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
Communist Democracy Theocracy Autocratic / Oligarchy
Vatican
Communist Democracy Theocracy Autocratic / Oligarchy
Vietnam
Communist Democracy Theocracy
Autocratic / Oligarchy
Saudi Arabia
Communist Democracy Theocracy Autocratic / Oligarchy
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
Examples within work, study and
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.
Examples within work, study and
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.