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Civics & Citizenship · Government & Democracy

Democracy in Action: Constitutions & Referendums, Years 7–8

Students compare how Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States change their constitutions, share power and protect rights. They run a double-majority referendum using real results from 1967, 1977, 1999 and 2023, take an amendment through Article V, pass a constitutional bill at Westminster, sort powers between levels of government, test whether courts can strike down a law, and plan civic action on a local issue. The full interactive is available to licensed Education Universe users.

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Learning outcomes

• Explain how the Constitution is changed through a referendum and the double majority.
• Compare how Australia, the UK and the US change their constitutions and divide power.
• Describe how rights are protected and how citizens can participate in decisions.

Teaching guidance

Load the 1977 referendum and ask students why a 62% Yes vote still failed, then compare how hard each country makes constitutional change.

Related interactives

Democracy in Action is one of the licensed interactives in The Education Universe. This page describes it; teachers use it in lessons and classes with a licence or the free trial.