Gov & Politics

Pre-enrolment task for 2014 entry

Government & Politics Why do I need to complete a pre-enrolment task?

The preparation activities on the following page must be completed, during the Summer holiday period, by all students taking AS Government and Politics. It provides an essential induction to some of the more important aspects of study in the first year of the course.

Failure to do this may endanger your place on the Government and Politics course.

When should I hand it in?

It should be handed in during your first week of lessons to your Government & Politics teacher/s.

How will I be given feedback on how well I have done?

Feedback will be given during the first two weeks of your course.

The task:    

Must be handwritten, in full sentences and paragraphs Ought to take around two hours to complete (and no more than three hours) Be in between 1 and 2 sides of lined A4 paper in length (with a margin) Be handed in during your first week of timetabled lessons

Huddersfield New College, New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL Telephone: 01484 652341 email: info@huddnewcoll.ac.uk www.huddnewcoll.ac.uk

Source One New Prime Minister David Cameron has said his coalition government will provide "strong and stable" leadership to "take Britain in a historic new direction". The coalition is the first time the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have had a power-sharing deal at Westminster, and the first coalition in the UK since the Second World War, marking the end of 13 years of Labour rule.

The Conservatives won the most seats in the general election, but not enough to secure an overall Commons majority, resulting in a hung Parliament. After days of talks with the Lib Dems - the UK's third biggest party - a deal was reached that resulted in Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigning. The parties had discussed having a minority Conservative government, but instead decided to go for a full coalition.

(Extract from BBC ‘Election 2010’ website, May 2010.)

Source Two UK General Elections 2005-10 Party

2010 Result

Conservative

307

% of Seats 47.2

Labour

258

39.7

8.6

29.0

356

57

8.8

6.8

23.0

62

Liberal Democrat

Seats

Votes

2005 Result 8.8

% of Votes 32.3

55.1

9.6

35.3

9.6

6.0

22.1

Seats

10.7

% of Votes 36.1

198

% of Seats 30.7

(millions)

Votes

(millions)

Tasks a) Using the information in Source A, and your own knowledge, explain what the term ‘coalition government’ means.

b) Outline the potential strengths and weaknesses of coalition governments.

(You may need to carry out a little of your own research here. Try websites such as the BBC Election site http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/default.stm or Parliament’s own website – www.parliament.uk )

c) Using the data in Source Two, what patterns can be identified in party support over the period 2005‐ 2010?

d) Looking at the levels of votes and seats won by parties in each of the elections shown, would you say that the system used for elections in this country is fair or unfair? Explain your answer fully, using data from Source Two to support your arguments.

Huddersfield New College, New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL Telephone: 01484 652341 email: info@huddnewcoll.ac.uk www.huddnewcoll.ac.uk