Political power What was the result in the recent federal election?

1. 
   What was the result in the recent federal election?
   
2. 
   In your own words, describe the power the independents now have.
   
3. 
   How many seats does a party need to form a government?
   
4. 
   Complete the following sentence: If a political party has the majority of votes, it means…
   
5. 
   The independents can change who they support depending on the issue or policy. True or false?
   
6. 
   What is the senate also known as?
   
7. 
   Who holds the balance of power in the senate?
   
8. 
   Why will the government need the support of the two groups in the upper and lower house?
   
9. 
   What do you think the election results mean for Australia’s future?
   
10. 
    What should happen next? Why?
    

Hung parliament

1. 
   Retell the BtN New Government story.
   
2. 
   What is a hung parliament?
   
3. 
   How long has it been since Australia has had a hung parliament?
   
4. 
   What is the House of Representatives?
   
5. 
   How are politicians chosen for the House of Representatives?
   
6. 
   How many seats does a party need in the House of Representatives to form a government?
   
7. 
   What is an Independent member of parliament?
   
8. 
   What role will they play in this election?
   
9. 
   How could decision making be affected by a hung parliament?
   
10. 
    What do you understand more clearly since watching the New Government story?
    

ABC Behind the News - Election stories

ABC News – Australia’s hung parliament explained

ABC News – Independents vow to work together

ABC News – Who are the key players?

Parliamentary Education Office – House of Representatives

Preferential voting

1. 
   W
   Episode 19

   27^th july 2010

   
   
   Learning Area

   Society and Environment

   
   
   Key learning

   Students will develop a deeper understanding of the key features of Australia’s voting system.

   
   hat was the main point of the story?
   
2. 
   What is the `First past the post’ voting system?
   
3. 
   When people go to the polls to vote, they number each candidate in order of _______________.
   
4. 
   How many votes does a politician need to get to win their seat?
   
5. 
   In your own words, describe preferential voting.
   
6. 
   Minor parties often do deals with major parties to give them ______________.
   
7. 
   Why do political parties hand out how to vote cards?
   
8. 
   Why are elections an important part of democracy?
   
9. 
   Do you think it is important for young people to understand the voting system? Why or why not?
   
10. 
    What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
    

Australia’s voting system

Students then record what they know about the following voting systems:

• 
  First- past-the-post
  
• 
  Preferential voting
  

Working in small groups, students discuss and record the advantages and disadvantages of each system.

Two key features of Australia’s voting system are compulsory voting and the secret ballot. Working in pairs or small groups, ask students to research each, focussing their research on:

• 
  Who can vote in Australia?
  
• 
  How are young people encouraged to vote?
  
• 
  Why are compulsory voting and the secret ballot important to the voting system?
  
• 
  How could the voting system be made fairer?
  

• 
  Educates young people about Australia’s voting system or
  
• 
  Persuades young people to enrol to vote in the upcoming election
  

Create a plus, minus and interesting chart of the voting system activity. Display your charts around the classroom.

Further investigations
Choose a country and investigate the voting system in that country. Present your research findings to the class.

Respond to the following question. Should people have the right to refuse to vote?

What is an electorate? Who are the candidates in your electorate and what issues are they standing for?

8 Related Research Links

ABC Behind the News – Preferential voting
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/v3/stories/s2094478.htm

Australian Electoral Commission – Running an election in your school

Australian Politics – Preferential voting

Electoral Council of Australia – Preferential Voting System

Democratic elections

Focus Questions

1. 
   W
   Episode 17

   23^rd june 2009

   
   
   Learning Area

   Society and Environment Civics and Citizenship

   
   
   Key learning

   Students will investigate how elections in Australia are conducted to make them fair.

   .
   hat happened in the recent Iranian election?
   

2. 
   Why were some people protesting?
   
3. 
   Why are elections an important part of democracy?
   
4. 
   Why is it important for elections to be conducted fairly?
   
5. 
   Give an example of how elections can sometimes be unfair or rigged.
   
6. 
   What processes help ensure that elections in Australia are fair?
   
7. 
   Why do you think a secret ballot is an important part of the election process?
   
8. 
   Describe the role of a scrutineer.
   
9. 
   Do you think it’s important for young people to understand the election process? Why or why not?
   
10. 
    What do you now know about the election process that you didn’t know before watching the BtN story?
    

Students will be investigating how elections are conducted in Australia and what makes them fair. Ask students to record what they think the following key words mean and how they help ensure the election process remains fair:

• 
  Preferential voting
  
• 
  Compulsory voting
  
• 
  Ballot paper
  
• 
  Secret ballot
  
• 
  Scrutineer
  
• 
  Democracy
  
• 
  Represent
  

• 
  Were there differences in the outcome of the votes?
  
• 
  What are the possible reasons for people voting in a different way?
  
• 
  How could the secret ballot system impact on the way people vote in an election?
  

Further investigation

Hold a class or small group discussion using the following questions as discussion starters: Do you believe that another country should interfere with their election processes? Should all elections be monitored by a United Nations body?

Research and present the different stages in the election process.

Develop an argument for or against the following statement: Voting in Australia is compulsory.

8 Related Research Links

© ABC 2008