Civics discussion topics for the classroom

Civics discussion topics on civic participation

• Should voting online be allowed?
• Is a flawed election better than no election?
• What is the best mode of peaceful protest?
• Is proportional representation a better electoral system than the first-past-the-post system?
• Should there be a mandatory retirement age for politicians?
• Should there be mandatory training for politicians?
• Should all citizens be required to vote?
• Should non-citizens be allowed to vote in local elections?
• Should citizens have to pass a political knowledge test in order to vote?
• Should IDs be required to vote?
• Should there be age limits for voting eligibility?
• Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote in general elections?
• What is the best way to increase political participation amongst marginalized groups?
• What is the most pressing political issue in the country today?

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Civics discussion topics on civil liberties and rights

• Is the right to privacy more important than freedom of the press?
• Should governments accord the same importance to cultural rights as they do to human rights?
• Should prisoners have the right to vote?
• Should wealthier countries be forced to accept more refugees?
• Does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights meet the needs of every country?
• Should foreign intervention be used to protect women’s rights?
• Should governments impose population controls?
• Should governments pay reparations to women?
• Should LGBTQ+ people automatically be granted asylum in “safe” countries?
• What is the best way for international organizations to collaborate with governments to improve LQBTQ+ rights?
• Should there be laws protecting whistleblowers?

Civics discussion topics on educational systems and policies

• Should students be required to take sex education classes in school?
• Should education systems place less emphasis on rote learning?
• What is the most effective strategy to increase school attendance in areas with low rates?
• Should the Finnish education system be adopted worldwide?
• Does higher education in Latin America deepen inequalities?
• Should art and music be taught in school?
• Should schools provide free meals for all students?
• Are there too many school holidays?
• Should schools start later in the day?
• Should students in the UK still have to take GCSEs?
• What is the best way for the government to address education inequalities for girls?
• Are charter schools in the U.S. undermining the public school system?
• Should university be free?
• Should there be single-gender schools?
• Should high schools introduce an hour of free time?

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Civics discussion topics on government systems

• Should monarchies be abolished?
• Should the House of Lords be abolished?
• Will Hong Kong ever become a democracy?
• Should there be quotas for women in government?
• Should India still be known as the world’s largest democracy?
• What are the greatest threats to democracies today?
• Is democracy a good form of government?
• Do the benefits of direct democracy outweigh the costs?
• Should there be term limits for elected officials?
• Are bicameral legislatures more effective than unicameral ones?
• Is a parliamentary system more effective than a presidential system?
• Is Iran a democracy?
• Can the US regain its position as a full democracy?

Civics discussion topics on legal and justice systems

• Should undocumented migrants face prosecution? 
• Which purpose of the criminal justice system is most important?
• Should judges be elected by the people?
• Should jury trials be abolished?
• Should the use of private prisons be banned?
• Is the use of solitary confinement a violation of human rights?
• Should the death penalty be abolished globally?
• Should juvenile offenders be tried as adults for serious crimes?
• Should there be a maximum age limit for serving judges?
• Should “victimless” crimes remain illegal?

Civics discussion topics on economic policies

• Should we lower international trade barriers?
• Should governments provide a job guarantee?
• Should 10-year-olds be allowed part-time jobs?
• Are fair trade schemes actually fair?
• Has China’s global economic power reached its peak?
• Has the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement been successful so far?
• Should billionaires be taxed more?
• Should cash be abolished?
• Should monetary policy be controlled by an independent central bank?
• Are trade wars beneficial or harmful to the global economy?
• Should the African Union have a common currency like the Euro?
• Should there be a universal basic income?
• What is the best economic system to live under?
• Should environmental conservation take precedence over economic growth?
• Should small businesses be exempt from minimum wage requirements?

