Activity 1: Make a poster with definitions of key terms related to politics in the UK

 

Learning objective: To held remember the main features of UK politics and key concepts

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 1
• An A3 piece of paper or access to a presentation programme such as Microsoft PowerPoint

Outline of activity:

Make a poster with definitions of key terms related to politics in the UK.

Note definitions for what is meant by the following terms:

• Constitution
• Executive
• Legislature
• Judiciary
• Constitutional monarchy
• Parliamentary democracy
• Parliamentary sovereignty
• Westminster model
• Constitutional convention

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 1.3 and 1.4 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• Which institutions in UK politics comprise the executive, legislature, and judiciary?

 

 

 

Activity 2: Debate the question: “How should power be exercised in British politics”?

 

Learning objective: To apply and analyse concepts of political power

Suitable for: Pair or group work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 1

 

Outline of activity:

With a partner or in a group, hold a debate regarding the question: “How should power be exercised in British politics?”.

Take each way power can be exercised listed in section 1.2 in turn:

• Competitive
• Cooperation
• According to the resources available to a particular group
• To pursue particular values
• To pursue particular interests

The first person/group should come up with reason(s) in support of the exercise of power in this manner. The second person/group should come up with reason(s) against the exercise of power in this manner.

Between each turn, rotate who comes up with the reasons for and against each way that power can be exercised.

Need some help? Why not refer to section 1.2 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• Who might benefit from power being exercised in each of the various ways listed? Who might be disadvantaged from power being exercised in such a way?
• What institutions are necessary for power to be exercised in such a way?
• How would you characterize the way in which power in the UK is exercised?

 

 

Activity 3: Debate the statement: “The UK’s constitutional model is robust enough to deal with any challenges it may face. Discuss”.

 

Learning objective: To evaluate the viability of the traditional constitutional model in the contemporary UK

Suitable for: Pair or group work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 1

Outline of activity:

With a partner or in a group, hold a debate regarding the question: “The UK’s political model is robust enough to deal with any challenges it may face. Discuss”.

One side should argue the case that the UK’s constitutional model is robust enough to deal with any challenges it may face. The other side should argue the case that it is not robust enough.

During your debate, make sure to cover the following themes: devolved governance, Brexit, human rights, socio-economic and ethnic divides, climate change, Coronavirus, the rise of the internet, and social media.

Take 10-15 minutes to make notes in support of your case. Each side then has up to five minutes to outline their case before the other responds.

 

Need some help? Why not refer to section 1.5 of the book?

Answer guidance: Some questions to consider:

• What are the challenges that the UK’s political system has faced over the past two decades?
• What aspects of the UK’s constitutional model means it is well-placed to successfully deal with these challenges?
• What aspects of the UK’s constitutional model means it is not well-placed to successfully deal with these?
• What changes, if any, could make the UK’s constitutional model more robust in the face of these kinds of challenges?

 

 

Activity 4: Make notes on why other countries have a ‘written’ or ‘codified’ constitution

 

Learning objective: To understand the reasons why other countries have a written constitution – and why the UK is different to them

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 1

Outline of activity:

Using the internet, search for the following countries and make notes on why they have codified/written constitutions:

• United States of America (1787)
• Republic of Ireland (1922)
• Italy (1947)
• Germany (1949)
• France (1958)
• Spain (1978)
• Russia (1993)

Think about the events that preceded the codification of their constitutions.

 

Need some help? Why not refer to section 1.4 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• What events preceded the codification of these countries’ constitutions? What, if anything, do they have in common?
• Has the United Kingdom experienced similar kinds of events in its history? If so, what events are these?
• Do you think the constitutions of these countries fulfil their purpose? Can these countries generally be considered stable democracies?

 

 

Activity 5: Create an essay plan for the question: “Should the UK adopt a ‘written’ or ‘codified’ constitution?”

 

Learning objective: To evaluate the arguments for and against the UK having a codified constitution

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 1

Outline of activity:

Write the outline of an essay plan to answer the question “Should the UK adopt a ‘written’ or ‘codified’ constitution?”

Make notes on what you would include in each paragraph of your essay, making sure to include all sides of the argument.

 

Need some help? Why not refer to section 1.4 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• Why do other countries have written or codified constitutions? In what ways are they similar/different to the UK?
• What are the advantages of having an uncodified/unwritten constitution?
• What are the disadvantages of having an uncodified/unwritten constitution?
• What would be the advantages of codifying the UK’s constitution?
• What would be the disadvantage of codifying the UK’s constitution?
• On balance, do the arguments in favour of having a codified constitution outweigh the arguments against?