Thursday 20 June 2013
University application guidance
<iframe src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/20724075" width="479" height="511" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border:1px solid #CCC;border-width:1px 1px 0;margin-bottom:5px" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen> </iframe> <div style="margin-bottom:5px"> <strong> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/tutor2u/ucas-advice-for-economics" title="UCAS Advice for Economics" target="_blank">UCAS Advice for Economics</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/tutor2u" target="_blank">tutor2u</a></strong> </div>
Monday 17 June 2013
Unit 2: "Sharks, sycophants, lobby fodder" - an MP in Westminster!
Click here to access an article from the Observer in which Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, a former GP who was selected in an 'open primary' tells of her experience in Westminster. This article brings up all sorts of issues. We identify some of these here in order that you can use them in a class discussion to look at some of the theories, debates, concepts and institutions that the article mentions:
1. Open Primaries
The way that MPs have been selected in this country has often been critiscised for being too secretive and, given the first past the post system in which there are so many 'safe' seats, the local parties have been labelled the 'selectorate' Wollaston was selected under a new procedure explained in the article and, it explains, that David Cameron said he would "bust open the old closed methods of selection". These plans have now been shelved.
Look at how the major parties select candidates.
Questions for discussion: Would this system that has been abandoned have been more democratic? What would have been the benefits? Is the expense the only reason that it may have been shelved? How should parliamentary candidates be selected?
2. The role of an MP
This article suggests that in Westminster, MPs who challenge the leadership are not embraced and that their expertise is not sought out. Rather, those who are loyal to the party are rewarded. Wollaston says that she is "never on a delegated legislation on something which I could contribute to" and that often "You are encouraged.....not to worry about what you are voting for because the whips are there to guide you"
Consider the role of an MP.
What are their functions?
Questions for discussion: What is the role of an MP in a representative democracy? Should they be fiercely loyal to the party who elected them? Independent MPs are a rare beast – MPs are elected because of their party. But, what about their consituents? Surely, that is who they represent? What about their own principles, judgement and experience? Should they be applying that to the issues?
3. The role and function of Parliament
Consider some of the roles of Parliament.
Questions for discussion: Considering the functions of Parliament: to pass laws, to scrutinse legislation, to represent the people, to act as a 'watchdog' to government etc - what does this article tell us about the effectiveness of Parliament. How well does it carry out each of those functions? For example, how effectively can Parliament act as a watchdog if the MPs are all fiercely loyal to their parties? How effective are committees if, instead of being made up of those with relevant expertise, they are made up of the most loyal MPs?
4. Democracy and Representation
Questions for discussion: what are the implications for representation if Westminster is made up of a 'political class' who are professional politicians? Is it desirable to have "real people" in Westminster. What does Wollaston's experience tell us about representation in Westminster?
1. Open Primaries
The way that MPs have been selected in this country has often been critiscised for being too secretive and, given the first past the post system in which there are so many 'safe' seats, the local parties have been labelled the 'selectorate' Wollaston was selected under a new procedure explained in the article and, it explains, that David Cameron said he would "bust open the old closed methods of selection". These plans have now been shelved.
Look at how the major parties select candidates.
Questions for discussion: Would this system that has been abandoned have been more democratic? What would have been the benefits? Is the expense the only reason that it may have been shelved? How should parliamentary candidates be selected?
2. The role of an MP
This article suggests that in Westminster, MPs who challenge the leadership are not embraced and that their expertise is not sought out. Rather, those who are loyal to the party are rewarded. Wollaston says that she is "never on a delegated legislation on something which I could contribute to" and that often "You are encouraged.....not to worry about what you are voting for because the whips are there to guide you"
Consider the role of an MP.
What are their functions?
Questions for discussion: What is the role of an MP in a representative democracy? Should they be fiercely loyal to the party who elected them? Independent MPs are a rare beast – MPs are elected because of their party. But, what about their consituents? Surely, that is who they represent? What about their own principles, judgement and experience? Should they be applying that to the issues?
3. The role and function of Parliament
Consider some of the roles of Parliament.
Questions for discussion: Considering the functions of Parliament: to pass laws, to scrutinse legislation, to represent the people, to act as a 'watchdog' to government etc - what does this article tell us about the effectiveness of Parliament. How well does it carry out each of those functions? For example, how effectively can Parliament act as a watchdog if the MPs are all fiercely loyal to their parties? How effective are committees if, instead of being made up of those with relevant expertise, they are made up of the most loyal MPs?
