s3 modern studies summary notes

8/14/2019 S3 Modern Studies Summary Notes

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S3 Modern Studies Summary Notes

Syllabus Area 1- Living in a Democracy

Content and concepts

In this part of the syllabus you should know:

How candidates are chosen forelection- British (FPTP), ScottishParliament(AMS), Local elections inScotland (2007 => STV)

Ways in which people can take part in

politics in the UK How elections work in Scotland and the UK

How representatives work for their constituents at Westminster, the ScottishParliament, and on Local Councils Pressure Groups in the UK

Trade Unions in the UK

Knowledge and Understanding questions for this Syllabus Area will be based onthree different concepts:

Participation

Representation Rights and Responsibilities

Questions about Politics in Scotland could be based on the Scottish Parliament inEdinburgh, the Westminster Parliament in London, or local councils in Scotland.

Some Typical Exam Questions:

1. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the FPTP or AMS?2. Why is it important that people use their vote?

3. Describe in detail the ways in which MSPs/MPs can represent their

constituents- inside Parliament andoutside Parliament.

4. Describe the reasons why women are underrepresented in politics.5. Describe ways in which trade unions represents their members.6. Describe the ways in which members can get involved in Trade Unions.7. Give reasons why some workers may not wish to use their right to strike.8. Explain the ways that a pressure group might participate in a public debate,

lobbying parliament and a media campaign.


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bring the percentage of seats they have won into line with the percentage ofvotes they gained.

FPTPAdvantages-

1. Easy to understand and operate

2. Direct link between Mp and constituents3. Strong single party government based on a majority4. Tried and tested system

Disadvantages-1. Disadvantages small parties and works in favour of the 2 party system2. Many votes are wasted3. Gives government that most people didnt vote for4. Nothing for the runner up- winner takes all

AMS

Advantages-1. Fewer votes are wasted2. Representation for small parties3. Strong link between MSP and constituents remains4. Proportional- results in line with what the people want

Disadvantages-1. Coalitions- no one single party government2. More difficult to understand- many think second vote is a second preference3. Too much power to small/ extreme parties- Lib Dems in government with 12%

of the vote4. Weakened link between MSPs and constituents5. Still not 100% proportional6. Creates two types of MSP and causes conflict among/between them

Role of the MSP/MP

MSPs represent their constituents in a number of ways, in and out of Parliament:

Speaking in the Parliament during debates Asking questions during Question Time

Introducing Private Members Bills on topics ofconcern to their constituents

Lobbying other organisations and individuals

on behalf of their constituents Holding surgeries

Visiting schools

Emails, Letters, meetings, interviews Acts as Go between- Central gvt, local gvt

and constituents


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Under-Representation

Women-

traditional role of women in the home lack of free time for politics

male dominated system- intimidation

stereotypes- women not confident or strong enough

Late hours of Commons

Childminding issues

Often put fwd in seats they have little chance of

winning

Ethnic minorities-

Few role models

Racist views within electorate and/or political parties in terms

of choosing candidates

Often put fwd in seats they have little chance of winning

Disabled-

Insufficient facilities for some- e.g. access to buildings

Some within electorate cannot see beyond the disability and

assume this will affect that person as an MP

Parties see this and dont chose disabled candidates in case

this occurs and they lose seats

Few role models- Anne Begg, David Blunkett

Pressure Groups

A pressure group is an organisation with attempts to influence people in power,governments, councils. Examples include: Oxfam, Greenpeace, Save the Children,Fathers for Justice. Pressure groups are unelected and unaccountable. Some breakthe law and use violent means to promote the cause.

Methods: Writing letters or

emails

Lobbying

electedrepresentatives

Demonstrations

Petitions

Blockades

Strikes/Boycotts

Leaflets

Adverts

Meetings

Publicity stunts

Pressure groups have rights to participate in these ways. They have the right toorganised and meet peacefully without harassment and have the protection of thelaw. They are entitled to freedom of speech and are allowed to raise funds. Pressure

groups also have responsibilities to obey the law and only use peaceful methods.


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They must keep accounts of the money to raise and user and represent views of alltheir members.TUs- Participation

Workers can join a union and pay their membership subscription. They can

then attend union meetings in the workplace and discuss issues like healthand safety in the workplace and pay and conditions.

Members can also take part in elections. Sometimes these ballots will be to

decide whether or not the union should take industrial action, for example thenursery nurses and fire fighters voted before going on strike. At other timesthe ballot may be to elect a new representative within the union such as ashop steward.

