Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role — Set 2

Defence, foreign policy, immigration and similar UK-wide matters are reserved to the Westminster Parliament, not devolved.

Members of the National Assembly for Wales are known as AMs — Assembly Members. Scotland’s members are MSPs and Northern Ireland’s are MLAs.

The Northern Ireland Assembly decides on transferred matters such as agriculture and the environment, along with health, education and social services. Defence and foreign policy are reserved to the UK Parliament at Westminster, so they are not Assembly matters.

Local government is run by councillors, who are elected by local voters to represent their community.

Council Tax is a local tax on homes that helps fund services provided by local councils in that area.

Criminal law deals with offences such as theft and assault, which are treated as crimes against society and can lead to prosecution.

Magistrates' Courts deal with less serious criminal cases and the early stages of more serious ones in England and Wales.

The Crown Court hears the most serious criminal cases, where a judge presides and a jury decides guilt in contested trials.

County Courts handle a wide range of civil disputes, including claims about debts and contracts.

The small claims process gives people a simpler way to pursue smaller amounts of money owed to them through the courts.

Scotland has its own distinct legal system, with its own courts such as the Sheriff Courts, separate from England and Wales.

Legal aid can help people who cannot afford legal advice or representation, subject to eligibility rules.

PCSOs work alongside police officers, patrolling local areas and dealing with lower-level crime and anti-social behaviour issues.

National Insurance Contributions, paid by most working people, help to fund the state retirement pension and the NHS, together with some other state benefits. They do not pay for royal palaces or National Lottery prizes.

Taxable income includes wages, profits from self-employment, taxable benefits and pensions, as well as income from property, savings and dividends.

The European Convention protects civil and political rights, including the right to a fair trial and an absolute ban on torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. It does not guarantee anyone a large house provided free by the state, or a job for life.

Forcing a partner to have sex is a crime in the UK, including within marriage, and can be prosecuted as rape.

The voting age for UK parliamentary elections is 18.

You can only vote if you are registered — your name and address must appear on the electoral register for your area.

British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens living in the UK can register to vote in parliamentary elections.

Most citizens of the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth aged 18 or over can stand for public office, including as an MP.

Jurors are picked at random from the electoral register and are summoned to attend court; jury service is a civic duty.

Magistrates, also called Justices of the Peace, are trained members of the local community who give their time as volunteers rather than paid judges.

You can apply for a provisional licence and learn to drive a car from age 17, supervised by a qualified driver, displaying L plates.