in a democratic country people have...in a democratic country people have the: • right to vote •...

In a democratic country people have

the:

• Right to vote

• The right to protest and petition

• There is freedom of the Press

(newspapers and online/TV

news are allowed to report

news, including negative news

about the Government without

fear of fines or imprisonment).

This allows people access to

lots of different viewpoints.

Here are some examples of

democracy within your own work,

study and home-life:

• Appeals procedure within your

course or in work

• Receiving and giving feedback,

including the Learner Voice

Wales survey

• Systems and styles of

leadership and accountability

Voting, protesting and access to free

press are BASIC RIGHTS. These are

essential for people to be able to

hold the Government to account and

challenge the decisions they make

A form of government in which a ruler or

small clique wield absolute power (not

restricted by a constitution or laws)

A government that seeks to control the

population including their attitudes,

values and beliefs and political systems

of its population.

A form of government in which a Deity (a

God) is recognized as the supreme civil

ruler, the Deity's laws are interpreted by

ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs,

etc.); a government subject to religious

authority.

A system of government in which the

state plans and controls the economy

and a single -- often authoritarian -- party

holds power; state controls are imposed

with the elimination of private ownership

of property or capital while claiming to

make progress toward a higher social

order in which all goods are equally

shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).

A government that plans, produces and

distributes goods, in a bid to create a more

just and equal distribution of property and

labor; in actuality, most socialist

governments have ended up being no more

than dictatorships over workers by a ruling

elite.

A form of government voted for by the

people using elections, every few years.

Elected officials form the government and

the people can challenge the government

Match the country with the government type associated with it.

North Korea

Communist

Democracy Theocracy Autocratic / Oligarchy

Russia

Communist Democracy Theocracy Autocratic / Oligarchy

Iran

Communist Democracy Theocracy

Autocratic / Oligarchy

France


Vatican


Vietnam

Communist Democracy Theocracy

Autocratic / Oligarchy

Saudi Arabia


China

Communist Democracy

Theocracy Autocratic / Oligarchy

North Korea – Autocratic / Oligarchy, Russia – Democracy, Iran – Theocracy, France – Democracy, Vatican – Theocracy,

Vietnam – Communist, Saudi Arabia – Theocracy, China – Communist

The style of rule within a country has a

huge impact on how much freedom the

people of the country have. For

example, in Theocracies, you would

HAVE to follow the rule of the Priests,

who rule in the name of God. In

Dictatorships and Totalitarian states,

you cannot raise opposition to anything

the ruler says or does. Whereas in a

democracy you have a right to disagree

if you so wish.

Summary: In a democracy, if you feel

strongly about something that the

Government is doing, or that you feel

the Government is ignoring that needs

changing you can vote for a different

party, write or speak to your local MP,

use reputable online sites to join

petitions that put pressure on the

Government. An example of such a site

is SumOfUs.org. You can also attend

peaceful protests.

It is definitely worth noting however,

that some democracies are more

democratic than others. Also, many

democratic countries do not offer the

vote to all adult citizens. In the UK,

prisoners are not allowed to vote for

example.

If you want to influence how you and

others live, then voting in elections is a

key part. However, voting numbers are

falling, with roughly 1/3 of the voting

population not taking part in the last

election. If that 'silent third' had voted

they could have changed the face of

British politics.

Political parties spend lots of time and

energy working out what matters to

the people who vote for them. If for

example, more young voters starting

voting for a party then that party would

start paying greater attention to what

those voters felt was important in a bid

to secure future votes from them. If

you don't vote, you don't get heard.

We have laws to help create a fair, safe

and secure place to live and work.

These laws are made by the

democratic government and can be

challenged through the court system if

they are seen as unfair.

The UK has key legislation that

protects the most vulnerable within

society and ensures everyone has

basic human rights. These includes

the:

• Equality Act,

• Human Rights Act,

• Health and Safety at work Act

etc

• Right to a Fair Trial

• Right to education for all

children

Examples within work, study and

home-life of the Rule of Law:

• Specific laws covering your

industry

• Agreed ways of working,

policies and procedures

• Codes of conduct

• Anti-discrimination laws to

protect you when buying or

renting a house, within

employment, buying goods or

from joining private member’s

clubs.

The rule of law is fundamental to your

daily life as our laws form a framework

to protect you. If, for example, you

wanted to take time off work to spend

time with your new baby then laws are

in place to allow you to do this without

losing money from your company.

If you applied for a job and were turned

down on the basis of age, gender, race

or other protected characteristics then

laws are in place to tackle that

discrimination.

Without the Rule of Law only the

powerful would be protected.

This British Value refers to everyone's

right to freedom. As a British citizen

you are protected from enslavement,

forced labour or being locked up

without a fair trial.

Examples within society of Individual

Liberty:

• Equality and Human Rights

• Anti-slavery laws

• Right to a fair trial and an open

and transparent legal system


home-life:

• Freedom to choose your

religious beliefs, or lack of one.

• Freedom to express your

thoughts and opinions

• Freedom to be gay, lesbian or

transgender

• Having your own and others’

views, opinions, choices and

consent sought and respected.

Like all the British Values, each value

doesn't stand alone. People have

individual liberty as long as it doesn't

adversely affect others. Consider

freedom of speech for example.

With individual liberty comes your

freedom to wear what you want to

wear, be who you want to be and to

work and live in a system that will

protect you from unlawful working

conditions like sweatshops.

This British Value focuses on the

understanding that we don’t all share

the same beliefs and values and that

we all need to respect the values,

ideas and beliefs of others whilst not

imposing our own beliefs on others.

Examples within society:

• Equality Act - prohibits

discrimination on the grounds

of race or faith

• Incorporation of British Values

resources into every

educational course, designed to

increase awareness for the

need for tolerance.

• Religious and other leaders

talking on radio and tv after

incidents of hate crime, in a bid

to calm fears and increase

compassion and tolerance

towards others.


home-life:

• Prayer times or prayer rooms or

spaces made available to those

that need them within many

work places.

• Religious holidays

• Religious clothing

• TV and radio incorporating

aspects from all the main faiths,

not just Christianity.

in a democratic country people have...in a democratic country people have the: • right to vote •...

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