1.5 Democracy and Participation

• Democracy is a system of government where power resides with the people
• Liberal democracy ensures individual rights are protected alongside representative governance

  True
• What are the three key types of democracy?

  Direct, Representative, Liberal
• The UK's MPs are elected to represent citizens in the House of Commons

  True
• The FPTP system tends to favor larger parties
• Match the electoral system with its example:

  FPTP ↔️ UK general elections

  PR ↔️ Scottish Parliament elections

  AV ↔️ Some local elections in the UK
• Political participation ensures the government is responsive to the will of the people.


  True
• Match the type of democracy with its example:

  Direct Democracy ↔️ Switzerland

  Representative Democracy ↔️ United Kingdom

  Liberal Democracy ↔️ United States
• Electoral systems are used to translate votes into seats
• Methods of political participation in the UK

  1️⃣ Voting

  2️⃣ Joining political parties or pressure groups

  3️⃣ Contacting elected representatives

  4️⃣ Protesting and campaigning
• Match the type of democracy with its characteristics:

  Direct Democracy ↔️ Citizens directly vote on policies and laws

  Representative Democracy ↔️ Citizens elect representatives to make decisions

  Liberal Democracy ↔️ Upholds individual rights and freedoms
• Match the model of democracy with its example:

  Direct Democracy ↔️ Switzerland

  Representative Democracy ↔️ United Kingdom

  Liberal Democracy ↔️ United States
• Order the key features of a liberal democracy in the UK:

  1️⃣ The rule of law

  2️⃣ Judicial review

  3️⃣ Free and fair elections
• In the First-Past-The-Post system, the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins the seat.
• In the UK, citizens can vote in local, national, and European elections to elect representatives.
• In a direct democracy, citizens vote directly on policies and laws.
• Liberal democracy combines representative governance with individual rights and freedoms.


  True
• The First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system can lead to disproportionate outcomes.


  True
• What are examples of elections where citizens vote in the UK?

  General elections, local elections
• Match the challenge to democracy with its description:

  Voter apathy ↔️ Lack of interest in elections and political engagement

  Disinformation ↔️ False information spreading online and offline

  Undemocratic procedures ↔️ Processes that limit fair participation

  Social divisions ↔️ Unequal access to political influence
• Steps to strengthen democracy in the UK

  1️⃣ Civic education initiatives

  2️⃣ Reducing social divisions
• Which country uses direct democracy as an example?

  Switzerland
• The UK combines elements of representative and liberal democracy


  True
• In a direct democracy, citizens vote directly on policies and laws
• What electoral system is used in UK general elections?

  First-Past-The-Post
• Proportional Representation systems aim for a closer match between votes and seats.


  True
• Arrange the methods of political participation in the UK from simplest to most complex:

  1️⃣ Voting

  2️⃣ Joining political parties

  3️⃣ Contacting elected representatives

  4️⃣ Protesting and campaigning
• The UK is a representative democracy with liberal elements ensuring individual rights.


  True
• The UK combines elements of representative and liberal democracy.
• Match the electoral system with its description:

  First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) ↔️ The candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins the seat

  Proportional Representation (PR) ↔️ Seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes received

  Alternative Vote (AV) ↔️ Voters rank candidates, with lower-ranked eliminated until one has over 50%
• Political participation ensures that the government is responsive to the people
• Civic education is especially important for addressing voter apathy
• Liberal democracy upholds individual rights and freedoms


  True
• The UK is a representative democracy
• What are electoral systems used for in a representative democracy?

  To translate votes into seats
• What is political participation in a democracy?

  Citizen engagement in politics
• What is the defining characteristic of democracy?

  Power resides with the people
• What is the primary difference between direct and representative democracy?

  Citizen decision-making power
• What is the purpose of electoral systems in a representative democracy?

  To translate votes into seats
• Why do wealthier individuals tend to have higher voter turnout?

  More resources and access