Living in a Democracy

• This section focuses on the following concepts:

1. Participation2. Representation3. Rights and Responsibilities

Living in a Democracy

• It can be divided into three main sections:

1. Politics2. Pressure Groups3. Trade Unions

Living in a Democracy

• It can be divided into three main sections:

1. Politics2. Pressure Groups3. Trade Unions

Politics

• Complete the following paragraph using the word bank below

• The UK is a democracy and people have the right to choose their __________ through regular elections with a choice of political ______ and free media. However, people also have a __________to act within the law and to exercise their rights by ___________ in the political process.

• Responsibility Representatives Parties Participating

Politics – What you will learn:

1. Rights and Responsibilities in a democracy

2. Right to vote3. Representation4. Electing an MP – First Past the Post

system5. Advantages and Disadvantages of

the First Past the Post system

Politics – What you will learn:

6. Electing an MP – Additional Member System

7. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Additional Member System

8. Under-representation of women and ethnic minorities

9. How representatives help their constituents – MPs, MSPs and councillors

10.Ways in which people can participate in politics

Introduction - What is a democracy?

What is a democracy?

• This is a way of running a country where people have the right to choose who represents them.

What is a democracy?

• This is a way of running a country where people have the right to choose who represents them.

• This happens though regular elections, a choice of political parties and free media.

Different kinds of democracy

• In a democracy, everyone has a say in the running of the country.

• In direct democracies, all people in an area vote on every issue.

• Can you think why this would be difficult in Scotland?

Different kinds of democracy

• Can you think why this would be difficult in Scotland?

• Too many people would be voting all the time!

• It’s hard enough getting people to vote once every 4 years!

• What do we do instead?

Different kinds of democracy

• What do we do instead?

Representative democracy

• This is where people in a country elect people to speak on their behalf.

Rights and Responsibilities in a Democracy

• People have rights in a democracy

• However, people have the responsibility to act within the law and exercise their rights by taking part in the political process.

Questions…

1. What does “freedom of speech” mean?2. Who decides who rules a country in a

democracy?3. Should people be allowed to criticise

their government? Explain your answer.4. Are there any people in society that are

not allowed to vote? Do agree with this? Explain your answer.

Task…

RIGHT RESPONSIBILITY

The Right to Vote

• British citizens (except the insane and long-term prisoners) have the right to vote if they are:

1. Over 182. On the electoral

register (list of voters)

Responsibilities of voters

• Voters have the responsibility to:

1. Use their vote wisely2. Accept the outcome of an election

Right to Stand as a Candidate

• RIGHT - All British citizens over 21 have the right to stand as a candidate

• RESPONSIBILITY – campaign within the rules, act honestly and legally

Right to Protest

• RIGHT – to form pressure groups and take part in meetings, demonstrations and other forms of campaigning

• RESPONSIBILITY – respect other people’s opinions, protest peacefully

Right to a Fair Trial

• RIGHT – To be charged within 24 hours and brought to trial within a certain amount of time. Right to be defended by a lawyer.

• RESPONSIBILITY – obey the law, serve on a jury if called, tell the truth to police or in court

Freedom of Speech

• RIGHT – To criticise the government if they disagree with policies or actions

• RESPONSIBILITY – not to slander (lie about) other people or to incite religious or racial hatred

Freedom of the Media

• RIGHT – Newspapers, TV and radio have right to criticise government. Under the Freedom of Information Act the media have access to more information about the work of the government

• RESPONSIBILITY – to report facts accurately and fairly and not to libel (tell lies about) people or to incite hatred

Rights and Responsibilities

• The table lists rights people have. Fill in the responsibilities that go along with these rights.

Right Responsibility

Right to vote

Right to stand as a candidate

Right to protest

Right to a fair trial

Freedom of speech

Freedom of the media

HW - Past Paper Question

• Describe the rights and responsibilities that voters in Britain have.

8 marksUse the PEE method:

Point

Explain

Example