Should young people have the right to stand in local elections?
I can explain why local council elections are important and the arguments for and against young people being able to become local councillors.
Should young people have the right to stand in local elections?
I can explain why local council elections are important and the arguments for and against young people being able to become local councillors.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Local councils are responsible for services that affect daily life, like education, transport and housing.
- In all parts of the UK, individuals must be 18 or over to stand as a local councillor.
- 16 and 17 year olds can vote in local elections in Scotland and Wales, but they are not allowed to stand for election.
- To be a councillor, a person must live, work, own or rent property or be registered to vote in the area for 12 months.
- Youth Councils enable young people to express their views but do not hold legal decision-making power.
Keywords
Local council - a group elected to make decisions and provide services in a specific area, such as a town, city or borough
Local councillor - a person elected to represent their ward or division, and the people who live in it
Common misconception
Local councillors get a salary.
Local councillors do not get a salary. They are entitled to receive an allowance to cover costs associated with their role. This allowance is intended to reimburse them for time spent on council duties and is a basic allowance.
To help you plan your year 9 citizenship lesson on: Should young people have the right to stand in local elections?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 citizenship lesson on: Should young people have the right to stand in local elections?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the How can young people play an active role in democracy? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
can reach more people and decision-makers.
it has a clear goal and message.
keep momentum and check for results.
when you want to show mass public support in writing
when you want to get attention quickly in person
when you want to influence formal decisions in Parliament
when you want expert support and wider reach by an organisation
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a group elected to make decisions and give services in a specific area
a person elected to represent the people in their ward or division
the voting process to select a person for a public local position