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

The nickname 'bobbies' comes from Robert Peel's first name, shortened to 'Bob': Peel set up the Metropolitan Police in 1829, and its officers were also called 'peelers'.

Hansard is named after the Hansard family, a firm of printers who first produced the official record of debates and proceedings in Parliament in the early 19th century. The name is still used for the published record today.

The £500 deposit is returned to candidates who win 5% or more of the valid votes cast in their constituency; those below 5% lose it.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day, and anyone already in the queue at 10pm is still allowed to vote.

Counting begins as soon as ballot boxes arrive after polls close at 10pm, and most constituency results are declared during the night.

Voters who cannot attend in person can apply in advance for a postal vote, or appoint a proxy — a person they trust who votes on their behalf at their polling station. There is no voting a week early at the town hall, and voting by telephone is not available.

Under collective responsibility, once the Cabinet has decided a policy, every minister must defend it publicly; a minister who cannot do so is expected to resign.

The Cabinet of senior ministers, chaired by the Prime Minister, normally meets once a week to discuss the government's main business.

The Official Opposition is the largest party not in government; it questions the government, proposes alternatives and leads the criticism of government policy.

Councillors are normally elected for a four-year term, after which they must stand down or seek re-election.

Local councils run services such as collecting household waste and recycling, and they arrange social care and support for elderly and disabled people living at home. Issuing passports and running NHS hospitals are national responsibilities, not council services.

Local councils act as planning authorities and decide most applications to build or change the use of land and buildings in their area.

Local councils run adult social care: they assess people's needs and arrange support such as home care for elderly and disabled residents.

Under PAYE (Pay As You Earn), an employer takes income tax and National Insurance off an employee's wages or pension before paying them.

The UK tax year for individuals runs from 6 April in one year to 5 April in the next, a pattern that dates back centuries.

A census — a survey counting and describing everyone in the country — is usually held every ten years, most recently in 2021 in most of the UK.

In England and Wales you can be summoned for jury service if you are aged between 18 and 70 and on the electoral register.

MPs hold regular local 'surgeries' — advertised sessions where constituents can meet them face to face to raise personal or local problems.

Special constables are trained volunteers who give their time free, wear the same uniform and have the same powers of arrest as regular police officers when on duty.

Giving time unpaid to help a charity is volunteering, one of the ways residents are encouraged to play an active part in community life.

Where there are street lights, the limit for cars is usually 30 mph unless signs show a different limit.

The national speed limit for a car is 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways, and 60 mph on single carriageways (unless lower limits are signed).

Reaching 12 or more points within three years — 'totting up' — normally leads the court to disqualify the driver, usually for at least six months.

New drivers are on a two-year probation: collecting 6 or more penalty points in that period means their licence is revoked and they must retake both tests.