Global Citizenship - 4GL1 PearsonEdexcel

Citizenship In Action (Politics And Governance)

Overview

Knowing how democracy, sovereignty, rights and international law work is only half the picture. The other half is what a citizen actually does with that knowledge: which vote to cast, which party to join, which petition to sign, when a protest changes a government's mind and when it does not.

In this lesson you will study the practical tools of political participation, voting and elections, campaigning, petitions, lobbying, protest and standing for office, examine how education, schools, NGOs and social movements build the understanding that action depends on, and look honestly at cases where political citizenship action has failed to change anything.

Objectives

  1. Ways in which citizens in some countries can campaign for global political change or intervention in places where protection may be needed
  2. Understanding how education promotes an understanding of significant global issues and concerns
  3. Recognising and considering examples of where citizenship action has failed to make a difference in global politics and global change
  4. Key philosophical differences between political parties; electoral processes and systems
  5. Understanding the importance of schools, charities, NGOs, social movements and international organisations in raising awareness of and campaigning for political change

Lesson Note

Political power in a democracy is not held only by elected officials between elections. Citizens have a range of recognised routes to influence decisions, hold power to account, and, where the system allows it, become decision makers themselves. Each tool works differently, reaches a different audience, and suits a different kind of issue.

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Citizenship In Action (Politics And Governance). Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

  1. In a first-past-the-post electoral system, a seat is won by: A) The party with the most votes nationally B) The candidate with the most votes in that specific area, even without an overall majority there C) Whichever candidate the government appoints D) The candidate with the most party members Answer: B
  2. Which of the following best defines 'lobbying'? A) Voting in a national election B) Directly seeking to influence lawmakers or officials, usually on behalf of an organisation or cause C) Standing as a candidate for office D) Organising a public protest march Answer: B
  3. Civil disobedience is best described as: A) Voting for a losing candidate B) A form of protest that deliberately breaks a law to draw attention to an issue, accepting the legal consequences C) A type of petition D) A government policy limiting free assembly Answer: B
  4. Which of the following is most likely to explain why a large, well-organised petition fails to change a government's policy? A) The petition had too many signatures B) The government judges the political cost of the change outweighs the cost of ignoring the petition C) Petitions are illegal in most democracies D) Petitions can only be submitted once per year Answer: B
  5. Proportional representation, compared with first-past-the-post, tends to produce: A) A parliament whose seat shares more closely match national vote shares, often resulting in coalition governments B) A guarantee that the largest party always wins a majority C) The abolition of political parties D) A ban on independent candidates Answer: A

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Practice Mock Questions

Want to practice mock questions on Citizenship In Action (Politics And Governance)? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.

Download The App On Google Playstore

Everything you need to excel in your exams

Green Bridge CBT Mobile App
Personalized AI Learning Chat Assistant
200,000+ Past Papers Across IGCSE, JAMB, WAEC & NECO
Over 3000 Lesson Notes
Offline Support - Learn Anytime, Anywhere
Green Bridge Timetable
Literature Summaries & Potential Questions
Track Your Performance & Progress
In-depth Explanations for Comprehensive Learning