All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
These are informal groups of Members of Parliament (MPs). They meet to discuss issues such as mental health, education and conservation.
Activist
Someone who wants to change the way things are and does something about it.
Awareness
Knowledge of the way things work in society. For example, political awareness means knowledge of how politics works.
Ballots
A way of voting which counts each person’s vote. The winner is the person with the highest number of votes.
Bill
This is the stage in the UK Parliamentary system before laws come into force (have to be obeyed). Many changes are made at this stage as people argue about what the law should say.
Campaign
Political action to make changes in the way things are done, either to change a law or the ways laws are enforced.
Citizenship
Being a member of a country and having rights because of it.
Civic life
The way people take part in society, for example by voting, taking an interest in your local council or trying to improve the neighbourhood.
Community
The local area where people live and the people who live there.
Conscientious Objector
Someone who opposes war and will not fight.
Conscription / Conscripted
Being forced to enrol in something, particularly the armed forces.
Councils
Locally elected groups of people in charge of local services such as housing and rubbish collections.
Creative
A different way of thinking about a problem to find solutions. Creative is also used to describe activities such as dance, music and art.
Democracy
Government by the people through free and open elections.
Dialogue
Discussion between groups of people who often have opposing views.
Discrimination
Treating people unfairly because of prejudice.
Duties
Things that have to be done, usually because of laws or because of a responsibility.
Election
The process where voters decide who will be in charge of local and national government.
Equality
Making sure everyone is treated fairly and has equal access to their rights.
Feminist
Someone who tries to help make changes so women have equal opportunities and treatment.
Government
The group of people with the authority to rule the country.
House of Commons
All Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected to represent the different areas of the UK.
House of Lords
Part of the process of law making in the UK. People who sit in the House of Lords used to be given the job because their parents had it. Now they are chosen because of their knowledge or experience. They are not elected to sit there.
Inequality
When not everyone is treated fairly or has equal access to their rights.
Injustice
Something that is unfair and wrong.
Law
Set of rules that everyone in a country must follow.
Lobbying
Contacting someone in authority about an issue, usually a Member of Parliament (MP) or a local councillor.
Members of Parliament (MPs)
People who are elected to represent the geographical areas of the UK. They are responsible for making laws.
Methods
Ways of doing things.
Monarchy
The system of having a king or queen.
Parliament
Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarchy. Parliament discusses all the laws and policies of the country. The final decision is made by the House of Commons.
Pensions
The money the state pays to people when they retire from work.
Persecution
Treating other people badly because they are different.
Petition
A formal written request, often signed by lots of people, asking people in authority to change something.
Political Movement
A group of people who join together to reach a common goal, such as changing a law.
Political Office
Someone who has a job they are elected to, such as an MP or local councillor.
Practice
How laws or policies work in reality. This is often different from the theory of a policy or law. The way a law works in practice may be different from how Parliament thought it should work.
Prejudice
Unfair treatment of people or groups.
Protest
A political action of some kind to show you don’t agree, such as holding a poster, sending a letter or speaking at a meeting.
Publicity
Information which is sent to the media to get public attention. This includes information sent to local newspapers, radio, television and social media.
Racism
Unfair treatment of people because of discrimination or prejudice, usually because of skin colour or race.
Reconciliation
To overcome differences and make a relationship better.
Reform
Changing conditions to make them better.
Revolutionary
Leading to great changes.
Rights
These are the things which people are legally or morally allowed to do and what people should be free to do. For example, human rights include basic freedoms such as the right to life and freedom of opinion.
Social justice
Fairness and justice for all in society.
Solidarity
Agreement and support between a group of people who see things the same way and who share the same interests.
State
A country or part of a country with its own government and borders.
Strike
Action, normally taken by trade union members, usually to stop work.
“The Troubles”
Period of history in the late twentieth century in Northern Ireland. The conflict was often violent between the Unionists, who wanted the province to remain part of the United Kingdom, and the Nationalists/Republicans who wanted the province to become part of the Republic of Ireland. The conflict ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Tolerance
Accepting people who are different from you.
Trade Unions
Groups of workers in a particular trade or industry who join together to seek improvements in pay, benefits, and working conditions. Many Trade Unions also have political objectives.
Volunteers
People who give their time for free to help others or for a reason such as trying to make the world a better place.
