How can citizens change the law?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what tools citizens have to take action to change the law.
Key learning points
- Citizens in the UK have democratic tools to influence or change laws.
- Citizens can join lobbying groups to influence law change, like ASH did with the smoking ban.
- MPs hold surgeries so constituents can raise issues directly and influence change.
- Select committees gather public evidence to help shape recommendations and policy.
- Citizens can support Private Members’ bills by asking MPs to take up important causes.
Keywords
Lobbying - when an individual or a group who tries to persuade someone in Parliament to support a particular cause or change a law
Select committee - a group of members of a legislative body chosen to investigate and report on specific issues or topics
Surgery - a meeting held by an MP in their constituency to give people an opportunity to meet them and discuss matters of concern
Private Members’ bill - a proposal for a new law or change to an existing law introduced by a member of a legislative body who is not part of the government
Common misconception
Ordinary people have no real influence over the laws made in Parliament.
While politicians vote on laws, citizens play a powerful role in shaping them. By raising awareness, building public support, and working with their MPs, people outside of government have successfully influenced legal changes.
Teacher tip
Before teaching this lesson, review all case studies to ensure they are appropriate for your pupils. Not all examples need to be used, feel free to swap in alternative, age-appropriate examples that better suit your pupils and context.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the word advocate mean?
Q2.What is a grassroots campaign?
Q3.Which grassroots campaign promotes community, health, and wellbeing?
Q4.Put the stages of a grassroots campaign in the correct order.
Q5.What grassroots campaign in 2013 led the High Court to reverse the government’s decision?
Q6.Why are grassroots campaigns important?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is this describing? A proposed law under consideration by parliament.
Q2.Match the words with the correct definition.
a group or individual trying to persuade Parliament to change a law
MPs or Peers that investigate and report on specific issues
a meeting where an MP listens to local people's concerns and issues
Q3.Which lobbying group aimed to ban private possession of handguns?
Q4.Which of the following best shows how people can influence laws in the UK?
Q5.Lauren Backler went to her MP, Caroline Ansell, during a surgery to ask for help for which issue?
Q6.Which law was passed after Monica Lennon MSP's Private Members' Bill?
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: How can citizens change the law?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: How can citizens change the law?, 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
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 4 citizenship lessons from the What tools can we use to challenge injustice in our communities? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.