Government and Democracy
Democracy is a system of government where citizens choose their leaders by voting, and power comes from the people.
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Democracy is a system of government where citizens choose their leaders by voting, and power comes from the people.
- Free and fair elections
- Citizens can vote and stand for office
- Majority rule with minority rights
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Government and Democracy?
Within Economics & Civics, which covers money, markets, business, government, law and citizenship: how societies are organised and run, this topic explains Government and Democracy. Economics and civics topics explain how money, markets, laws and government affect people, so each topic here pairs a clear definition with a model.
Check that you can explain Government and Democracy in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Government and Democracy helps you read the news critically and weigh up policies, choices and arguments about society.
Government and Democracy in detail
Government is the system of people and institutions that make and enforce rules for a country. Democracy means "rule by the people": citizens have power, usually by voting for representatives in free and fair elections. Features include free speech, a free press, equal rights, the rule of law and protection of minorities.
In a direct democracy, citizens vote on issues directly (as in referendums), while in a representative democracy, they elect people to decide on their behalf. Democracy allows peaceful change of leaders and accountability, but can be slow and may be affected by low turnout and misinformation. Active participation keeps democracy healthy.
How the interactive helps you understand Government and Democracy
Watch the seating plan in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the seating plan responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Government and Democracy.
Real-life uses and examples
- Give a balanced answer about Government and Democracy by considering more than one point of view.
- Relate Government and Democracy to a news story about prices, jobs, elections or government spending.
- Use Government and Democracy to weigh up the pros and costs of a policy or decision.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing a short-term effect with a long-term one.
- Giving an opinion without evidence or a clear economic or civic reason.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Government and Democracy
What is Government and Democracy?
Democracy is a system of government where citizens choose their leaders by voting, and power comes from the people.
What are the most important points about Government and Democracy?
The main points are: Free and fair elections; Citizens can vote and stand for office; Majority rule with minority rights.
Why is Government and Democracy useful?
Understanding Government and Democracy helps you read the news critically and weigh up policies, choices and arguments about society.
How can I practise Government and Democracy?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Government and Democracy?
Related topics in Economics & Civics include Political Parties, The Judiciary and Courts, Rule of Law.