Citizenship at key stage 3    (Year 7-9)

• think critically while discussing reasons why laws should regulate aspects of everyday life
• understand that there are different levels of government, eg local, central, and identify some matters that are the responsibility of the local authority
• critically analyse a range of issues, problems or events from different points of view

• offer reasons why an issue such as animal welfare is of public concern
• understand what voluntary organisations are and how they operate, and describe their relationship to government in terms of making and changing the law
• understand the term ‘pressure group’
• describe different methods of protesting against legislation and discuss in outline some of the legal and moral issues these raise
• identify reasons both for and against an issue, eg animal testing, and express a personal opinion on the issue orally and in writing
• research an issue using literature from pressure groups, and identify reasons for treating such information with caution
• describe in simple terms how a bill passes through Parliament and becomes law

• discuss an issue from a social, moral and political standpoint, and express and justify their own opinion orally and in writing
• outline the parliamentary process
• understand how governments can be influenced by public opinion and lobby groups
• understand the function of opinion polls in public life, and relate this to the importance of being informed citizens who take an interest in public affairs

• identify reasons why some issues need to be addressed through international cooperation
• distinguish between laws operating at a local and national level and international agreements, which do not have the weight of law
• know about and describe the role of voluntary organisations and pressure groups that operate internationally