Rights, liberties and the rule of law
Living in the UK comes with liberties that are easy to take for granted, such as freedom of speech and a fair trial. These developed over hundreds of years and are still defended today.
Part of your national curriculum
- Law and justice: Understand the precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand the precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom
Key learning points
- • Key liberties
- • The rule of law
- • Liberties come with limits
This lesson at a glance
- 20 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
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Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Rights, liberties and the rule of law
Living in the UK comes with liberties that are easy to take for granted, such as freedom of speech and a fair trial. These developed over hundreds of years and are still defended today.
In a nutshell
Understand the precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Key liberties
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Key liberties
UK citizens have freedoms including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial and freedom from arbitrary arrest. These are protected partly by common law built up over centuries, and partly by legislation such as the Human Rights Act 1998, which brought the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
The rule of law
The 'rule of law' means everyone, including the government, is subject to the law and must be treated fairly by it. Courts can rule that government action is unlawful, which is a key check on power in a democracy.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Liberties come with limits
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Liberties come with limits
Freedoms are not unlimited: for example, free speech does not cover incitement to violence, and the right to protest can be restricted to protect public safety. Balancing individual liberty against the rights of others and the wider community is an ongoing debate in a democratic society.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
UK ____ have freedoms including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial and freedom from arbitrary arrest.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Which Act brought the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Rights, liberties and the rule of law
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which Act brought the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law?
2. What does the 'rule of law' mean?
3. Which of these is a genuine limit on free speech in the UK?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
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Understand the precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom