The OIREACHTAS By CSPE.tv http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://czechfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/european-union.jpg&imgrefurl=http://czechfolks.com/2009/01/21/keep-up-with-czech-eu-presidency-activities-drzte-krok-s-aktivitami-ceskeho-predsednictvi-eu/&usg=__yPSpYkntKA-Db1LqOr0XbWBsG90=&h=567&w=880&sz=220&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=dacFcmPO3O7O9M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=148&ei=MNS_TYjjMIHDhAeK37CwBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Deuropean%2Bunion%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1003%26bih%3D522%26tbm%3Disch0%2C157&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=697&vpy=193&dur=46&hovh=180&hovw=280&tx=186&ty=115&page=1&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0&biw=1003&bih=522 By CSPE.tv

Ireland Ireland is a parliamentary democracy This means that we are governed by our parliament, which is democratically elected

The Oireachtas The President This is the national parliament of Ireland. It has three parts. The Dail The Seanad

The Oireachtas The President of Ireland is the head of state of the country. This role is largely symbolic. Dáil Éireann is where TDs debate and vote on important issues e.g. any changes to the law. Seanad Éireann is where senators review the laws passed in the Dail. It has an advisory role so can only delay laws and make suggestions Video about the Oireachtas Head of state but not head of government. The Irish president is very different from the US president. If Mary McAleese wanted to bring in a new law she would not be able to do so, her job is to protect the constitution and to act as a figurehead to represent Ireland at home and abroad. She is not meant to get involved in political debate. Why?? At the moment people are angry at a lot of politicians because of decisions they have made, by having a figurehead who does not get involved then it keeps the dignity of the office and people do not get angry at her.

President of Ireland Elected every seven years Is the head of state of the country A largely ceremonial role Lives in Áras an Uachtaráin Must be over 35 years old The President signs bills into law and appoints the government, but their power is largely ceremonial. They can send legislation to the Attorney General is they think is is unconstitutional. iAt the time the office was established critics warned that the post might lead to the emergence of a dictatorship

Presidential oath "In the presence of Almighty God I ,do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws, that I will fulfil my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and that I will dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland. May God direct and sustain me."

Douglas Hyde Sean T. O’Kelly Eamon de Valera Erskine Childers 1938-45 1945-1959 1959-1973 1973-1974 Cearbhall O Dalaigh Patrick Hillery Mary Robinson Mary McAleese 1974-76 1976-1990 1990-1997 1997-2011

Seanad Éireann (The Senate of Ireland) Seanad Éireann sits in Leinster House. Is the upper house of the Irish Parliament (The Oireachtas) Was intended to play an advisory and revising role so has much less power than the Dail. It can delay laws with which it disagrees. It has 60 senators 11 appointed by the Taoiseach 6 elected by Trinity and NUI graduates 43 elected by TDs, outgoing senators and local councillors from five panels http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=18

Dáil Éireann Voters elect 166 TDs to the Dáil TDs sit in the Dail chamber One TD is picked to be Ceann Comhairle (chairperson) of the Dail TDs debate proposed new laws (bills) and how the country is run More than half of TDs need to vote for a bill for it to be passed into law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vor0yTJ7vVs&feature=related First Dail in Mansion House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKSFVQxybuo&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz9YkYvqYNc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGEQtBID-HA&feature=related Charlie The Dail live Dail archive JFK visits the Dail

The OIREACHTAS By CSPE.tv http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://czechfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/european-union.jpg&imgrefurl=http://czechfolks.com/2009/01/21/keep-up-with-czech-eu-presidency-activities-drzte-krok-s-aktivitami-ceskeho-predsednictvi-eu/&usg=__yPSpYkntKA-Db1LqOr0XbWBsG90=&h=567&w=880&sz=220&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=dacFcmPO3O7O9M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=148&ei=MNS_TYjjMIHDhAeK37CwBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Deuropean%2Bunion%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1003%26bih%3D522%26tbm%3Disch0%2C157&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=697&vpy=193&dur=46&hovh=180&hovw=280&tx=186&ty=115&page=1&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0&biw=1003&bih=522 By CSPE.tv