How do elections in the UK work?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the different types of elections and identify the key steps in an election process.
Key learning points
- There are different types of elections in the UK including general, local, PCC, Mayoral and devolved elections.
- The Prime Minster calls general elections and request the monarch to dissolve Parliament.
- Election processes include nominating candidates, finalising manifestos, campaigning, voting and results.
- The electorate must be registered to vote in order to participate in elections
Keywords
Election - the voting process to select a person for a public position
Electorate - all the people in an area or country who are eligible to vote
Manifesto - a set of aims and intentions by a political party and its plans to achieve these goals
Common misconception
The only election in the UK is the general election.
There are many different elections including: general, local government, PCC, Mayoral and devolved parliament elections.
Teacher tip
Pupils can take part in mock or parallel elections along side the real ones to better understand how the election process works.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Local councils are allocated a through government funding, council tax and business rates.
Q2.Match the word to its definition:
Q3.What is this describing? Funds which are saved through underspending that can help local councils cover additional and unexpected costs in the future.
Q4.Local councils have the power to make decisions on all devolved matters, Which of the following are devolved matters for local councils?
Q5.How does central government allocate grants to local councils?
Q6.Community members can get their voice heard in their local area by in local elections or attending council meetings.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is an election?
Q2.Which of these elections does not take place in the UK?
Q3.Who has the power to call a general election?
Q4.What must people do before they can vote in an election?
Q5.A political party's set of aims and plans for government is called a .
Q6.Match the word to its correct definition.
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: How do elections in the UK work?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: How do elections in the UK work?, 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 Where does power reside in the UK? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.