These are informal groups of Members of Parliament (MPs). They meet to discuss issues such as mental health, education and conservation.
Activist
Someone who wants to change the way things are and does something about it.
Awareness
Knowledge of the way things work in society. For example, political awareness means knowledge of how politics works.
Ballots
A way of voting which counts each person’s vote. The winner is the person with the highest number of votes.
Bill
This is the stage in the UK Parliamentary system before laws come into force (have to be obeyed). Many changes are made at this stage as people argue about what the law should say.
Campaign
Political action to make changes in the way things are done, either to change a law or the ways laws are enforced.
Citizenship
Being a member of a country and having rights because of it.
Civic life
The way people take part in society, for example by voting, taking an interest in your local council or trying to improve the neighbourhood.
Community
The local area where people live and the people who live there.
Conscientious Objector
Someone who opposes war and will not fight.
Conscription / Conscripted
Being forced to enrol in something, particularly the armed forces.
Councils
Locally elected groups of people in charge of local services such as housing and rubbish collections.
Creative
A different way of thinking about a problem to find solutions. Creative is also used to describe activities such as dance, music and art.
Democracy
Government by the people through free and open elections.
Dialogue
Discussion between groups of people who often have opposing views.
Discrimination
Treating people unfairly because of prejudice.
Duties
Things that have to be done, usually because of laws or because of a responsibility.
Election
The process where voters decide who will be in charge of local and national government.
Equality
Making sure everyone is treated fairly and has equal access to their rights.
Feminist
Someone who tries to help make changes so women have equal opportunities and treatment.
Government
The group of people with the authority to rule the country.
House of Commons
All Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected to represent the different areas of the UK.
House of Lords
Part of the process of law making in the UK. People who sit in the House of Lords used to be given the job because their parents had it. Now they are chosen because of their knowledge or experience. They are not elected to sit there.
Inequality
When not everyone is treated fairly or has equal access to their rights.
Injustice
Something that is unfair and wrong.
Law
Set of rules that everyone in a country must follow.
Lobbying
Contacting someone in authority about an issue, usually a Member of Parliament (MP) or a local councillor.
Members of Parliament (MPs)
People who are elected to represent the geographical areas of the UK. They are responsible for making laws.
Methods
Ways of doing things.
Monarchy
The system of having a king or queen.
Parliament
Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarchy. Parliament discusses all the laws and policies of the country. The final decision is made by the House of Commons.
Pensions
The money the state pays to people when they retire from work.
Persecution
Treating other people badly because they are different.
Petition
A formal written request, often signed by lots of people, asking people in authority to change something.
Political Movement
A group of people who join together to reach a common goal, such as changing a law.
Political Office
Someone who has a job they are elected to, such as an MP or local councillor.
Practice
How laws or policies work in reality. This is often different from the theory of a policy or law. The way a law works in practice may be different from how Parliament thought it should work.
Prejudice
Unfair treatment of people or groups.
Protest
A political action of some kind to show you don’t agree, such as holding a poster, sending a letter or speaking at a meeting.
Publicity
Information which is sent to the media to get public attention. This includes information sent to local newspapers, radio, television and social media.
Racism
Unfair treatment of people because of discrimination or prejudice, usually because of skin colour or race.
Reconciliation
To overcome differences and make a relationship better.
Reform
Changing conditions to make them better.
Revolutionary
Leading to great changes.
Rights
These are the things which people are legally or morally allowed to do and what people should be free to do. For example, human rights include basic freedoms such as the right to life and freedom of opinion.
Social justice
Fairness and justice for all in society.
Solidarity
Agreement and support between a group of people who see things the same way and who share the same interests.
State
A country or part of a country with its own government and borders.
Strike
Action, normally taken by trade union members, usually to stop work.
“The Troubles”
Period of history in the late twentieth century in Northern Ireland. The conflict was often violent between the Unionists, who wanted the province to remain part of the United Kingdom, and the Nationalists/Republicans who wanted the province to become part of the Republic of Ireland. The conflict ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Tolerance
Accepting people who are different from you.
Trade Unions
Groups of workers in a particular trade or industry who join together to seek improvements in pay, benefits, and working conditions. Many Trade Unions also have political objectives.
Volunteers
People who give their time for free to help others or for a reason such as trying to make the world a better place.