Ways people can participate in a democracy

• Ways people can participate in politics

  • Voting in elections
  • Joining a political party
  • Standing for election
  • Exercising the freedom of speech
  • Joining a pressure group
• Voting in elections

  Everyone over the age of 18, in some cases aged 16+, can vote in different elections such as UK general Elections, Scottish Parliament Elections, local council elections or in referendums on important national issues
• Joining a political party

  Members of the public may choose to join a political party such as the SWP, contribute money to the party's funds and support the party during an election campaign
• Standing for election

  If you support a political party strongly, you could explore the possibility of standing for election for that party to become either an MP, MSP or councillor. If you do not support any political party strongly, you could stand for election as an independent candidate.
• Exercising the freedom of speech

  This could involve being part of a protest march or demonstration, communicating with an elected representative or sending an e-mail to a local or national news newspaper about an important issue
• Joining a pressure group

  Members of the public may choose to join a pressure group such as Greenpeace, contribute money to the group's funds