All societies have to make policy choices, confront problems, resolve conflicts, handle disagreements, decide who gets what and how. Someone has to make decisions in order that any Country can function properly and this is why politics and politicians are important.

Part of this decision making process also involves making law to ensure that all of the citizens living in a country can feel safe and protected.

The governance of a modern society is a huge task and at the heart of the British political process is the Government of the day (headed by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet).

Parliament
The Parliament of the UK actually consists of :

• The Queen
  
• The House of Lords, and
  
• The House of Commons

They all work together to carry out the work of Parliament and an introduction to Parliament is available on the UK Parliament's website

Government
The Government can be described as the Manager of the country as it is their job to make many of the important day-to-day decisions. These decisions do, however, have to be agreed by Parliament.

The Government is formed by the political party that wins the majority of seats in the House of Commons at a general election.

Information on how the Government is accountable is available on the UK Parliament's website

Party System
Political Parties are formed by groups of people who are united in maintaining a set of policies. They have similar ideas on how the nation should be governed and band together to achieve that view.

Further information about the existing party systems within the UK is available on the UK Parliament's website

The number of seats held by each party in the current Parliament, can be viewed by clicking here and the websites for the 3 main political parties can be accessed by clicking on the links below:
Labour
Conservative
Liberal Democrats

Teaching Ideas
The Parliamentary website contains a teachers' section which is suitable for use with students aged 14-16.

Video Discussion
Parliament Uncovered is a new video that has been produced by the Parliamentary Education Unit and is suitable for informing a teenage audience about Parliament. The programme is suitable for 14 - 18 year olds and is accompanied by a teachers' leaflet, which offers a brief synopsis, list of issues raised and important terms covered.

On-line Guide
10 out of 10 is the young person's internet guide to Downing Street and British politics.

Further Information
The Parliamentary Education Unit produces factsheets and wallcharts on a range of subjects including:

• The House of Commons
  
• Parliament and Government
  
• The House of Lords
  

Background Notes
Being allowed to vote in decision-making is very important as it gives you the chance to have your say.

Fair and free elections are an essential part of a democracy, allowing the majority of citizens to determine how they would like the country to be run.

Elections enable the electorate to participate in choosing the government and help to make the government accountable to the people.

If you click on the following headings, you will be connected to further teaching information on the UK Parliament's website:

Elections
General Elections
By-elections
Constituencies and boundaries

Factsheets and Wallcharts
The Parliamentary website produces a factsheet
and a wallchart on Parliamentary Elections.

Background Notes
This Country has a set of rules, some of which set standards for our personal behaviour. Rules such as these are called 'law'.

Today, the law is made by Parliament, whose elected members from time to time produce statutes or Acts of Parliament that the rest of society must then follow.

The term 'law' is used in many senses, however, in this case we are looking a the law of a state and we could therefore say that is: a rule of human conduct, imposed upon and enforced among the members of a given state'

English Law is one of the great systems of the world and one-third of all mankind is today ruled by laws that came originally from here.

From a Bill to Act of Parliament
Before an idea can become law, it needs to be submitted for consideration to Parliament in a draft version called a Bill.

There are 3 different types of bill:

• public - these concern measures that affect public policy and are introduced by Government
  
• private - these affect the public but these bills are introduced by backbench MP's
  
• private members - these are introduced to produced legislation which will give powers to particular groups

Before a Bill can become an Act of Parliament, it most go through several different stages of drafting and discussion:

• First reading - this is a mere formality where the title of the bill is read out along with the name of MP introducing it
  
• Second reading - at this time the purpose and policy of Bill are explained in debate and a vote is taken. If a majority vote in favour of the bill it will progress to the next stage.
  
• Committee stage - this is a time-saving mechanism where a committee of MPs study the bill in detail
  
• Report stage - the Chair from the Committee stage reports to the House of Commons and any suggested amendments are voted on
  
• Third reading - this is the final review stage in the House of Commons
  
• House of Lords stage - the bill goes through the whole same process again in the House of Lords and they can suggest any necessary amendments
  
• Royal Assent - the bill must be agreed by the monarch - which nowadays is usually a formality. Once assent has been given the bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is effective from a specified date
  

On-line debate
Act of Parliament is an online debating Chamber provided by the Parliamentary Education Unit. Your school can take part by registering on-line and a list of which Bills are currently being debated in the Chamber are listed on the Strangers' Gallery.

Factsheets and Wallcharts
The Parliamentary website produces a factsheet and a wallchart on Making Law and Debates in Parliament.

Background Information
Although you are not allowed to vote in a general election until you are 18, there are lots of different ways that you can have you say.

If there is a local issue that you are not happy with you can write to you local council or MP with your views. You could actually rally your friends into action if there is something in society that you think needs changing.

Just remember things can change and you can change them.

Interaction and Question setting
You can join in interactive activities on the Downing Street website. The site contains information about ways in which we can all make a difference in society and allows you to put your questions to a different Minister every month.

Discussion Forum
The Welsh Consumer Council has set up a forum where you can have your say about a range of consumer issues.

Citizenship Ideas
The Citizensconnection website gives lots of ideas and information about how you can work to change society.