Democracy and good governance

Year level: Upper Secondary Learning outcomes Students identify the major characteristics of an effective democracy. Brainstorm what you know about the form of government known as a democracy. Use the questions below to help you get started. Who is involved in governing the country? How is the government chosen? How accountable and transparent are decisions made by the government? How is access to human rights protected? How can people participate in the country’s decision making? How are disputes settled in a democracy? What can people do when they don't like government decisions? What makes a democracy work well? What are some good characteristics of a democracy? What are some bad characteristics of a democracy? Why have democracies become a popular form of government? Use your brainstorm to draw up a PNQ chart. List the positives, negatives and questions you would like answered. Read the Democracy and Good Governance paragraph on http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/17 to add any new ideas to your PNQ chart. Select a series of different countries and in small groups use your questions as the basis for research about one of the countries. Compare your findings with other groups and make some observations on the effectiveness of democracy in these countries. Assessment task Create a role-play of a discussion between representatives (for example citizens, government leaders, business leaders) from the investigated country about how to ensure all voices are heard when making changes in their country.