4. Democracy and Representation
Questions for discussion: what are the implications for representation if Westminster is made up of a 'political class' who are professional politicians? Is it desirable to have "real people" in Westminster. What does Wollaston's experience tell us about representation in Westminster?
Tuesday 11 June 2013
Politics anagram - take your pick...
Politics
Licit Ops
Licit Sop
Coil Spit
Coil Tips
Coil Pits
Loci Spit
Loci Tips
Loci Pits
Coils Tip
Coils Pit
Stoic Lip
Pic Toils
Pics Toil
Sic Pilot
Tic Spoil
Clip I Sot
Clip Is To
Clip Ti So
Clip It So
Clips I To
Clipt I So
Pic I Lost
Pic I Lots
Pic I Slot
Pic Lit So
Pic Is Lot
Pic Sit Lo
Pic Its Lo
Pic Tis Lo
Pic Ti Sol
Pic It Sol
Pics I Lot
Pics Ti Lo
Pics It Lo
Sic I Plot
Sic Lip To
Sic Lit Op
Sic Pi Lot
Sic Tip Lo
Sic Pit Lo
Sic Ti Lop
Sic Ti Pol
Sic It Lop
Sic It Pol
Tics I Lop
Tics I Pol
Tics Pi Lo
Tic I Slop
Tic I Pols
Tic I Lops
Tic Lip So
Tic Pi Sol
Tic Pis Lo
Tic Sip Lo
Tic Psi Lo
Tic Is Lop
Tic Is Pol
Clop I Sit
Clop I Its
Clop I Tis
Clop Is Ti
Clop Is It
Clops I Ti
Clops I It
Colts I Pi
Clots I Pi
Clot I Pis
Clot I Sip
Clot I Psi
Clot Pi Is
Colt I Pis
Colt I Sip
Colt I Psi
Colt Pi Is
Cop I Silt
Cop I List
Cop I Slit
Cop Lit Is
Cops I Lit
Cos Lip Ti
Cos Lip It
Cos Lit Pi
Cost I Lip
Cots I Lip
Cot I Slip
Cot I Lisp
Cot I Lips
Cot Lip Is
Licit Ops
Licit Sop
Coil Spit
Coil Tips
Coil Pits
Loci Spit
Loci Tips
Loci Pits
Coils Tip
Coils Pit
Stoic Lip
Pic Toils
Pics Toil
Sic Pilot
Tic Spoil
Clip I Sot
Clip Is To
Clip Ti So
Clip It So
Clips I To
Clipt I So
Pic I Lost
Pic I Lots
Pic I Slot
Pic Lit So
Pic Is Lot
Pic Sit Lo
Pic Its Lo
Pic Tis Lo
Pic Ti Sol
Pic It Sol
Pics I Lot
Pics Ti Lo
Pics It Lo
Sic I Plot
Sic Lip To
Sic Lit Op
Sic Pi Lot
Sic Tip Lo
Sic Pit Lo
Sic Ti Lop
Sic Ti Pol
Sic It Lop
Sic It Pol
Tics I Lop
Tics I Pol
Tics Pi Lo
Tic I Slop
Tic I Pols
Tic I Lops
Tic Lip So
Tic Pi Sol
Tic Pis Lo
Tic Sip Lo
Tic Psi Lo
Tic Is Lop
Tic Is Pol
Clop I Sit
Clop I Its
Clop I Tis
Clop Is Ti
Clop Is It
Clops I Ti
Clops I It
Colts I Pi
Clots I Pi
Clot I Pis
Clot I Sip
Clot I Psi
Clot Pi Is
Colt I Pis
Colt I Sip
Colt I Psi
Colt Pi Is
Cop I Silt
Cop I List
Cop I Slit
Cop Lit Is
Cops I Lit
Cos Lip Ti
Cos Lip It
Cos Lit Pi
Cost I Lip
Cots I Lip
Cot I Slip
Cot I Lisp
Cot I Lips
Cot Lip Is
Saturday 8 June 2013
A2 Politics - Welcome back
Welcome back everyone,time to start on A2 politics - prepare to be educated!
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