GCSECitizenship StudiesAQARevision Notes1. Citizenship Skills, Processes & Methods1.3 Citizenship MethodsThe Nature of Citizenship Methods: Democracy & Political Change

The Nature of Citizenship Methods: Democracy & Political Change (AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

Exam code: 8100

Michael Mitchell

Written by: Michael Mitchell

Reviewed by: Lisa Eades

Updated on

How citizens contribute to Parliamentary democracy

  • Citizen participation is essential in a democracy

    • Parliamentary democracy depends on citizens taking part in the political process

    • Without participation, governments would lack legitimacy and accountability

Ways citizens participate

Voting in elections

  • Citizens vote in local, devolved and general elections to choose their representatives in Parliament

    • Citizens can remove governments they disagree with and support parties and policies they believe in

  • Elections ensure governments are accountable to the public

Voting in referendums

  • Referendums allow citizens to vote directly on a single issue

    • Decisions are made by a majority vote

    • E.g. The 2016 EU referendum on UK membership of the European Union was decided by 52% of those that chose to vote

Standing for election and forming political parties

  • Citizens have the right to stand for public office, such as MP or councillor

  • They can join existing political parties and create new political parties

    • Example: The Reform Party was established to represent dissatisfied voters

Other ways citizens influence Parliament

  • Parliamentary petitions allow citizens to raise issues for debate

  • Citizens’ Assemblies involve a representative group of citizens making recommendations

  • Televised election debates help inform voters about party leaders and policies

  • Some citizens support electoral reform such as proportional representation

How governments support citizen participation

  • Citizens are protected by law when taking part in politics

  • These rights include

    • Freedom of speech

    • Freedom of assembly and protest

    • The right to vote in secret

  • These protections help ensure elections are fair and free

Improving political engagement and turnout

  • Governments have proposed extending polling station opening hours and allowing voting over several days

  • Polling stations are increasingly sited in accessible locations such as supermarkets

  • Governments have proposed increasing the use of postal voting to improve turnout

Encouraging younger and wider participation

  • Proposals include lowering the voting age to 16, online voting and making voter registration quicker and easier

Case Study

Votes at 16 and youth participation in Scotland

A group of smiling people in purple shirts holding a large blue "Yes" sign and letters spelling "Generation" on signs, standing in a shopping street.

Change in Scotland

  • In Scotland, 16- and 17-year-olds were given the right to vote for the first time in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

    • The aim was to encourage political engagement among young people and help them develop voting habits earlier

Outcomes

  • The change successfully increased youth participation

    • Around 75% of registered 16–17-year-olds voted in the 2014 referendum, which was higher than turnout among 18–24-year-olds

    • Many schools supported the process through political education and voter registration drives, helping young people feel informed and confident

  • The policy was continued for Scottish Parliament and local elections

    • In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, turnout among 16–17-year-olds was around 55%, again higher than turnout for many older first-time voters

  • Surveys also showed that young voters felt more engaged and likely to vote again in future elections.

Citizen action to hold those in power to account

  • Citizens can participate in many different ways, ranging from contacting decision-makers and using the media, to protesting, standing for election and accessing information

  • Together, these actions help citizens hold those in power to account and strengthen democracy

Ways citizens can take action

Citizen action

Explanation

Lobbying

  • Citizens can lobby decision-makers by meeting them or writing letters or emails to MPs, councillors or ministers

  • This often involves following up casework to ensure action is taken

  • Citizens and groups may also issue statements to the media to increase pressure and public awareness

Pressure groups

  • Citizens can form or join pressure groups to campaign on specific issues

  • Pressure groups provide organisation, expertise, technical advice and sometimes financial support, making campaigns more effective and coordinated

Petitions

  • Citizens can submit petitions to local councils or Parliament using official e-petition systems

  • These systems set out how authorities must respond, and large numbers of signatures can lead to debates or formal government responses

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests

  • Citizens can use FOI requests to access information held by public bodies

    • Organisations are legally required to respond

  • Journalists and pressure groups often use FOIs to uncover information and hold authorities to account

The media

  • Traditional media, such as newspapers, television and radio, can be used to publicise issues and attract public support

  • Media coverage can place pressure on politicians to respond

Demonstrations

  • Demonstrations involve large numbers of people gathering to show support for an issue

  • They often attract media attention and help raise awareness, although politicians may not always attend

  • Examples include

    • The Stop the War protest in 2003, attended by around 750,000 people

    • The UK with Ukraine march in 2022 with around 150,000 participants

    • The Unite the Kingdom protest in 2025 with approximately 110,000–150,000 attendees

Standing for election

  • Citizens can stand for election locally or nationally to campaign directly for their issue

  • Independent candidates tend to be more successful at local level than in general elections

    • At the 2024 general election, just 6 out of 650 MPs were elected as independents

