CSPE Notes General
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General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn JC-Learn CSPE Notes Common Level General Notes 1 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn CSPE General Notes The Seven Key Concepts CSPE is based on seven concepts. These are? 1. Rights & Responsibilities Every human being is entitled to basic rights, but we also have a responsibility to others, and there is a constant need to safeguard peoples’ rights. Topics: Children’s rights, prisoners of conscience, torture 2. Human Dignity Every human being has the right to live their lives with dignity and to be treated with respect. Topics: Homelessness, bullying, refugees 3. Stewardship Caring responsibly for our environment and the planet on which we live Topics: Recycling, global warming, the ozone layer 4. Development Improvements taking place in local, national or international communities Topics: Tackling poverty in Africa, Third World Debt problems, regional development in Ireland 5. Democracy Citizens voting to elect people to represent them in government Topics: Elections, Dail Eireann, Local Government 6. Law The rules and laws necessary to protect citizens. How laws are made, upheld, and the consequences of breaking the law. Topics: An Garda Siochana, the courts system, the prison system 7. Interdependence The way in which we are connected with others in the world Topics: The European Union, the United Nations, Fair Trade 2 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn Rights & Responsibilities U.D.H.R. stands for? Universal Declaration of Human Rights What does Asylum mean? The right to a safe place to live What does Freedom of Assembly mean? The right to meet up International E.U. stands for? European Union Within the European Union there are three law-making groups. The European Parliament The European Commission The Council of Ministers The European Parliament meets in which two cities? Brussels and Strasbourg M.E.P. stands for? Member of the European Parliament How many Irish MEPs are there? Eleven There are 732 MEPs elected to the? European Parliament Name 2 Irish MEPs? Nessa Childers, Brian Hayes Who is the President of the European Parliament? Martin Schulz, German How are members of the European Commission chosen? There are 28 members of the European Commission – one from each country. Each member is appointed by the govt of their own country. Who is the President of the European Commission? Jean Claude Juncker Who is the Irish European Commissioner? Phil Hogan We celebrate being members of the EU on the 9th May every year. This is known as? Europe Day In the EU, where are legal cases about human rights heard? The European Court of Human Rights 3 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn E.C.H.R. stands for? The European Court of Human Rights I.M.F. stands for? The International Monetary Fund Why was the IMF in Ireland? To lend money to (“bail out”) the Government which didn’t have enough funds to run the country The U.N. stands for? United Nations The Secretary General of the United Nations is? Ban Ki-Moon Where are the United Nations Headquarters? New York How can the Irish Army become involved in international conflicts? Through United Nations Peacekeeping operations The US President is? Barack Obama Where does the US President live? The White House, Washington DC Where does the Queen of England live? Buckingham Palace Who is the British Prime Minister? David Cameron (Conservative Party) Where does the British Prime Minister live? 10 Downing Street Which country joined the Euro in 2013? Croatia How many countries are in the European Union? 28 How many countries are in the Eurozone? 19 4 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn 27 Members of the European Union 19 Members of the Eurozone Austria Austria Belgium Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Estonia Finland Finland France France Germany Germany Greece Greece Hungary Ireland Ireland Italy Italy Latvia Latvia Lithuania Lithuania Luxembourg Luxembourg Malta Malta Netherlands Netherlands Poland Portugal Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovakia Slovenia Slovenia Spain Spain Sweden United Kingdom Croatia Several other small nations use the Euro (eg. Vatican City, Andorra, etc) 5 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn Law The chief law officer of the Irish State is known as? The Attorney General The Childrens’ Court deals with? Offences committed by young people under the age of 16 The District Court deals with? Civil and criminal cases at a local level. There are 23 such courts around the country The Circuit Court deals with? More serious civil and criminal matters. There are 8 of such courts around the country The Special Criminal Court deals with? Very serious criminal offences. There is no jury in this