Starter quiz
- Match the word with its correct definition.
- NGO⇔a non-governmental organisation that often works for social causes ✓
- judiciary⇔the branch of government that interprets and applies laws ✓
- active citizenship⇔participating in civic duties to improve society ✓
- European Union⇔political and economic union of 27 European countries ✓
- United Nations⇔an international organisation promoting peace and cooperation ✓
- What do we call a political system in which citizens have the right to vote?
- 'democracy ' ✓
- Which of the following is a key purpose of human rights legislation?
- To promote economic policies.
- To protect the rights and freedoms of individuals. ✓
- To enforce religious practices.
- To regulate international trade.
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- Which of the following is not considered a fundamental human right under international law?
- The right to a fair trial.
- The right to freedom of speech.
- The right to own unlimited private property. ✓
- The right to education.
- The right to work.
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- Which of the following is a key characteristic of a dictatorship?
- Regular, free and fair elections.
- Power is concentrated in the hands of one leader or a small group. ✓
- Freedom of speech and the press.
- Government accountability to the people.
- Separation of powers among different branches of government.
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- Why is it crucial to hold governments accountable in a democracy?
- To allow the government to bypass laws for efficiency.
- To prevent abuse of power and protect citizens' rights. ✓
- To give leaders the freedom to make unchecked decisions.
- To ensure government officials can remain in power indefinitely.
- To limit public involvement in government decisions.
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Exit quiz
- Match the word with its correct explanation.
- rule of law⇔all individuals must follow and be accountable to the law ✓
- rights⇔fundamental freedoms and protections that individuals are entitled to ✓
- democracy⇔a system of government where power is given to the people ✓
- legislation⇔laws for how people and institutions should behave in society ✓
- Which of the following statements best reflects the principle of the rule of law?
- The rule of law applies to citizens, but leaders can bypass it if necessary.
- All individuals, including leaders, are subject to the law and accountable. ✓
- Leaders can interpret the law freely to ensure stability during crises.
- The rule of law only applies when the government is functioning normally.
- Government officials must follow the law, but the monarch is exempt.
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- Historically, one limitation of the rule of law is that:
- It does not apply to ordinary citizens.
- It has not always been applied equally. ✓
- It gives too much power to judges.
- It eliminates the possibility of fair trials.
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- Which of the following is a strength of the Human Rights Act 1998?
- Allows the government to restrict individual rights without any legal process.
- It makes it easier for individuals to defend their rights in UK courts. ✓
- It eliminates the need for the UK to follow European human rights standards.
- It only applies to public officials and not private citizens.
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- Arrange the different examples of rights legislation into the order in which they were introduced.
- 1⇔Magna Carta
- 2⇔English Bill of Rights
- 3⇔Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- 4⇔The European Convention on Human Rights
- 5⇔The Human Rights Act
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A key feature of the rule of law is that everyone, including those in power, are subject to the law.
- The rule of law and democratic systems hold those in power accountable, preventing dictatorship and corruption.
- There is a long history of human rights legislation in the UK, Europe and the world.
- Each piece of legislation has had a different impact on how human rights are protected in societies today.
Common misconception
The rule of law applies only to ordinary citizens, not leaders or those in power.
A key feature of the rule of law is that everyone, including those in power, are subject to the law.
Keywords
Rule of law - the principle that all individuals within a state, including government and leaders, are subject to the same laws and must follow them; it ensures fairness, justice and accountability in society
Rights - fundamental freedoms and protections that individuals are entitled to by law
Democracy - a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf
Legislation - a law or set of laws that have been passed by Parliament; the word is also used to describe the act of making a new law
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