Students should be able to describe democratic structures for decision-making at local and national government levels.
Exercise 67A Classifying the jobs of local, national and European governments Key Skills
Success criteria
I can classify diff erent tasks according to the government that has responsibility for them.
Working in pairs, classify the following jobs according to whether they are the responsibility of the local, national or EU governments. ● Manages the libraries ● Decides the rates of income taxes ● Negotiates trade deals with other countries ● Decides on health spending
Local National EU
● In charge of defence ● Cleaning up litter ● Deciding how the education system works ● Providing parks and leisure facilities
Exercise 67B Analysing the work of the government Key Skills Success criteria
I can answer questions on the election and composition of a government.
After a general election, the Dáil meets at Leinster House to elect a new head of government, the Taoiseach. The main parties nominate their leaders as Taoiseach. The vote is carried out for one person at a time and if a candidate gets more votes in favour than against, they are elected. After receiving their seal of offi ce from the president, the new Taoiseach appoints their ministers (the cabinet). Generally, a government needs to have a majority of seats in the Dáil, but sometimes they do not. This is called a minority government. In Ireland, one party rarely has enough votes to form