court. Often Terrorist/gangland related The Court of Criminal Appeal deals with? Appeals from convicted persons who believe they haven’t received justice when their case was tried in a lower court The High Court deals with? Appeals from lower courts and some Constitutional cases The Supreme Court deals with? Cases about the Constitution and appeals from the High Court The highest court in Ireland is known as the? Supreme Court The second highest court in Ireland is known as the? High Court The lowest court in Ireland is known as the? District Court Criminal law involves? Serious breaches of the law, such as assault, robbery, rape and murder Civil law involves? Disputes between private individuals (eg. compensation claims, contract law) What is the name of the lawyer who brings a criminal case to court? The Director of Public Prosecutions The Irish Constitution is known as? Bunreacht na hEireann 6 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn In Ireland, a law (which is also called a “Bill”) passed by the Oireachtas is called? An Act In Bunreacht na hEireann the numbered points are called? Articles A referendum is needed if the Govt wants to change? The Constitution If the Govt wants to change the Constitution it needs to hold? A referendum While an arrested person is awaiting trial, the judge may allow them stay at home, rather than in jail. This is known as? Bail 7 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn Politics The voting system in Ireland is known as? Proportional Representation P.R. stands for? Proportional Representation What two letters sum up the voting system in Ireland? P.R. How often must a General Election must be held in Ireland? Every five years How often must a Presidential Election be held in Ireland? Every seven years How many terms can an Irish President serve? Two (ie. 2 x 7 years = 14 years) How old do you have to be to have a vote in Ireland or European elections? 18 How old do you have to be to be elected as a TD? 21 How old do you have to be to be elected President of Ireland? 35 The place where votes are cast in an election is called a? Polling Station The slip of paper filled in by a voter is called a? Ballot Paper Someone who stands in an election is known as a? Candidate In an election, what is a “quota”? The smallest number of votes needed to elect a candidate The smallest number of votes needed to elect a candidate is called? A quota What is a spoiled vote? A vote that cannot be counted A vote that cannot be counted is known as a? Spoiled vote What does T.D. stand for? Teachta Dala What is a T.D./Teachta Dala? Someone who is elected to represent their constituency in Dail Eireann What is an elected member of a local authority known as? A councillor (eg. a county councillor) 8 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn What is a constituency? An electoral area – eg. Wicklow is one constituency and has 5 TDs What is a General Election? When people across in the country vote to elect TD’s in every constituency, thereby forming a new Dail and new government What is a By-Election? When people in one constituency vote to elect a TD to replace someone who has resigned or died. What is a Local Election? When people in a local area vote to elect their local county council or town council To have a vote in Ireland, a person’s name must appear on? The Register of Electors The Irish Prime Minister is called? The Taoiseach/An Taoiseach An Taoiseach is? The Irish Prime Minister The Deputy Prime Minister (second-in-command) is called? The Tanaiste/An Tanaiste The name of the President of Ireland is? Michael D. Higgins The person who keeps order during debates in Dail Eireann is called the? Ceann Comhairle What is the national symbol of Ireland that appears on all Govt letters and envelopes? Harp In Ireland, which Govt department is responsible for voting and elections? The Dept of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government What are the names of the two houses of the Oireachtas? Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann The Irish Parliament is called? Dail Eireann Dail Eireann is? The Irish Parliament Seanad Eireann is? The Irish senate - The “upper house” in the Irish Parliament Where do Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann meet? Leinster House 9 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn How many Dail Constituencies are there at the moment? 40 Where does the Irish President live? Aras an Uachtarain Aras an Uachtarain is? The home of the Irish President in Phoenix Park, Dublin Political Parties and their Current Leaders Fianna Fail Michael Martin Green Party Eamonn Ryan Fine Gael Enda Kenny Labour Party Joan Burton Sinn Fein Gerry Adams 10 | P a g e General Notes CSPE Notes JC-Learn Important Organisations Amnesty International Draws attention to human rights abuses in different countries – eg.