Does the UK’s democracy need reform?
I can evaluate the pros and cons of democracy in the UK.
Does the UK’s democracy need reform?
I can evaluate the pros and cons of democracy in the UK.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- There are both pros and cons to the current form of democracy in the UK.
- Electoral reform could improve democracy in the UK, for example, lowering the voting age and increasing referendums.
Keywords
Representative democracy - a type of democracy where citizens choose others to represent them, making important decisions on their behalf
First-past-the-post - 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
Media freedom - the ability of the press to give information and express opinions
Common misconception
Democracy is not either strong or weak.
There are different features and areas of democracy, such as the type of democracy, electoral system, media and voting age. Each of these will have their own strengths and weaknesses that come together to form an overall judgement on democracy.
Equipment
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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Starter quiz
6 Questions
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
Exit quiz
6 Questions
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