Year 8 - Citizenship
How can we exercise democratic rights without a vote?
Why was the struggle for the vote important today?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils analyse how political rights have changed over time considering important campaigns such as the fight for female suffrage. They examine why voting matters and consider what role they can have in democracy prior to being eligible to vote.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain what democratic rights are and how to exercise them, even if you am not eligible to vote yet.
Key Notes
- Democratic rights are fundamental freedoms and entitlements needed to sustain political democracy.
- There are several ways you can exercise your democratic rights, even if you cannot vote.
Vocabulary To Learn
- human rights: basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to
- democratic rights: fundamental freedoms and entitlements needed to maintain a democratic society
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Voting is the only way you can exercise your democratic rights.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Democratic rights are fundamental freedoms and entitlements needed to sustain political democracy. There are several ways you can exercise your democratic rights, even if you cannot vote.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'human rights'
basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Voting is the only way you can exercise your democratic rights. Correction: There are several ways you can exercise your democratic rights, even if you cannot vote. You could: contact your local councillor or Member of Parliament (MP); express your opinion; join a peaceful protest or pressure group or join a political party.
More Lessons In This Unit
- How did the Chartists affect the political rights we have today? Study Guide
- How have our political rights changed over time? Study Guide
- Should 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in elections? Study Guide
- Which methods were most successful in the fight for female suffrage? Study Guide
- Why does voting matter? Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 8 Citizenship guide library.