What makes us accept our government? This concept examines why citizens accept or reject the authority of governments, institutions, and international bodies, using real events to explore the sources of legitimacy (elections, tradition, law, performance) and what happens when those sources are questioned or collapse. From disputed elections to protest movements to institutional crisis, these lessons build students’ ability to ask not just what a government did, but whether people accepted its right to do it and why that distinction matters.
Legitimacy Current Events Lesson Plans:
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How democratic is your country? – EIU Democracy Index lesson plan
After eight years of decline, global democracy scores stabilised in 2025 – but what does that actually mean? This differentiated lesson for grades 6-12 uses…
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Peru’s Disrupted 2026 Election Lesson Plan
What happens when you can’t trust the results of an election, and how can you build that trust back? Peru’s 2026 election hit turbulence before…
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Hungary Election 2026 Lesson Plan
Hungary’s 2026 election ended 16 years of Orbán’s rule in a historic landslide. Three differentiated readings explore legitimacy, power, sovereignty and what truly makes an…
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Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Lesson Plan
In December 2025, Australia became the first country to ban under-16s from major social media platforms — putting the legal burden on tech companies, not…
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Thailand Election and Constitutional Referendum Lesson Plan
Thailand voted yes to a new constitution — but does a yes vote mean the people are truly in charge? A differentiated lesson on sovereignty…
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Iran Protests Lesson Plan
Included in this lesson: Lesson Sources and Further Reading Amnesty International – What Happened at the Protests in Iran? Reuters – Iran President says Trump,…