1. Evaluate Parliament as a Law-Maker

2. SKILLS:
Evaluate: To carefully appraise or consider the statement and comment on the relative strengths and weaknesses, as well as an overall judgement. Discuss: To present a topic from all sides with a reasoned argument for and against a particular issue. You may add your opinion as part of a balanced argument. Critically Evaluate: To carefully appraise the value – considering both the strengths and weaknesses or the arguments for and against something.

3. Structure: Introduction Strength Vs Weakness Conclusion
The amount of Strengths and Weaknesses vary depending on the Mark Allocation.

4. Mark Allocation
1 mark for overall structure – so Must include Introduction and Conclusion stating your contention
1 mark per strength and Weakness (must be corresponding)
1 mark for substance (this has come from the examiners – those who elaborate and go into greater detail justifying why each is a strength and weakness receive the extra mark)
Lose ½ mark if you don’t have a contrasting word (whereas, however, on contrast to)

5. Mark Allocation Question
8 marks How many Strengths and Weaknesses?

6. Structure: Introduction:
Must state your contention: Is it effective or not? To a great/somewhat/little/no extent?
Like in an essay tell me what you’re going to be writing about e.g. you’ll be exploring the strengths and weaknesses of Parliament as a law-maker.

7. Introduction examples:
Parliament is an effective law maker with a great ability to make laws. Although its has its weaknesses, its strengths generally outweigh these.
Example:
In relation to Parliaments ability to change the law, they only are able to do so in a somewhat effective manner. Although there are any strengths to parliaments as a law maker there are also many weaknesses.

8. Structure: Strength Weakness 1 Strength VS
1x corresponding Weakness to the Strength
Example:
A Strength of Parliament is that is its primary role is to create laws, meaning it can devote all of its time, as well as its expertise and resources to the creation of legislation. However, a weakness of Parliament is that it is not always sitting. This delays the passage of bills and can be counter-effective in situations where there is a significant law that’s needs to be introduced/changed quickly.

9. Strength and Weaknesses Example:
Another Strength of Parliament is that members are elected and therefore uphold the principle of representative government. This ensures laws reflect the views of the majority and are therefore accepted and followed by members of the community. However, a weakness is due to being elected, members are sometimes more concerned with not being re-elected. This results in them not passing necessary but controversial laws, despite what the community’s views are.
Conclusion: The fact that parliament are elected bodies, representing the views of the people most of time, outweighs the fact of Parliament only at times might not pass necessary and controversial laws, making Parliament an effective law-maker.
Option: Can conclude after each Strength and Weakness OR conclude right at the end of all your strengths and weaknesses.

10. Structure: Conclusion Overall
Need to re-state your contention – It MUST be the same contention you identified in the introduction.
Re-state the key words in your Strengths and key words in your weakness to justify your overall argument/opinion/contention.
Example:
All in all, Parliament’s strengths of their primary role, the upholding of representative government, passing laws in future and their bi-cameral structure outweighs its weaknesses of the fact that they’re not always sitting, how they’re concerned with not being re-elected, their inability to see the future and the disadvantages of a bicameral structure. There have been many examples to prove that Parliament can make laws when issues arise and that they effective in doing so.