Voting – choosing your parliamentary representatives: Activity 2

Fairness in voting and decision-making: analysing decision-making processes

1. Divide the class into small groups of 4-5 students. These could be the same groups as in the previous activity or different groups to jigsaw understandings. Ask students to discuss the decision-making method in each scenario in BLM 2 for fairness and appropriateness, drawing on and expanding their ideas from the previous activity. Record responses.

2. Draw class together and ask students to present their responses. Facilitate a discussion around fairness in decision making and the role of voting.

   Write a class summary statement, for example: Voting allows people to………

3. Provide each group with BLM 3 Electing a representative and ask them to discuss the issues that may arise in choosing this representative and what might influence their decision. Record all responses.

4. Draw class together and facilitate a discussion around choosing a representative.

    Prompt questions could include the following.

   • What are the potential problems with this type of voting?
   • What are the benefits?
   • Do you think the best representative would be chosen?
   • What might influence a voter’s decision?
   • How do you think this might change if you could vote secretly?
   • Do you think this would be better?

5. Record class responses on a large poster for display and future reference.

Introduction | Activity One | Activity Two | Activity Three | Activity Four