Voting in the UK

Subject
Unit
Elections in the UK (Lesson 2)
Level
Duration
60 minutes
Voting in the UK

Student Pre-Work
Opener:
Final Preparations (10 mins)
Students get together in their groups to finalise preparation for their candidates’ election speeches.
Class Activities
Election Speeches (30 mins.)
Candidates are each given 90 seconds to make their speeches.
Taking the Vote (15 mins.)
Provide students with a ballot slip. [Teachers can type the names of their students’ parties onto the text box on this Ballot Slip (DOC) and copy/paste, then cut the page into quarters].
Pass out one ballot slip to each student. Students should mark their choice with an X, fold their slip then place it in a repository.
The teacher can then select a few students to help tally the votes.
The Results are In! (15 mins.)
How many votes were cast?. For simplicity, will consider each vote to equal one seat. So, half plus one equals a majority government.
When two or more parties agree to work together, we have a coalition government. Typically, this occurs when no party has a majority, and party cooperation is needed so that a group of parties can together, form a majority and get support for its plans during House of Commons votes.
When a political party with the most seats (but, without a majority) tries to govern the country, we have a minority government. This party will need to convince MPs from other parties to support their plans so that they get the votes they need to pass laws. If the minority government can’t get this support on important votes, it may be defeated, and a general election may be called.
What Type of Government Have We Built?
Closing Response
None
Homework
None
Subject
Unit
Elections in the UK (Lesson 2)
Level
Duration
60 minutes
Curriculum Points:
- the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom and actions citizens can take in democratic and electoral processes to influence decisions locally, nationally and beyond
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