Should the UK involve citizens more directly in democracy?
I can explain and argue a viewpoint about whether the UK should involve citizens more directly in its democracy.
- Year 10
Should the UK involve citizens more directly in democracy?
I can explain and argue a viewpoint about whether the UK should involve citizens more directly in its democracy.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The UK is a representative democracy but still involves citizens in the decision making process.
- The UK invovles citizens through the use of refernedums, select committees and citizens' assemblies.
- Involving citizens in the decision making process gives people a voice and ensures a wider range of views are heard.
- The UK Government might not involve citizens in decisions that are complex or need to be made quickly such as crises.
Keywords
Representative democracy - type of democracy where citizens choose others to represent them, making important decisions on their behalf
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)
Citizens’ assemblies - a group of people who are brought together to learn about, discuss and make recommendations on a specific issue, such as climate change
Common misconception
The UK is a representative democracy so citizens cannot be involved in the decision making process at all.
Even though the UK is a representative democracy (where elected MPs make decisions), citizens can still be involved in the decision making process through referendums, select committees and citizens' assemblies.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a citizens’ assembly?
Q2.Match these forms of citizen involvement with their descriptions.
Q3.A referendum is a type of democracy where citizens vote directly on a specific issue.
Q4.Political problems can lead to low voter and unfair representation.
Q5.Why might a referendum be used to decide on changes to a voting system (electoral reform)?
Q6.What is a potential weakness of using a referendum to solve political problems?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The UK has a democracy where citizens elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them on their behalf.
Q2.Match each form of citizen involvement to its description.
