Issues in Government and Democracy

Mike Kirby

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Ideal for GCSE and beyond

Drawing on the theme of elections, this resource for post-16 education explores key issues about how we are governed and what democracy means today. The main aim is to help young people, who are at or near voting age, to extend their understanding of how the electoral process works and how they can contribute to and benefit from the workings of democratic government. Summary sheets provide relevant background information, while activities encourage debate and open learning, making the resource ideal for General Studies or a PSHE course in the sixth form.

The resource can also be used to support the learning process by staging a school mock election. The issues covered in the resource might be incorporated in the mock election campaigns and debates, while the process of organising the election will illustrate many of the practical and theoretical difficulties of making democracy work.

Issues in Government and Democracy offers:

• topical debates for post-16 studies
• explanation as to what it means to be a citizen
• an invaluable guide to the electoral process
• special sections on the media and the impact of Information and Communication Technology
• comparisons with other political systems
• an easy-to-use teaching resource for non-specialists
• summary sheets and activity forms
• support material for a school mock election.

Contents

• Introduction
• Why have elections?
• Is our electoral system fair?
• How are elections decided?
• What role do the media play in elections?
• Who governs the UK today?
• Who are our political representatives?
• What is democratic government?
• Why obey the state?
• What is citizenship?
• What role do pressure groups play in a democracy?