👨👩👧👦 Meet the Baker Family
Throughout this course, we follow the Baker family - three generations living in Southampton. Their experiences help us understand citizenship and personal finance.
The Baker Family Tree
P
Philippe (70s)
Retired dock worker
L
Lisa (70s)
Retired hairdresser
D
Daniel (40s)
Insurance worker
S
Sue (40s)
Medical secretary
R
Richard (40s)
Self-employed potter
M
Marion (40s)
Hotel events manager
J
Jacob (19)
Uni student / waiter
So
Sophie (17)
School student
B
Ben (14)
School student
What You Need to Learn
- Define what a citizen is
- Know how people become UK citizens
- Understand rights and responsibilities of citizens
- Know how UK government and democracy works
🌍 What is a Citizen?
P Philippe's Story: Becoming British
"In the 1960s there was a shortage of workers in the UK, so I left my home in Africa to work in a shipyard in Liverpool. When I arrived, I changed my family name to 'Baker' so it would be easier for English people to pronounce. I became a British citizen because I was born in a Commonwealth country and my mother was British."
A citizen is someone who has the legal right to live in a particular country. Philippe became a UK citizen through a process called naturalisation.
🎯 EXAM ALERT: Only 45% got this right! Naturalisation is the PROCESS of becoming a citizen - it includes taking a "Life in the UK" test and attending a citizenship ceremony.
📋 Ways to Become a UK Citizen
| Method | Explanation | Baker Example |
|---|---|---|
| By Birth | Born in the UK with at least one British parent | Jacob, Sophie, Ben - born in UK to British parents |
| By Descent | Born outside UK but parent is British citizen | Philippe's mother was British |
| By Naturalisation | Living in UK for required time, passing tests | Immigrants who apply for citizenship |
| By Registration | For certain categories (e.g., children, Commonwealth) | Some Commonwealth citizens qualify |
⚖️ Rights and Responsibilities
R Richard's Responsibilities
"As a self-employed potter, I pay taxes on my earnings to the government. The government uses this money to pay for services that all citizens can use - NHS, schools, roads, and pensions for people like my parents."
| Rights (What You're Entitled To) | Responsibilities (What You Should Do) |
|---|---|
| Right to vote in elections | Responsibility to vote |
| Right to a fair trial | Responsibility to serve on a jury |
| Right to free education | Responsibility to obey the law |
| Right to free healthcare (NHS) | Responsibility to pay taxes |
| Right to work | Responsibility to respect others |
| Right to UK passport | Responsibility to tell the truth in court (as witness) |
🎯 EXAM ALERT: 45% confused this! As a witness in court, your responsibility is to tell the TRUTH. Jury service is a DIFFERENT responsibility (to decide if someone is guilty).
Card Sort: Rights vs Responsibilities
🆔 Citizenship and Identity
J Jacob's British Identity
"I'm a 19-year-old British citizen, born in the UK. My grandfather Philippe came from Africa. When I was younger, his background didn't mean much to me – I identified more with my school friends, who all consider themselves British no matter where their family lived originally. Now I'm more interested in where grandad came from. He speaks French to me regularly, which helped when I went to France on a college trip."
Being a citizen affects your identity - how you see yourself and how others see you. The UK is multicultural - influenced by people from many different backgrounds who have come to live here.
🗳️ Political Participation
M Marion Campaigns for the Green Party
"I feel strongly about green issues like solar farms and electric cars. One candidate standing for election, Harry Preston, represents the Green Party. I volunteered to help his campaign - delivering leaflets and supporting his speeches. On election night he got 987 votes, but the Liberal Democrat candidate won. I'm disappointed, but pleased I helped tell local citizens about green issues."
Ways Citizens Can Participate in Politics
- Voting in elections (must be 18+)
- Standing for election as a candidate
- Joining a political party
- Campaigning for a party or cause (like Marion)
- Contacting your MP about issues
- Signing petitions (100,000+ signatures can trigger a debate)
🏛️ How the UK is Governed
The UK is a constitutional monarchy and a democracy.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Democracy | "Rule by the people" - citizens vote for representatives |
| Constitutional Monarchy | Monarch is head of state but Parliament makes laws |
| Parliament | House of Commons (elected MPs) + House of Lords (appointed) |
| MP | Member of Parliament - represents a local area |
| Prime Minister | Leader of the party with most MPs |
| Chancellor | In charge of money/taxes (Chancellor of the Exchequer) |
💡 Remember: The voting age is 18. Jury service is for people aged 18-75.
🎯 Scenario: Sue Saves the Library
S Sue Takes Action
"The council announced they're closing our local library. I organised a petition and collected over 3,000 signatures. I handed it to the Head of the Council and gave interviews to local newspapers. I also wrote to my councillor asking them to argue for keeping the library open. My campaign worked - the council decided to keep the library open!"
✓ How Sue Participated as an Active Citizen:
- Organised a petition
- Contacted local councillors
- Used media to raise awareness
- Attended council meetings
Quick Check: Citizenship
True or False
Fill in the Blanks
Flip Cards: Key Terms
📝 Practice Quiz
📚 Summary
| Topic | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Citizen | Someone with legal right to live in a country |
| Naturalisation | Process of becoming a citizen (test + ceremony) |
| Rights | Vote, fair trial, education, healthcare, work, passport |
| Responsibilities | Vote, jury service, obey law, pay taxes, respect others, tell truth as witness |
| Democracy | Citizens elect MPs who make decisions in Parliament |
| Voting age | 18+ |
| Jury service | Ages 18-75 |
Ready to Test Your Knowledge?
Take the Topic 1 assessment to check your understanding. You'll receive a PDF certificate with your results.
Take Topic 1 Test