Examiner Tips and Tricks

  • When identifying a Citizenship Action linked to Parliament, look for decisions or debates where people feel unheard

    • For example low youth turnout, access to voting, local services ignored by MPs, or unfair laws

  • Choose an issue with a clear decision-maker (MP, Parliament or government) and explain in the exam how your action could realistically influence them through petitions, lobbying or media pressure

Digital democracy and social media to improve engagement and participation

  • Digital democracy refers to the use of digital technology to increase citizen participation in political and democratic processes

    • It aims to make democracy more accessible, inclusive and responsive

Social media and political engagement

  • Social media platforms allow citizens to share opinions, debate issues and follow political events

    • It is especially effective at engaging younger people who are less likely to use traditional media

  • Politicians and political parties use social media to communicate directly with citizens

Raising awareness and campaigning

  • Citizens can use social media to raise awareness of issues quickly and at low cost

    • Online campaigns can reach national and international audiences

    • Hashtags and videos help mobilise support and encourage action

Online petitions and consultations

  • Digital platforms allow citizens to sign Parliamentary and local authority petitions online

    • If enough signatures are gathered, issues may be debated in Parliament

  • Governments also use online consultations to gather public views on policies

Evaluation of digital democracy

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Digital democracy increases accessibility and participation

  • It reduces barriers to participation such as time, cost and location

  • Citizens can engage without attending meetings or events in person

  • It can increase participation among disabled people, carers and those living in remote areas

  • Not all citizens have equal access to the internet, creating a digital divide

  • Online misinformation and fake news can mislead voters

  • Social media debates can become polarised or abusive, discouraging participation

  • Some citizens may feel excluded if they lack digital skills or confidence

How public bodies provide a voice for citizens

  • Citizens are not limited to acting alone, but can be supported by public bodies, pressure groups, trade unions, and charities to raise concerns, challenge decisions and campaign for change

How organisations and groups assist citizens

Organisation

How they assist citizens

Public services

  • Public services are held accountable through the Ombudsman system, which covers a wide range of central government and local authority services

  • Citizens can make formal complaints if they believe a service has acted unfairly or incorrectly

  • The outcomes of investigations are published to ensure transparency

  • Citizens can also raise concerns directly with their local councillor, local council, or Member of Parliament (MP), who can investigate issues on their behalf or raise them in Parliament

Pressure groups and think tanks

  • Pressure groups campaign to bring about change by lobbying Parliament and raising public awareness

  • Some groups, known as think tanks, are professional research organisations that influence policy by producing reports and expert advice rather than building large memberships

    • Examples include the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which focuses on government finances, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which campaigns on poverty and social inequality

Trade unions

  • Trade unions campaign on behalf of workers and lobby the government to improve employment laws and workplace conditions

  • Several major unions also support and help fund the Labour Party and sponsor Labour MPs, giving them influence within the political system

Charities and voluntary groups

  • Charities and voluntary groups support citizens by providing advice, representing public concerns, and lobbying the government for change

  • They often submit evidence, publish reports, and campaign on specific issues

    • For example, the Royal Voluntary Service supports vulnerable people and promotes volunteering

Case Study

National Farmers Union (NFU) and inheritance tax on family farms

Tractors with "Back British Farmers" sign and UK flags in a London street protest near Big Ben; police and buildings visible in the background.

The issue

  • In the 2024 Budget, the Labour government proposed changes to inheritance tax rules that would have affected family-owned farms

    • Many farmers were concerned that the changes would make it difficult to pass farms on to the next generation

Action taken

  • Farming and countryside groups launched a campaign against the proposals, led by the National Farmers Union (NFU)

    • The NFU organised rallies and demonstrations across the UK, including high-profile tractor protests, to attract media attention and apply pressure on the government

The outcome

  • After several months of sustained campaigning, the government amended its proposals, announcing that most family farms would be exempt from the new inheritance tax rules

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    Author
    Reviewer
    Michael Mitchell

    Author: Michael Mitchell

    Expertise: Content Writer

    Michael Mitchell is a pioneer of Citizenship education and a former Chief Examiner and Chief Moderator across all qualification levels. Michael's aim is to enable students to participate and become active citizens and not just passive members of society. He designed national specifications and, later, trained the next generation of teachers as the PGCE Subject Leader at the University of Plymouth, where he also ran a national Master's-level CPD program.

    Lisa Eades

    Reviewer: Lisa Eades

    Expertise: Business Content Creator

    Lisa has taught A Level, GCSE, BTEC and IBDP Business for over 20 years and is a senior Examiner for Edexcel. Lisa has been a successful Head of Department in Kent and has offered private Business tuition to students across the UK. Lisa loves to create imaginative and accessible resources which engage learners and build their passion for the subject.