a type of democracy where citizens choose others to represent them, making important decisions on their behalf

the voting system used in the UK to elect members of some local councils and Members of Parliament, whereby the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins

the ability of the press to give information and express opinions

Does the UK’s democracy need reform?

Citizenship

Pupils develop their knowledge of democracy and the different types of democracy considering the strengths and weaknesses of the UK system. 

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the UK democratic system?

UK media offers a wide range of opinions, encouraging open debate

allows elected officials to make informed decisions for the public

simple and quick to understand, producing fast results

16- and 17-year-olds showed high engagement in the Scottish referendum

Match the advantages of democracy to the corresponding topic.

political disagreement never happens in democracy

political disagreements can slow decisions

political disagreements are rare in the UK

Which of these is a disadvantage of democracy in the UK? 

A weakness of {{}} the voting age in the UK is that 16- and 17-year-olds might be easily influenced.

the risk of spreading misinformation or fake news

politicians may feel forced to follow their party's stance

the election outcomes might not reflect the majority of voters choice

young people may lack the knowledge to make informed voting decisions

Which of these are a disadvantage of media freedom in the UK?

A {{}} of first-past-the-post is that smaller parties are underrepresented in government.

{{}} is a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf.

where the people decide on the policy directly

when people elect officials to make decisions on their behalf

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question

Match the terms with the correct definition.

What is the name of the electoral system in which a candidate or party is selected by gaining the most votes not a majority?

What age can you vote in the UK general election?

It allows the government to control the flow of information.

It is free from interference from government.

It guarantees that only positive news about the government is published.

Why is media freedom important in a democracy?

the specific geographical area that is represented by each MP.

a group of people who organise elections.

Starter Quiz