Democracy in the UK
Democracy means 'rule by the people'.
In a democracy, like the UK, the people elect the A group of people who have the authority to govern a country. and have a say in how it is run.
They do this by voting in A process that allows the people to vote for who they want to represent them locally and nationally..
Watch - Explore getting involved in democracy
What is democracy? Learn more about participating in democracy.
VOICEOVER: Have you heard of democracy? What is it?
CHILD 1: Democracy is when people have a say on how they want their country run.
CHILD 2: And it lets us elect someone who’s called a Prime Minister.
CHILD 3: And the leader decides on important policies.
VOICEOVER: The word democracy means “rule by the people”, meaning each of us has a say in how our country is run. We do this by voting in elections for people in different political parties. Elections take place all over the country and we vote for someone in these parties to represent us in parliament. The party with the most elected members will form the UK government.
Although in this country we have a ‘monarch’, another word for king or queen, The UK Government is led by the Prime Minister and they are in charge!
What do you think members of parliament help to do?
CHILD 2: They like listen to their town’s ideas and then they represent them in the Houses of Parliament.
CHILD 1: MPs help us and support our ideas to get them to the government to make them into rules.
CHILD 4: They ask questions and ask for changes to be made.
VOICEOVER: MPs do lots of different things, from answering questions, to debating and voting on UK laws to protect us. Why do you think it’s important for us to have democracy?
CHILD 3: It’s important for people to have a say on who their leaders should be.
CHILD 2: It gives us freedom of speech.
CHILD 4: It can bring about change in lots of areas that can affect everyday people.
CHILD 5: t helps things to be fair and so we have equality.
CHILD 2: It lets us make and change laws that protect us from harm.
CHILD 1: People can vote.
VOICEOVER: Being able to vote is a key part of democracy. Voting is a way to have your say on things that matter to you, and it means that everyone can be involved in important decision-making.
Can you think of a time you’ve voted?
CHILD 3: We vote on what our treats should be spent on, what movie to watch.
CHILD 2: I voted for form captain - we have to choose someone that we think will be sensible.
CHILD 1: I voted for the student voice in our school so that I can have a school which is happier and nicer.
VOICEOVER: Having democracy means we can all play a part in how our country is run and have a say in the things that affect us.
What things are important to you, either in your local community or the country as a whole? It’s never too early to get involved and have a say!
What will you see in a democracy?
In the UK we have Different groups of people that aim to gain political power by nominating candidates to compete in elections..
In a When people of a country vote to elect Members of Parliament candidates from each party campaign to be elected in their own areas.
The person with the most votes in each area becomes a The people in parliament who represent citizens at a national level ('MP').
The party with the most MPs in The group of people who work on behalf of citizens to make sure that the government are running the country properly. forms the Government. They are in charge.
The government leader is called the The head of the government..
People in local areas can also vote for someone who will help to deal with local issues.
They are called Members of the local government council who are responsible for looking after towns and other smaller areas..
What are government responsibilities?
The UK Government has lots of different The things that you are supposed to do.. These responsibilities are divided up between national and local government.
National government is responsible for deciding how the country is run and for managing essential services that may be needed by everyone.
Local government is responsible for managing and maintaining services for people in local areas.
Why is democracy important?
- It maintains law and order - We have laws that are created by and voted on by MPs we elect. We all have to follow them as they help keep us all safe.
- It provides freedom of speech - We have the right to say what we think about something as long as we do not say anything hurtful to others.
- It helps achieve equality - Living in a democracy helps us to treat each other fairly and equally.
Did you know?
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are part of the United Kingdom and have their own parliaments, (called an assembly in Northern Ireland), that deal with certain local affairs.
How can you get involved in democracy?
In England, the age for voting is 18. However, there are other ways to get involved!
Image caption, Form a school council
Having a school council is a great way for pupils to give their opinions on decisions that affect them in their school.
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Activities
Design your own campaign poster
Imagine you are running in an election to become an MP.
On a piece of card or paper have a go at making your own campaign poster.
Include the following on your poster:
- Who you are
- Three things in your area that are important to you
- Why people should vote for you to be elected - what would you do for them?
You could include a photo or drawing of yourself too!
Democracy quiz
Myths about secondary school
Are you starting secondary school after the summer? Find out what's true and what isn’t from students who've been through it!
More on Understanding the world around me
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