📚 Year 8 WJEC Politics: Core Knowledge Review | Year 8 WJEC 政治：核心知识点梳理
Politics affects every aspect of our daily lives, from the quality of the air we breathe to the rules we follow at school. In Year 8, this WJEC course introduces you to the key ideas that shape the United Kingdom and Wales today. You will explore how power is shared, how decisions are made, and how citizens can have their voices heard.
政治影响着我们日常生活的方方面面，从我们呼吸的空气品质到我们在学校遵守的规则。在 Year 8，WJEC 课程将向你介绍塑造当今英国和威尔士的关键理念。你将探索权力如何分配、决策如何做出，以及公民如何发出自己的声音。
1. What is Politics? | 什么是政治？
Politics is the process by which people make decisions about how to live together in groups. It involves power, authority, and the distribution of resources. At its heart, politics is about resolving conflicts peacefully and deciding who gets what, when, and how. Even in a school, there is politics when the student council negotiates with teachers about break-time rules.
政治是人们就如何在群体中共同生活做出决策的过程。它涉及权力、权威和资源分配。政治的核心在于和平解决冲突，并决定谁得到什么、何时得到以及如何得到。即使在学校里，当学生会与老师协商休息时间规则时，也存在政治。
In a democracy, politics is based on the idea that citizens have a say in how they are governed. This is different from systems where one person or a small group holds all the power. Understanding politics helps you to become an active and informed citizen, able to question decisions and contribute to the society you live in.
在民主制度中，政治基于公民对如何治理拥有发言权的理念。这不同于由一个人或一小群人掌握所有权力的制度。理解政治有助于你成为一个积极、知情的公民，能够质疑决策并为你所生活的社会做出贡献。
2. Types of Government: Democracy vs. Dictatorship | 政府类型：民主与独裁
Two of the most common types of government are democracy and dictatorship. In a democracy, the people hold the ultimate power. They elect representatives to make laws and run the country on their behalf. Fair elections, freedom of speech, and the rule of law are essential features of a democratic system. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy.
两种最常见的政府类型是民主政体和独裁政体。在民主政体中，人民拥有最终权力。他们选举代表来制定法律并代表他们管理国家。公平的选举、言论自由和法治是民主制度的基本特征。英国是一个议会民主制国家，实行君主立宪制。
By contrast, in a dictatorship, power is held by a single person or a small group without the consent of the people. Citizens have limited freedoms, and there are no meaningful elections. The media is often controlled, and opposition is not tolerated. Examples from history and the modern world show how dictatorship can lead to human rights abuses and a lack of accountability.
相比之下，在独裁政体中，权力由单个人或一小群人掌握，未经人民同意。公民的自由受到限制，也没有有意义的选举。媒体往往受到控制，反对派不被容忍。历史与现代世界的例子表明，独裁可能导致人权侵犯和缺乏问责。
- Democracy: Free elections, multiple parties, independent courts, active civil society.
- 民主： 自由选举、多党制、独立法院、活跃的公民社会。
- Dictatorship: One-party rule, suppressed opposition, state-controlled media, fear of punishment.
- 独裁： 一党统治、压制反对派、国家控制媒体、害怕惩罚。
3. The UK Parliament | 英国议会
The UK Parliament is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom. It is made up of three parts: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch. Parliament’s main job is to make and pass laws, scrutinise the work of the government, and debate important national issues. The Houses of Parliament are located at the Palace of Westminster in London.
英国议会是联合王国的最高立法机构。它由三部分组成：下议院、上议院和君主。议会的主要工作是制定和通过法律，审查政府工作，并辩论重要的国家议题。议会大厦位于伦敦的威斯敏斯特宫。
The House of Commons consists of 650 Members of Parliament (MPs), each elected by a geographical constituency. The political party with the most MPs usually forms the government, and its leader becomes the Prime Minister. The House of Lords is not elected; its members are appointed, and they include life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers. The Lords can revise and delay legislation but cannot ultimately block bills passed by the Commons.
