ExpertHard8 marksExtended Response
AQA GCSE · Question 07.2 · Active Citizenship
'The legal system in the UK allows citizens to receive justice.'
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
In your answer you should consider a range of evidence and views on:
• citizens' rights within the legal system
• the actions citizens can take to hold those in power to account
• the role played by citizens acting together in fighting for justice.
'The legal system in the UK allows citizens to receive justice.'
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
In your answer you should consider a range of evidence and views on:
• citizens' rights within the legal system
• the actions citizens can take to hold those in power to account
• the role played by citizens acting together in fighting for justice.
How to approach this question
This is a 'to what extent' question, which requires a balanced argument. Use the bullet points to structure your response.
1. **Agreeing with the statement:** Discuss the strengths of the UK legal system. Talk about citizens' rights (fair trial, independent judiciary) and how citizens can use the law (judicial review, campaigns like Hillsborough) to get justice.
2. **Disagreeing with the statement:** Discuss the weaknesses and barriers. Focus on issues like the cost of legal action and cuts to legal aid, which make it hard for ordinary people to access justice.
3. **Conclusion:** Give your overall judgement. Do you agree completely, partially, or not at all? Summarise your main points to justify your final position.
Full Answer
This question asks for a nuanced evaluation of the UK's legal system. A good answer will avoid a simple 'yes' or 'no' and instead argue 'to a certain extent'. You should use the provided bullet points to guide your thinking. For 'citizens' rights', you can discuss principles like the rule of law and trial by jury. For 'holding power to account', judicial review is a key concept. For 'citizens acting together', famous justice campaigns (Hillsborough, Stephen Lawrence) are excellent examples. To provide balance, you must also discuss the significant barriers, with the cuts to legal aid being the most prominent contemporary issue. Your conclusion should weigh these positive and negative aspects to form a final judgement.
Common mistakes
Only discussing the positive aspects of the legal system without considering the barriers. Also, not providing specific examples (like a particular campaign or a legal principle like 'judicial review') to support the points being made.
Practice the full AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies Paper 1
23 questions · hints · full answers · grading
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