New
New
Year 10

What roles can citizens play in policy shaping?

I can give examples of ways citizens can support policy shaping in the UK.

New
New
Year 10

What roles can citizens play in policy shaping?

I can give examples of ways citizens can support policy shaping in the UK.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Policies are aimed to address issues such as healthcare.
  2. Policies are shaped through proposals, debates and consultations.
  3. Citizens shape policies directly by voting and protesting.
  4. Citizens shape policies indirectly by petitions and participating in consultations.

Keywords

  • Policies - courses of action or goals that people plan to carry out or are in the process of carrying out

  • Lobbying - when an individual or a group tries to persuade someone in Parliament to support a particular policy or campaign; lobbying can be done in person, by sending letters and emails or via social media

Common misconception

If a petition gets over 100,000 signatures and is debated in Parliament, it means the law will definitely change.

In the UK, Parliament agrees to debate any petition that gets over 100,000 signatures, but the decision to change a policy or create a new law is still up to the Government.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What roles can citizens play in policy shaping?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

For indirect methods choose a real world example, such as a petition or campaign, and guide pupils to explore each stage of the process. Support them to analyse each stage so they can review where change and influence occurs throughout.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is one way citizens can directly influence policy?
writing a news article
Correct answer: voting in a referendum
watching political debates
listening to politicians speak
Q2.
Which of the following best describes direct democracy?
A system where elected representatives make decisions on behalf of the citizens.
Correct answer: A system where citizens vote on laws and policies themselves.
A system in which a monarch has complete control over government decisions.
A system where religious leaders control the Government.
Q3.
In a direct democracy, people help shape decisions by on key issues.
Correct Answer: voting, deciding
Q4.
Which of these is an example of a popular initiative?
the Prime Minister proposing a new law
Correct answer: citizens collecting signatures for a policy vote
MPs voting in Parliament
a law passed without debate
Q5.
Which country is best known for using direct democracy regularly?
France
Correct answer: Switzerland
the UK
the US
Q6.
Match the correct term to its definition.
Correct Answer:democracy,a system where citizens elect representatives to make laws & decisions

a system where citizens elect representatives to make laws & decisions

Correct Answer:referendum,a general vote by the electorate on a specific issue

a general vote by the electorate on a specific issue

Correct Answer:representative democracy,a form of government where elected representatives make decisions

a form of government where elected representatives make decisions

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a policy?
A law passed by Parliament.
A personal opinion shared by the public.
Correct answer: A plan or course of action made by the Government to deal with an issue.
A summary of political promises.
Q2.
How does the UK Government shape policies?
by allowing only the monarch to make final decisions
by holding referendums on every issue
by letting judges create new laws in court
Correct answer: by proposing laws and making decisions through government departments
Q3.
Match the term to its definition.
Correct Answer:lobbying,meeting with politicians to persuade them on an issue

meeting with politicians to persuade them on an issue

Correct Answer:petition,a formal written request signed by people to show support for a cause

a formal written request signed by people to show support for a cause

Correct Answer:public consultation,when the Government seeks the public's view before making decisions

when the Government seeks the public's view before making decisions

Correct Answer:demonstration,a public gathering or protest to express strong views on an issue

a public gathering or protest to express strong views on an issue

Q4.
Citizens can shape policies by signing petitions or attending public consultations.
Correct Answer: indirectly
Q5.
Which statement is correct about petitions in the UK?
Once a petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the law must change.
Petitions with 10,000 signatures are always debated in Parliament.
Any petition will automatically become law if it gets enough support.
Correct answer: Petitions with 100,000 signatures must be debated, this could lead to changes.
Q6.
Which of the following is a direct method for citizens to shape policies?
signing an online petition
Correct answer: voting in a referendum
taking part in a public consultation
sharing a campaign on social media