New
New
Year 11

What does national government have to do with local government?

I can explain the relationship between local and national government and how the work of one impacts the other.

New
New
Year 11

What does national government have to do with local government?

I can explain the relationship between local and national government and how the work of one impacts the other.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. National government makes laws and policies that local governments must follow.
  2. Local councils rely on funding and powers given by national government.
  3. Local councils deliver services and report local issues to national government.
  4. Local feedback helps shape national policies and decisions.
  5. National and local government work together to run the country effectively.

Keywords

  • National government - the group of people with the authority to govern a country; in the UK, the Government is chosen and led by the Prime Minister (PM)

  • Local government - a system of government that operates at a local level providing services to its community

  • Impact - the effect or influence of a decision or action

Common misconception

That national government can impact local government, but that local government has no impact on national.

Local governments can play a crucial role in shaping the work and direction of national government.


To help you plan your year 11 citizenship lesson on: What does national government have to do with local government?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Visit your local government website and identify how and why the national government impacts on these areas.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who are the group of people with the authority to govern a country?

Correct answer: the national government
the local government
the Mayor of London and their team
the monarch and their staff

Q2.
Who chooses the national government?

Correct answer: the Prime Minister
the London Mayor
the monarch
the Speaker of the House

Q3.
The effect or influence of a decision or action is the what?

Correct Answer: impact

Q4.
Which group are mainly responsible for organising services such as recycling, libraries and building regulations?

Correct answer: the local government
the judiciary
the European Union
the Commonwealth

Q5.
Who do local governments receive a large amount of funding from?

the monarch
the House of Lords
Correct answer: the national government
the Police and Crime Commissioner

Q6.
Match each national action to the correct local government impact.

Correct Answer:provides Levelling Up funding,improves public transport and tourism

improves public transport and tourism

Correct Answer:legislates new housing standards,upgrades council housing plans

upgrades council housing plans

Correct Answer:funds local health services,runs local clinics and health checks

runs local clinics and health checks

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match each role or responsibility to the correct level of government.

Correct Answer:national government,sets national laws and policies

sets national laws and policies

Correct Answer:local council,collects bins and runs local services

collects bins and runs local services

Correct Answer:both,shares information to help shape national decisions

shares information to help shape national decisions

Q2.
The Environment Act 2021 meant local government had to consider their approach to ...

Correct answer: waste management
private education
pot holes
community centre access

Q3.
What is the name of the group who inspect schools for the national government?

Correct answer: Ofsted
Ofgem
Ofcom

Q4.
Which statements are true?

Correct answer: National government makes laws and policies that local governments must follow.
Correct answer: Local councils rely on funding and powers given by national government.
Correct answer: Local councils deliver services and report local issues to national government.
Local councils make laws and policies that national government must follow.
National government relies on funding and powers given by local councils.

Q5.
Complete the sentence: Local helps shape national policies and decisions.

Correct Answer: feedback

Q6.
In 2024, Kent County Council raised concerns with national government about the high number of what?

graffiti in public areas
Correct answer: unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
re-offending within their local police constabulary
children not attending school