How do different countries govern themselves?
I can describe some different forms of government worldwide and investigate which are most effective.
How do different countries govern themselves?
I can describe some different forms of government worldwide and investigate which are most effective.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Democracies have many key features such as free and fair elections and a pluralistic system.
- There are different types of democracy such as representative and direct.
- Authoritarianism concentrates power in a leader or small elite, making decisions without considering the people's will.
- When evaluating a government system, we can consider criteria like rights protection and fairness for all.
Keywords
Democracy - a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf
Authoritarin regime - a system of government where leaders have complete control; people are expected to obey, often limiting individual freedoms
Common misconception
Democracies are always more efficient and quicker at making decisions than dictatorships.
While democracies can be slower in making decisions due to debates, elections, and checks on power, this doesn't mean they are less effective overall. Decisions involving multiple viewpoints can lead to more thoughtful and balanced outcomes.
To help you plan your year 11 citizenship lesson on: How do different countries govern themselves?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 citizenship lesson on: How do different countries govern themselves?, 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.
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Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the What are the different ways we can become involved in politics? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
how old you have to be to vote in a general election
the number of consituencies in the UK
the number of areas a citizen can vote in at a general election
the average number of eligible voters in a constituency
Exit quiz
5 Questions
a system of government where citizens vote in regular, fair elections
a system of government in which leaders have complete control
a system that allows diverse groups and opinions to coexist