What does it mean to live in a democracy?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the main features of representative democracy and explore the issues around balancing democratic values with our rights.
Key learning points
- Democracy means ‘rule of the people’, where citizens hold political power.
- Representative democracy allows elected individuals to make decisions on behalf of the public.
- Democracy is based on core values such as freedom, justice, participation, accountability, tolerance and human rights.
- Balancing democratic values with rights involves protecting freedoms like speech while preventing things like abuse.
- This balance is kept through laws like the Human Rights Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010, alongside judicial oversight.
Keywords
Representative democracy - a type of democracy where citizens choose others to represent them in making important decisions on their behalf
Democratic values - the fundamental principles that guide democratic systems of governance and ensure the protection of individual rights and the fair participation of all citizens in political life
Common misconception
Democracy is just about voting.
Democracy is about more than just voting. Democratic values include freedom of speech, the right to protest and freedom to assemble etc.
Teacher tip
You could explore or demonstrate the different values of democracy in your local community or school by using different research methods or role-play.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which Act protects people from discrimination in schools, workplaces and services?
Q2.Order the following steps in how the UK uses international human rights.
Q3.Match the legal support route with what it offers.
helps parties find agreement without going to court
can award damages or issue injunctions
checks if decisions made by public bodies are lawful
Q4.The UK has signed up to the UDHR, which sets out human rights that apply to everyone.
Q5.Which of these would most likely handle a complaint about unfair treatment at work?
Q6.What year was the UDHR signed?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word with its definition.
when citizens make decisions directly
when citizens choose people to act on their behalf
the fundamental principles that guide democratic systems of governance
Q2.What year was the Human Rights Act introduced in the UK?
Q3.Democracy is based on core values such as freedom, justice, participation, accountability, tolerance and rights.
Q4.What was introduced in 1215 to limit the monarch’s power and protect the rights of barons and free men?
Q5.Balancing democratic values with rights involves protecting like speech, while preventing things like abuse.
Q6.Match the start of the sentence with its ending.
for leaders.
representative democracy.
the press.
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: What does it mean to live in a democracy?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: What does it mean to live in a 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.
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 Practising what we have learnt unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.