Making Your Voice Heard: Citizen Participation and Community Action
Citizens do not just vote once every few years. Learn the many ways people take part in democracy and hold those in power to account, from petitions and lobbying to pressure groups and community action.
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How can you be heard? 📢
Living in a democracy means more than voting once every few years. Citizens can influence decisions and hold those in power to account in many different ways. This module covers those ways, the groups that give people a voice, and how citizens work together to improve their communities.
Ways to take part 🔑
Four actions run through this topic. Learn them first.
Two kinds of action ⚖️
Citizens can act through the system or take more direct action.
Match the action 🔗
- Petition
- Lobbying
- Standing for election
- Volunteering
- A signed request for a change
- Persuading a person in power to support your view
- Putting yourself forward to be elected
- Giving your time freely to help others
Which action? 🎯
You gather thousands of signatures to show support for a change in the law. Which action is this?
- A petition
- Lobbying
- Volunteering
- Standing for election
Groups give you a voice 💬
People are stronger together. A pressure group campaigns to influence decisions on one issue. A trade union represents and protects the interests of workers. A charity raises money and support for a good cause. A voluntary group gives its time freely to help the community.
Match the group 🔀
- Pressure group
- Trade union
- Charity
- Voluntary group
- Campaigns to influence decisions on one issue
- Represents and protects the interests of workers
- Raises money and support for a good cause
- Gives its time freely to help the community
Holding power to account ✅
Which TWO of these are ways a citizen can hold those in power to account? Choose all that apply.
- Standing for election
- Lobbying an MP
- Ignoring all the news
- Never voting in any election
Running a local campaign 🪜
An interactive activity.
Complete the sentences 🧩
A formal request signed by many people is a _____. Trying to persuade an MP to support your view is called _____. An organisation that represents workers is a _____. A group that campaigns on a single issue is a _____. Giving your time freely to help your community is _____.
Spot the participation 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Which group? 🔍
A group that represents and protects the interests of workers is a what?
- A trade union
- A charity
- A pressure group
- A political party
Choose the action 🧭
An interactive activity.
Bring about change ✍️
An interactive activity.