Alternatively a trade union member may decide to stand as a candidate in an

election for shop steward. The candidate will campaign to try to be electedand if they are successful they will have to represent the views of their

members during negotiations and at district meetings. A shop steward mayalso attend the annual conference as a delegate.

Finally, a member may take part in a form of industrial action such as a work-

to-rule or a strike.

The shop steward is one of the most important jobs in the trade union. They

are responsible for trying to recruit new members into the union. A shopsteward keeps members informed of any new initiatives such as changes tothe pay scale. The shop steward is also the first person a member will go to inorder to seek help or advice about a problem at work. Finally, the shopsteward is the link between the ordinary trade union members and the unionhead-quarters. They are responsible for distributing newsletters and keep

members informed of activities through the union notice-board.

Right Responsibility

To take industrial action in

order to in order to protectthe rights of the workers.

To hold a secret ballot in order to see if the majority

of members are in favour of taking the action. Toensure that all forms of industrial action arepeaceful and within the law.

To try to attract new trade

union members.

Not to pressure anyone into joining a trade union.

Trade unions can ask

members about changes inthe workplace.

Trade unions have a responsibility to make

reasonable demands.

Ensure that you understand and can explain the different types of action that can betaken:

Restrictive Practices- Overtime ban, Go-Slow, Work-to- Rule

Strike Action- Token strikes, lightning strikes, Unofficial strikes, Official strikes,


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Syllabus Area 2- Changing Society

Content and concepts

In this part of the syllabus you should know:

Health needs of the elderly Housing needs of the elderly

The needs of the unemployed: jobs, money

Inequality between different elderly people because ofwealth, health and housing

Inequality between families

New technology and its impact on jobs The role of individuals, families, government and voluntary organisations in

meeting the needs of people such as the elderly, unemployed and those onlow incomes

Knowledge and Understanding questions for this SyllabusArea will be based on three different concepts:

Equality

Ideology

Need

Questions could be based on the elderly, employment andunemployment or families in the UK.

Some Typical Exam Questions:

1. Explain why some elderly people are wealthier thanothers.

2. Describe the ways in which certain types of purpose

built elderly housing meets their needs.

3. Describe the ways in which some elderly people

suffer more in terms of health than others.4. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a

Minimum wage5. Explain in detail the effects on new technology on

work.6. Explain in detail why women/ethnic minorities/

disabled/ older people may have limited job opportunities.

7. Explain the ways in which the government tries to meet the various needs of

unemployed/elderly/families.


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The Elderly

Emotional needs

Emotional needs often include requiring companionship. Many elderly people arevery lonely, especially after the death of their partner. They enjoy company andappreciate it when people take time to have an interest in them.

Financial needs

The financial needs of elderly people are met in a number of ways. All elderly peoplereceive the state old age pension, but many have other sources of income. Somehave an occupational pension and others have taken out insurance policies orprivate pensions, which guarantee them a good income when they retire. Othershave savings. Some elderly people rely on their children to give them help.

Health needs

Elderly people make big demands on the NHS. They see their doctor morefrequently than other groups and are given many more prescriptions. They also takeup a large number of hospital beds, for both acute and chronic conditions. Acuteconditions can be treated. Chronic conditions will never be cured, but efforts can bemade to make an older person more comfortable. Elderly people do not pay for theirprescriptions and, like everyone else, theyre entitled to free health care through theNHS. Theres a growing number of older people in the population, so they are

becoming a bigger burden on health care services. Some have greater needs thanothers, however. Dementia, Alzheimers, mobility, eyesight, hearing all affect peoplein different ways. Ageing population- these people are most likely to suffer from acombination of health issues.

Housing needs

Elderly people have specific housing needs. Depending on thehealth and the mobility of an older person, these can be met in anumber of ways:

Adaptations to existing housing (e.g. installation of alarm systems, stair lifts) Purpose built retirement flats (with fittings designed specially for older people)

Sheltered housing Very sheltered housing (like sheltered housing, but residents have all their

meals cooked for them) Residential Home (a mixture of hotel and hospital, 24 hr care and attention)

Care in the Community is a system where elderly people live at home for as long aspossible, and receive special help and attention. This can include home helps, mealson wheels, regular visits from doctors and nurses and help from the social workdepartment. Supporters of Care in the Community say its better for the old person

because it gives them more independence. Opponents of Care in the Community


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say that sometimes old people are virtually abandoned with no help at all when theycan do little for themselves.

The Unemployed

Unemployment - the role of the government

Employment needs: Unemployed people need to find a job. Thegovernment tries to help unemployed people find work. Job centreshold details of local job vacancies. Unemployed people can visit jobcentres to look for work and to meet an advisor who will help themto find a suitable job. There are people on hand to help with CVs,letter writing and interview technique.

