Political participation

In the Government topic, we talked about the political system and how government works. This topic considers how your vote or action can influence the decisions made in Westminster. First, we need to consider the structure of local government in England, and then go on to consider voting, political parties and pressure groups.

Local government

Local government generally refers to the government of an area smaller than a country, for example, the government of counties and towns in England. It is responsible for the welfare of its citizens and it is in charge of local services, such as housing or policing, and therefore can choose how to adapt these services. The local government also has to deal with complaints about these services. Although laws are made by central government at Westminster, local authorities have the freedom to shape policies to suit their local community.

Ultimately, local government allows the people of local communities to participate and have a voice in local affairs. People can do this either by standing as councillors (usually as members of political parties) or by voting in local elections.

How much power do local governments have?

It is generally easier for people to get involved in politics at a local level but some people believe that the amount of power that local government has is very limited. This is because Britain is a unitary state and at the centre of the system is a parliament with sovereign power. In other words, the local governments only get the power and money that parliament gives them. Currently, the government department responsible for ensuring the funding and efficiency of local government is the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It advises local governments at all levels on a wide range of issues.