Civics discussion topics on environmental issues and sustainability

• Should single-use plastics be banned?
• Are electric vehicles a sustainable solution to reducing emissions?
• Should governments incentivize the use of public transportation over private vehicles?
• Do rich countries have an obligation to help poorer countries weather climate change?
• Should we ban air travel to help fight climate change?
• Should private cars be banned from the city center?
• Is it realistic to expect governments in the Global South to prioritize climate change action over everything else?
• Are governments doing enough to fight climate change?
• Should governments impose a tax on meat consumption?
• Is it possible to build cities that don’t harm the environment?
• Should citizens try to sue corporations and governments over climate change?
• Should there be global standards for waste management and recycling practices?
• Should Europe expand its reliance on Middle Eastern fossil fuels?
• Should public transport be free?
• Are capitalism and environmentalism compatible?

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Civics discussion topics on international affairs

• Is globalization a good thing?
• Should governments spend money on foreign aid?
• What is the main cause of political polarization in South Asia?
• Is the US embargo of Cuba justified?
• Should countries with poor human rights records be allowed to host international sporting events?
• Should countries have strict limits on immigration?
• Should we discourage nationalism?
• Is taking care of global issues more important than caring about local issues?
• What are the political implications of Russia supplanting French influence in Africa?
• Should the international community recognize Taiwan as an independent country?
• What is the main driver of Iranian-Russian cooperation?
• Do the political advantages of joining a supranational organization outweigh the political disadvantages?
• Was Brexit a good idea?

Civics discussion topics on media and communication

• Should governments regulate the algorithms used by social media platforms?
• Which social media platform would be best to ban?
• Does the rise of fake news undermine trust in traditional media?
• Does traditional media help or hinder public understanding of political issues in the US?
• Should deepfake technology be regulated by law?
• Is it a bad idea to mix entertainment with news?
• Is negative political advertising bad for democracy?
• Is social media a threat or benefit to democracy?
• Should advertising be allowed to target children?
• Should news outlets that spread misinformation be shut down?
• Should tech companies be held accountable for the spread of misinformation on their platforms?
• Should the government limit the amount of time kids can spend playing video games?
• What has been the biggest impact of social media on African politics?
• Are online “buzzers” and “bots” the biggest political threat in Southeast Asia?
• What is the best way to prevent digital authoritarianism?

Civics discussion topics on security and defense policies

• Is war ever justifiable?
• Should military alliances like NATO expand to include more nations?
• Is Japan justified in updating its security policies?
• What is the biggest threat to global security?
• Should the use of private military contractors be regulated by international law?
• Is there likely to be military conflict over the Taiwan Strait?
• Is torture justifiable in the name of security?
• Should societies prioritize freedom over security?
• Was China justified in implementing the national security law in Hong Kong?
• Should the US have stricter gun control?
• What is the best way to deal with abusive governments and armed groups?
• Should the world disarm their nuclear weapons?

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Civics discussion topics on public health and safety

• Is it the government’s responsibility to ensure healthy food options are available in low-income areas?
• Should the government do more to encourage home vegetable gardens?
• Should substance use be treated as a public health issue rather than a criminal one?
• Should universal access to healthcare be considered a fundamental human right?
• Should mental health services be prioritized by governments?
• Should the MENA governments prioritize recruitment and retention of medical professionals?
• Should there be a tax on junk food?
• Should vaccines be mandatory?
• What is the best way for the UK government to reduce NHS waiting times?
• Should free menstrual products be provided by the government?
• What is the most critical public health problem facing African governments?
• Will government investment in digital healthcare technologies improve the quality of healthcare in Southeast Asia?
• Should the government limit the time kids can spend playing video games?
• What is the best way for the US government to make healthcare more affordable?

Civics discussion topics on religious issues

• Should religious organizations be tax-exempt?
• Should religious institutions be subject to the same labor laws as other organizations?
• Is Islam compatible with democracy?
• Is Judaism compatible with democracy?
• Is Christianity compatible with democracy?
• What is the strongest argument in favor of the separation of church and state?
• Should religious leaders be barred from holding political office?
• Should religious leaders have a role in shaping national education curricula?
• Should governments be allowed to place restrictions on religions?
• Should modern justice systems include religious principles?
• Should religious holiday displays be allowed in public places?
• Should governments allow religious symbols to be worn in public spaces?
• Should there be legal exemptions for religious individuals?

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