下议院由 650 名国会议员组成，每位议员由一个地理选区选出。拥有最多议员的政党通常组成政府，其党魁成为首相。上议院不是选举产生的；其议员是任命的，包括终身贵族、主教和世袭贵族。上议院可以修改和延迟立法，但最终不能阻止下议院通过的法案。
4. The Role of the Monarch | 君主的角色
In the United Kingdom, the monarch is the Head of State, but their role is largely ceremonial. This is known as a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch’s powers are limited by law and convention. The current monarch, King Charles III, reigns but does not rule; he stays out of party politics and acts on the advice of ministers.
在英国，君主是国家元首，但其角色主要是礼仪性质的。这就是所谓的君主立宪制，即君主的权力受到法律和惯例的限制。现任君主查尔斯三世国王在位但不统治；他不介入政党政治，并根据大臣的建议行事。
The monarch’s duties include opening each new session of Parliament, giving Royal Assent to bills so they become law, and meeting with the Prime Minister regularly. The monarch also represents the UK on state visits and is a symbol of national unity. Despite having no real political power to refuse legislation, the monarch plays an important role in the nation’s identity and tradition.
君主的职责包括召开议会新一届会议，御准法案使之成为法律，以及定期与首相会面。君主还代表英国进行国事访问，是国家团结的象征。尽管没有真正的政治权力来拒绝立法，君主在国家认同和传统中扮演着重要角色。
5. Government and Opposition | 政府与反对党
The government is formed by the political party that wins the majority of seats in the House of Commons. It is responsible for running the country, proposing new laws, and managing public services such as the National Health Service (NHS), education, and defence. The Prime Minister selects senior ministers to form the Cabinet, which is the main decision-making body.
政府由赢得下议院多数席位的政党组成。它负责管理国家、提出新法律，以及管理国家医疗服务体系、教育和国防等公共服务。首相挑选高级大臣组成内阁，内阁是主要的决策机构。
The largest party not in government is known as the Official Opposition. Its role is to challenge the government, question its policies, and present itself as an alternative government. The Opposition leader appoints a Shadow Cabinet whose members closely examine the work of government ministers. This system ensures that the government is held to account and that different viewpoints are heard in Parliament.
不在政府中的最大政党被称为官方反对党。它的职责是挑战政府，质疑其政策，并展现自己作为替代政府的形象。反对党领袖任命影子内阁，其成员密切审查政府大臣的工作。这一制度确保政府受到问责，不同的观点得以在议会中被听到。
6. Elections and Voting | 选举与投票
In a democracy, elections are the main way citizens can influence who represents them. In the UK, a general election must be held at least every five years. During a general election, voters in each constituency choose one candidate to become their MP. The voting system used is called First Past the Post: the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not get more than half of the total votes cast.
在民主国家，选举是公民影响谁代表他们的主要方式。在英国，大选必须至少每五年举行一次。在大选期间，每个选区的选民选出一名候选人成为他们的议员。所使用的投票制度称为简单多数制：得票最多的候选人获胜，即使他们没有获得总票数的一半以上。
To vote, you must be registered and at least 18 years old on polling day (in some elections, such as those for the Senedd, the voting age is 16 in Wales). Political parties publish manifestos setting out their promises and policies. It is important for voters to understand what each party stands for so they can make an informed choice when they cast their ballot.
要投票，你必须在投票日当天年满 18 岁并已登记（在一些选举中，如威尔士议会选举，威尔士的投票年龄是 16 岁）。政党发布宣言，列出他们的承诺和政策。对选民来说，了解每个政党的主张很重要，这样他们在投票时才能做出知情的选择。
7. The Legal System | 法律体系
Laws are rules made by Parliament that everyone must follow. They are designed to keep society safe, resolve disputes, and protect people’s rights. The legal system in England and Wales is separate from politics, meaning judges are independent and free from political pressure. This principle is known as the rule of law, and it means no one is above the law, including the government.
法律是议会制定的每个人都必须遵守的规则。其目的是维护社会安全，解决争端，保护人民权利。英格兰和威尔士的法律体系独立于政治，这意味着法官是独立的，不受政治压力的影响。这一原则被称为法治，意味着没有人可以凌驾于法律之上，包括政府。
The criminal justice system deals with offences such as theft or assault. The police investigate crimes, and if there is enough evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) may charge a suspect. Cases are heard in magistrates’ courts for less serious crimes, and the Crown Court for serious ones. Civil law, by contrast, resolves disputes between individuals or organisations, such as contract disagreements or divorce.
