1. Living in a Democracy This section focuses on the following concepts:
Participation
Representation
Rights and Responsibilities

2. Living in a Democracy It can be divided into three main sections:
Politics
Pressure Groups
Trade Unions

3. Living in a Democracy It can be divided into three main sections:
Politics
Pressure Groups
Trade Unions

4. 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

5. Politics – What you will learn:
Rights and Responsibilities in a democracy
Right to vote
Representation
Electing an MP – First Past the Post system
Advantages and Disadvantages of the First Past the Post system

6. Politics – What you will learn:
Electing an MP – Additional Member System
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Additional Member System
Under-representation of women and ethnic minorities
How representatives help their constituents – MPs, MSPs and councillors
Ways in which people can participate in politics

7. Introduction - What is a democracy?

8. What is a democracy?
This is a way of running a country where people have the right to choose who represents them.

9. 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.

10. 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?

11. 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?

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Questions… What does “freedom of speech” mean?
Who decides who rules a country in a democracy?
Should people be allowed to criticise their government? Explain your answer.
Are there any people in society that are not allowed to vote? Do agree with this? Explain your answer.

15. Task…
RIGHT
RESPONSIBILITY

16. The Right to Vote
British citizens (except the insane and long-term prisoners) have the right to vote if they are:
Over 18
On the electoral
register (list of voters)

17. Responsibilities of voters
Voters have the responsibility to:
Use their vote wisely
Accept the outcome of an election

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. HW - Past Paper Question
Describe the rights and responsibilities that voters in Britain have.
8 marks
Use the PEE method:
Point
Explain
Example