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.
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.
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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.
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: Should the UK involve citizens more directly in democracy?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: Should the UK involve citizens more directly in democracy?, 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 How can politicians involve citizens in direct decision making? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
a request signed by many people asking the Government to act
a formal vote by the public on a single issue
a group of MPs or members of the House of Lords investigating a topic
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
a public vote on a specific question
a group of elected MPs who investigate an issue and hear public input
a group of people brought together to learn about a topic