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New
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Year 7

What is a democratic community?

I can explain what a democracy is and what key features democratic communities have.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 7

What is a democratic community?

I can explain what a democracy is and what key features democratic communities have.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A community is a group of people living or existing together sharing common values, interests and ways of doing things.
  2. In a democracy you have more rights and you can influence decision makers and those in power.
  3. Democracies have key features such as free and fair elections and protected human rights.

Keywords

  • Democracy - a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf

  • Community - a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

  • Human rights - the basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to

  • Suffrage - the right to vote

Common misconception

Democracy is just about voting for leaders and making decisions by majority rule.

Democracy is about fairness, equality and everyone having a voice in how their society is run.

Make sure pupils understand key democratic features such as 'voting', 'representation' and 'freedom of speech' before moving onto exploring how to make communities more democratic.
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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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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following organisations fight for the rights and fair treatment of children?
Correct answer: The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Correct answer: The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The Trussell Trust Local Food Bank
Q2.
Fairness is a matter of opinion. True or false?
Correct Answer: True, Correct, Yes, T
Q3.
Match the word to its definition.
Correct Answer:active citizen,a person who makes a difference in their community

a person who makes a difference in their community

Correct Answer:society,people living together in an ordered community

people living together in an ordered community

Correct Answer:campaign,actions organised by an individual or a group to achieve an aim

actions organised by an individual or a group to achieve an aim

Correct Answer:laws,rules that are used to order the way in which a society behaves

rules that are used to order the way in which a society behaves

Correct Answer:rules,a set of guidelines that tell people what is and what is not allowed

a set of guidelines that tell people what is and what is not allowed

Correct Answer:school council,a group of pupils who act as representatives for their fellow pupils

a group of pupils who act as representatives for their fellow pupils

Q4.
Fairness involves a process to decide what is and isn't fair, considering if everyone can achieve the same outcomes. True or false?
Correct Answer: True, Yes, Correct, T
Q5.
What does the organisation UNICEF aim to protect?
the right to an education only
the basic rights of animals
the basic rights of adults
Correct answer: the basic rights of children
Q6.
Which definition of fairness is correct?
Correct answer: Treating people equally or in a way that is right or reasonable.
Treating everyone the same.
Treating everyone equally.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is the best definition of community?
a group of people
a fair and free democracy
having rights and responsibilities
Correct answer: a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic
Q2.
Match the word to its definition.
Correct Answer:democracy,a system of government in which we vote in regular, fair elections

a system of government in which we vote in regular, fair elections

Correct Answer:human rights ,the basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to

the basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to

Correct Answer:suffrage,the right to vote

the right to vote

Q3.
Which is not a key feature of a democracy?
protection of basic human rights
free and fair elections
Correct answer: one person, or a small group of individuals, making the rules
Q4.
True or false? In a democracy, you have more rights and can influence decision-makers and those in power.
Correct Answer: True, Yes, Correct, T
Q5.
Why might a community hold a vote?
It is the easiest way to find out who doesn’t like you.
They might be too young to fully take part in democracy.
Correct answer: It is the fairest way to make a decision.
So that one person will have the final decision.
Q6.
True or false? Equality means giving everyone what they need based on their individual situation, rather than treating everyone exactly the same.
Correct Answer: False, No, Wrong, Incorrect, N