK.
• Direct: Example - Switzerland.
• Presidential: Example - USA.

Core Principles

• Human rights, responsibilities, rule of law, and equality.

Government Powers

• Policy-making, international relations, departmental operations, crisis management.

UK Parliament and Civil Service

• Parliament: Votes/amends legislation, holds government accountable.
• Civil Service: Administration, enacts policy, advises ministers.

British Constitution

• Uncodified, based on relationships, existing law, tradition, and history.

Local and Devolved Governments

• Manage local issues, funded by central government and taxes.

Elections and Voting

Candidacy

• Must be over 18, British/Irish/Commonwealth citizen, not in disqualifying professions.

Voting System

• First Past the Post: Constituencies electing a single MP.
• Alternate Systems: Proportional representation, alternative vote.

Voter Eligibility

• Over 18, registered, resident at UK address (or abroad with British citizenship).

Voting Age Debate

• Arguments for and against lowering voting age to 16.

Voter Turnout Factors

• Weather, election date, voter apathy, electorate age.

Taxation and Government Spending

• Sources of Revenue: Taxes, fines, fees.
• Spending Areas: Social security, health, education.

UK Political System

• Parties: Conservative, Liberal Democrats, Labour, smaller parties.
• Government Formation: Majority, minority, or coalition governments.

Comparing Governance Worldwide

Democratic States

• Representative, direct, presidential, federal democracies.

Non-Democratic States

• Theocracies, single-party, absolute monarchies, dictatorships.