刑事司法系统处理诸如盗窃或袭击等犯罪行为。警方调查犯罪，如果有足够证据，皇家检察署可能会起诉嫌疑人。较轻的犯罪在治安法庭审理，严重犯罪在刑事法院审理。相比之下，民法解决个人或组织之间的纠纷，如合同分歧或离婚。
8. Rights and Responsibilities | 权利与责任
With rights come responsibilities. In the UK, citizens enjoy important rights such as the right to free speech, the right to a fair trial, the right to vote, and the right to privacy. Many of these are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. These rights ensure that the state treats everyone with dignity and respect.
权利伴随着责任。在英国，公民享有重要的权利，如言论自由权、获得公正审判的权利、投票权和隐私权。其中许多权利受到 1998 年《人权法案》的保护，该法案将《欧洲人权公约》纳入英国法律。这些权利确保国家以尊严和尊重对待每一个人。
Responsibilities are the duties we owe to each other and to the community. They include obeying the law, paying taxes when due, serving on a jury if called, and respecting the rights of others. In a democracy, citizens also have the responsibility to stay informed about political issues and to use their vote wisely. Balancing rights and responsibilities helps maintain a fair and orderly society.
责任是我们彼此以及对社区所负的义务。它们包括遵守法律、按时纳税、在接到召令时担任陪审员，以及尊重他人的权利。在一个民主社会，公民还有责任了解政治议题，并明智地使用自己的投票。平衡权利和责任有助于维护一个公正有序的社会。
9. The Media and Pressure Groups | 媒体与压力团体
The media — newspapers, television, radio, and online platforms — play a vital role in a democracy. They inform the public about what the government is doing, investigate stories of public interest, and provide a forum for debate. A free media is sometimes called the ‘fourth estate’ because it acts as an additional check on power alongside the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
媒体——报纸、电视、广播和在线平台——在民主制度中发挥着至关重要的作用。它们告知公众政府正在做什么，调查关乎公共利益的新闻，并提供辩论的论坛。自由的媒体有时被称为“第四权”，因为它与立法、行政和司法部门一起，对权力构成额外的制衡。
Pressure groups are organisations that try to influence government policy on specific issues without seeking to be elected. They can be insider groups, like trade unions or professional bodies that are regularly consulted, or outsider groups, like environmental campaigners who use direct action. Methods include petitions, demonstrations, lobbying MPs, and using social media campaigns. For example, groups in Wales have successfully campaigned for better Welsh language provision and environmental protection.
压力团体是试图影响政府特定议题政策而不寻求当选的组织。它们可以是内部团体，如经常被咨询的工会或专业机构，也可以是外部团体，如采取直接行动的环境运动者。他们的方法包括请愿、示威、游说议员以及利用社交媒体活动。例如，威尔士的团体已经成功地为更好的威尔士语服务提供和环境保护进行了活动。
10. Devolution and the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) | 权力下放与威尔士议会
Devolution means transferring certain powers from the central UK Parliament to regional governments. In Wales, the devolved government is based in Cardiff, and the parliament is called the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament). The Senedd has the power to make laws and set policy in devolved areas such as education, health, agriculture, and the environment.
权力下放意味着将某些权力从英国中央议会转移到地方政府。在威尔士，权力下放的政府设在加的夫，议会称为 Senedd Cymru（威尔士议会）。威尔士议会有权在诸如教育、卫生、农业和环境等权力下放领域制定法律和政策。
The Senedd consists of 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs), elected every five years. Voters in Wales have two votes in Senedd elections: one for a constituency MS and one for a regional list. The party or coalition with the most seats forms the Welsh Government, led by the First Minister. This system allows Wales to make decisions that reflect local needs while still being part of the United Kingdom. Understanding devolution shows how power is shared across different levels of government closer to the people.
威尔士议会由 60 名议会议员组成，每五年选举一次。威尔士的选民在议会选举中有两票：一票投给选区议员，一票投给区域名单。拥有最多席位的政党或联盟组成威尔士政府，由第一部长领导。这一体系使威尔士能够在仍是联合王国一部分的同时，做出反映本地需求的决定。理解权力下放，展示了权力如何在更贴近人民的不同层级政府之间共享。
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