Financial needs: Unemployed people do not work and so they do not earn anincome. In order to be able to buy necessities they receive financial help to meet

their basic needs. The government helps to meet the financial needs of theunemployed by providing them with money whilst they are actively looking for work.The money they receive is a benefit known as Job Seekers Allowance (JSA). Thismoney is enough to support the basic needs of themselves and their families.

Training needs: Some unemployed people do not have the skills required to get thetypes of jobs available today. Training is therefore needed to give unemployedpeople the necessary skills and qualifications to get a job. Examples of a trainingprogrammes which the government has set up are the New Deal, ModernApprenticeships, Training for Work, Skillseekers.

New technology - jobs

New technology has brought many advantages and disadvantages to the workplace:

Advantages Disadvantages

Goods can be produced faster andtherefore more cheaply usingmachinery.

Fewer staff are required whichleads to unemployment.

Production is footloose and can be

located almost anywhere.

Sometimes footloose industries

move abroad creatingunemployment in the UK.

In some industries such as software design and mobile phone production newtechnology has created job opportunities. However, in other areas such asnewspaper production and car manufacturing, computer systems and robots havereplaced the need for workers.

New technology has also created opportunities for certain groups of people. Peoplewith physical disabilities are now able to do a wider range of jobs and more peoplethan ever before can work from home. However, some older workers have been

replaced by new technology and cannot get new jobs because they lack the relevantskills.


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Families- Inequality

Not all families experience the same standard of living. Some canmeet all of their material needs and are also able to enjoy manyluxuries. Others struggle to provide even their necessities.

Families with a high standard of living can afford to buy their ownhome. They may own more than one car and go on several holidaysa year. Others with a low standard of living may have to rely on a lowincome and/or benefits, may rent accommodation and can only affordto buy necessities, no luxuries.

There are a variety of factors which can create inequality.

Where there are two parents present and both working there will usually be a

higher income than in families headed by a single parent. Many single parent families find it difficult to get a job and arrange suitable

childcare. They may not work at all or else they may be forced to pay a lot ofmoney in childcare costs.

The standard of living can also differ due to the type of job the parents do, the

number of children in the family and the housing costs of the area in which thefamily lives.

A minimum wage

The Labour Government introduced the

minimum wage. This is the minimumamount of money which workers ought toreceive. From October 2006 the minimumwage will be 5.35 per hour for workersaged 22 and over.

Those in favour of the minimum wageargue it is good because:

It guarantees workers a minimum

amount of money per hour.

It has increased the standard ofliving for those on a low income.

The greater disposable income

which those on a low income nowhave has lead to increaseddemand as people have moremoney to spend. This increaseddemand has caused more jobs to be created.


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The Advantages:

Minimum wage

Increased income

Greater demand for goods and services

More money spent in shops and on services

Increased employment as more people are needed to produce the goods and provide the services

Society gets wealthier

However, critics of the minimum wage argue that it is bad because:

It is still at too low a level to allow a reasonable standard of living.

It prevents business people from running their business the way they want to.

The full minimum wage does not apply to workers under 22- this is unfair.

If the wage bill in a business rises then the employer may have to make somepeople unemployed in order to maintain the profit. Alternatively the price ofgoods/ services may rise meaning that fewer people can afford to buy them.

The Disadvantages:

Minimum wage

Increased wage bill for employers

Price of the product goes up

Fewer people want to buy the more expensive product.

Demand for the product falls.

Unemployment follows as workers who are no longer required are made redundant.


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WHAT IS AN HYPOTHESIS?

A hypothesis a statement about what you expect to find and, during the researchprocess, you will prove whether it is true or false. DO NOT ever be tempted to

write a hypothesis in the form of a question.

If you were carrying out an investigation into the problems faced by single parents infinding a suitable job:

Lack of child care facilities is a major problem for single parents, looking for ajob is a relevant hypothesis

Do single parents face problems finding a suitable job? is not anacceptable hypothesis

WHAT IS AN AIM OR HEADING?

Aims or headings will help you to prove or disprove your hypothesis. Be careful tonote whether the questions asks you for either of these, or whether it asks you for aspecific type.

If you were carrying out an investigation into the problems faced by single parents infinding a suitable job:

AIMS

1. To find outwhat child care facilities are available in my local area.

To find outthe cost of child care facilities. are two relevant aims.

HEADINGS

Child Care Facilities available in my local area

The Cost of Child Care Facilities are two relevant headings

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