Toolbox

Democracy Cookbook

The Democracy Cookbook is an extensive educational tool aimed at youth workers, teachers and other democracy practitioners for use with young people. It provides both the ingredients and recipes to explain how our democracy works.

Young People Now Magazine says the Democracy Cookbook is:

"...topical, informative and fun to use, making it an important toolkit for youth workers and citizenship teachers. One of the most useful things about this resource is that it demystifies processes and clearly sets out how decisions are made and implemented, both locally and nationally".

Scroll down to find Cookbook Special editions and the latest Cookbook updates.

New Welsh Constituency map

To reflect boundary changes in Wales, we have produced a new map to go in your Democracy Cookbook. You can either download the map alone in English or the map in Welsh and replace the old Wales map in the 'Who represents me?' section, or download the entire 'Who represents me?' section in English, or 'Who represents me?' in Welsh, both including the new map.

To order hard copies of the Democracy Cookbook download our catalogue or phone 0845 8500 501.

Alternatively download you can download the Cookbook below.

Democracy Cookbook updates

In keeping with the changing world of politics, we've produced some updates for both editions of the Democracy Cookbook. They're easy to include in your Cookbook - just download the appropriate pdf and instructions, print out and enjoy!

Update A - May 2007

This update is for anyone who has a first edition of the Democracy Cookbook (published 2005)

Download the Update A pdf - Download the Update A instructions

Update B - May 2007

This update is for anyone who has a second edition of the Democracy Cookbook (published 2007)

Download the Update B pdf - Download the Update B instructions

Democracy Cookbook - main sections

Ingredients

Get Cooking: How to use the Democracy Cookbook. English or Welsh

What's it all about?: Introducing you to politics and democracy. English or Welsh

Who represents me?: Your democratic representatives and what they do. English or Welsh

Who decides?: The democratic institutions that affect you and how they work. English or Welsh

Making laws: Who makes laws and how. English or Welsh

Elections and referendums: What are they and how do they work. English or Welsh

Voting: How to vote and why it matters. English or Welsh

Got a taste for it?: Other ways to get involved. English or Welsh

Chef's suiggestions: Where to go to find out more. English or Welsh

Recipes

Activites part 1: English or Welsh

Activites part 2: English or Welsh

Activites part 3: English or Welsh

Extras

These items are included as posters in the hardcopy version of the Cookbook

Build your own politician cut out (a large format version of this can be ordered from our distribution centre, call 0845 8500 501)

European Union map

Eye spy politics poster

How politics affects posters

Democracy tree poster

Special editions

Do you know your AM from your MLA? To help you 'do politics' with the UK's devolved institutions, we have produced special streamlined editions of the Democracy Cookbook focused around the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, and the National Assembly for Wales. Information about the role and recent history of the three devolved institutions goes alongside specially tailored activities to provide a brilliant primer in devolved democracy.

If you'd like to order any of the Cookbook special editions, you just need to contact our orderline on 0845 8500 501, and quote product codes DCNI.1 (for the Northern Ireland Assembly special), DCS.1 (for the Scottish Parliament special) or DCW.1 (for the National Assembly for Wales special). Alternatively, you can download any of the special editions below:

Please note that, although you download the Welsh language and English language special separately, the hard copy National Assembly for Wales special is a bilingual 'flip and read' booklet.

What do people people think about the Democracy Cookbook?

Fantastic, more of the same please.
Teacher, Manchester

Stumbling across the Cookbook while researching websites and assistance in relation to elections has acted as a catalyst in my work.
Parish Clerk, Stokenham

"The Democracy Cookbook is one of the most amazing publications I have ever read - it will be a fantastic asset to our project. I love the slants you have taken on participation in politics, I'm 15 and couldn't have phrased it in a more youth friendly and appealing way".
Young person, Youth Advisors Resource Network

All centres and agencies that work with young people should have this resource. I was toying with the idea of creating something along the same lines as the cookbook. I dont have to now as yours is better than what I could do.
Participation worker, Calderdale

A fabulous resource in every way!
Head of History, School, Gateshead

I'm a Sociology teacher and have been using your Cookbook. I am extremely impressed with it, its colourful, informative and pitched at exactly the right level for year 10 Key stage 4 teaching.
Sociology teacher, Nottingham

A superb pack full of resources and lesson ideas
Citizenship co-ordinator, Leominster

Send us your comments email dopolitics@electoralcommission.org.uk