Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role — Set 9

Children's Panel members are trained volunteers who give their time unpaid; three panel members sit at each children's hearing.

A drink-driving conviction carries a minimum driving ban and a criminal record, and the court may also impose a fine or, in serious cases, prison. It is never dealt with by a warning letter only, and retaking a theory test is not the penalty.

Scotland reduced its limit in 2014 to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, while England, Wales and Northern Ireland kept 80 milligrams.

The Highway Code requires cyclists, like other road users, to obey traffic lights and road signs; riding through a red light is an offence.

The paper tax disc was abolished in 2014; drivers still pay vehicle tax, but entitlement is checked from electronic records, for example by cameras.

Learners must display L plates (D plates may be used in Wales) clearly at the front and rear of the car until they pass the driving test.

A supervisor must be at least 21 and have held a full licence for that type of vehicle for at least three years; the learner must also be insured to drive the car.

Trained volunteers are the backbone of Citizens Advice, helping the public with free advice; giving time in this way is volunteering in the community.

Neighbourhood Watch brings residents together with the local police to share information, look out for each other and help prevent crime in their area.

The Human Rights Act 1998 brought the rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, so people can claim them in British courts.

Freedom of information law gives the public a right to ask public authorities for recorded information they hold, subject to some exemptions.

The Equality Act 2010 is the main anti-discrimination law in England, Scotland and Wales, covering grounds such as age, disability, race, religion and sex.

Forcing someone to marry — by pressure, threats or deception — is a criminal offence in the UK, and protection orders can be made to keep people safe.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales keeps the register of charities and regulates them, making sure they are run properly and for the public benefit.

Your National Insurance number is unique to you and ensures your contributions and tax are recorded against your name; you need one to work and to claim benefits.

The sovereign's official birthday is marked in June by Trooping the Colour, a large military parade in London attended by the monarch.

Under the Parliament Acts the House of Lords can delay most non-money bills for about a year, but it cannot block a bill passed by the Commons indefinitely.

By tradition the Chancellor holds up a red box containing the Budget speech when leaving Downing Street on Budget day.

When counting is finished, the Returning Officer publicly declares the result in each constituency, announcing which candidate has been elected.

The Mayor of London oversees transport in the capital, through Transport for London, and sets the strategy and budget for policing in London. Immigration and border control are matters for the UK government, and the NHS in London is not run by the Mayor.

Corporation tax is the tax companies pay on the profits they make from trading and other activities.

Unresolved complaints about NHS services in England can be taken to the Health Service Ombudsman, which is part of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Jurors are told not to research the case online or share information about it, because their verdict must be based only on the evidence presented in court.

An MP represents everyone in their constituency, including people who voted for another candidate or did not vote at all.