What is Democracy?

Help students understand the foundations of democratic government with this clear and engaging “What is Democracy?” worksheet. This resource introduces students to the key ideas behind democracy and encourages them to think about why democratic systems matter in society.

Designed for Year 7 Civics and Citizenship, this worksheet supports students in exploring concepts such as participation, fairness, representation, and decision-making in democratic societies.

The activity is structured to encourage both understanding and reflection, making it suitable for classroom discussion, independent work, or as part of a broader civics unit.

What’s Included

This resource includes:

• Teacher guidance page explaining the purpose of the lesson
• Student worksheet introducing the concept of democracy
• Structured questions to support understanding of democratic principles
• Reflection questions encouraging students to think about the importance of democracy in society.

The worksheet is designed to be clear, accessible, and easy to implement in a classroom setting.

How Teachers Use This Resource

Teachers commonly use this worksheet to:

• introduce the concept of democracy
• support a Year 7 Civics and Citizenship lesson
• begin a unit on Australian government and democracy
• encourage class discussion about democratic values
• provide a short, focused civics activity

The activity can be used as a stand-alone lesson or as part of a larger civics unit.

Curriculum Connection

This resource supports learning within the Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship (Year 7) by helping students understand the meaning and importance of democracy and civic participation.

Perfect For

• Year 6–8 Civics and Citizenship
• introductory lessons on democracy
• HASS and Social Studies classrooms
• substitute teacher lessons
• quick civics activities

Terms of Use

This resource is licensed for single classroom use only. Please direct colleagues to purchase their own copy if they would like to use the resource.