Good Learning Co.
SavannahYear 8
← Citizenship
CitizenshipHow the UK is governed20 min★★ difficulty

Parliament, the monarch and you

The UK's system of government developed over centuries, not overnight. Understanding who holds power — and who checks it — is the starting point for citizenship.

Part of your national curriculum
  • Democracy and government: Understand the development of the political system of democratic government in the United Kingdom, including the roles of citizens, Parliament and the monarch

Lesson overview

What you'll learn in this lesson

Understand the development of the political system of democratic government in the United Kingdom, including the roles of citizens, Parliament and the monarch

Key learning points

  • • Three parts of Parliament
  • • A constitutional monarchy
  • • Citizens in the system

This lesson at a glance

  • 20 minutes
  • 14 parts to scroll through
  • 3 quick checks
  • Marked quiz at the end
  • Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses

Words to know

developmentpoliticalsystemdemocraticgovernment

Scroll down — the lesson carries on below

Part 1 of 14 · Discover7%
1

Watch & discover

Part 1 of 14

Watch first

Parliament, the monarch and you

An English teaching video on this topic from Primrose Kitten Academy | GCSE & A-Level Revision. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.

In a nutshell

Understand the development of the political system of democratic government in the United Kingdom, including the roles of citizens, Parliament and the monarch

2

Learning cycle

Part 2 of 14

Learning cycle 1 of 2

Part 1 · Three parts of Parliament

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

3

Explore the idea

Part 3 of 14

Learn

Three parts of Parliament

UK Parliament has three parts: the House of Commons (elected MPs who represent constituencies), the House of Lords (appointed and hereditary members who scrutinise and revise laws) and the monarch, who formally gives royal assent to bills. In practice, the House of Commons holds the most power because its members are directly elected by the public.

4

Explore the idea

Part 4 of 14

Learn

A constitutional monarchy

The UK is a constitutional monarchy, meaning the King is head of state but has almost no political power — he acts on the advice of ministers. This developed gradually, especially after events like the Magna Carta in 1215 and the Bill of Rights in 1689, which limited royal power in favour of Parliament.

5

Quick check

Part 5 of 14

Quick check

Which part of Parliament is directly elected by the public?

6

Reset break

Part 6 of 14

Pause

That's sitting 1 of 2 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now
7

Quick check

Part 7 of 14

Quick check

What does 'constitutional monarchy' mean?

8

Learning cycle

Part 8 of 14

Learning cycle 2 of 2

Part 2 · Citizens in the system

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

9

Explore the idea

Part 9 of 14

Learn

Citizens in the system

Ordinary citizens take part by voting, joining political parties, campaigning, contacting their MP or standing for election themselves. Even outside election time, citizens can petition Parliament, and any petition with over 100,000 signatures must be considered for a Commons debate.

10

Quick check

Part 10 of 14

Quick check

How many signatures does a public petition need to be considered for a Commons debate?

11

Challenge round

Part 11 of 14

Game · Sort it

Which of these are true?

Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.

True

Not true

12

Challenge round

Part 12 of 14

Game · Fill the gaps

Finish the sentences

Choose the word that belongs in each gap.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy, meaning the King is head of state but has almost no ____ power — he acts on the advice of ministers.

13

Mastery quiz

Part 13 of 14

Marked quiz

End of lesson quiz: Parliament, the monarch and you

3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.

  1. 1. Which part of Parliament is directly elected by the public?

  2. 2. What does 'constitutional monarchy' mean?

  3. 3. How many signatures does a public petition need to be considered for a Commons debate?

14

Lesson round-up

Part 14 of 14

Lesson round-up

Ready when you are

Quiz score

Not sat

Games

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Points this lesson

0

Best run

0 in a row

Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?

Ask Luna

Do the work

Your written work for this lesson

This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.

Case study

Should the town centre have a curfew for under-16s?

After a rise in reported vandalism, Harbrook council proposed that under-16s should not be in the town centre after 9 pm without an adult. Police recorded 62 incidents last year, most between 9 pm and midnight. Shopkeepers signed a petition supporting the plan.

A youth council objected. They pointed out that most young people in town at night were going home from sports clubs or work, that the plan punishes a whole group for the acts of a few, and that the library and the bus interchange are in the town centre. They asked instead for a late bus and a youth space.

The council voted to trial the curfew for six months and to publish the crime figures at the end.

Written for Good Learning Co.

Reading questions

  1. Give the strongest point on each side of the argument, using a fact from the case.
  2. Whose rights and whose responsibilities are involved here? Explain both.
  3. Write your own view on the curfew with reasons and one example.

  • Reading and response

    Reading

    Read the case in the lesson again and write what you think should happen, and why it is fair. Use one fact from the case as evidence.

    2 paragraphs (PEE)

  • Extended writing

    Writing

    Write your answer to the lesson's big question in full: the strongest point on each side, then your own view with reasons and an example.

    250–350 words

  • Reading log

    Reading

    Find one news story this week that links to this lesson. Note the headline, where you read it, and how it connects.

    1 story, 4–5 sentences

  • Two sides of the argument

    Writing

    Write the strongest point for, the strongest point against, and then your own view with a reason.

    3 paragraphs

  • Poster or leaflet plan

    Diagram

    Plan a leaflet that explains this right or responsibility to someone your age, then photograph it.

    1 planned page

Saved as you type.

Part 1 of 14 · Watch & discover

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    Understand the development of the political system of democratic government in the United Kingdom, including the roles of citizens, Parliament and the monarch

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