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.
Who would you turn to
- Pressure group
- Trade union
- Charity
- Voluntary group
- You want one planned bypass stopped and nothing else on the agenda
- Your shifts have been cut and you want your case argued at work
- You want to raise funds so a hospital ward can buy new equipment
- You have a free Saturday and want to help clear the canal towpath
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
Put the steps of running a local campaign in order.
- Identify the issue you want to change
- Gather support from other people
- Lobby or petition the decision-makers
- Use the media to spread your message
Ways to be heard
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
Tap the TWO actions that are forms of citizen participation.
- Signing a petition for a local change.
- Volunteering at a community centre.
- Ignoring every election.
- Never reading the news.
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
For each aim, choose the best action or group.
- You want to represent your area and help make decisions directly. What should you do?
- Workers at a factory want better pay and conditions. What should they join?
- You want to persuade your MP to vote for a change in the law. What action is this?
Bring about change
Explain how a citizen could work to bring about a change in their local community.
- Name two actions a citizen could take
- Explain how joining a group could give them more of a voice
- Say how the media could help their cause