Political power

  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?

Behind the News – Election portal

ABC News – Green tide sweeps Fielding from Senate

ABC News – Where it’s at: Independents’ seven key demands

Parliamentary Education Office – Senate

Parliamentary Education Office – FAQ Senate

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 News - Australia Votes 2010

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

Focus Questions

  1. What 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 will investigate the key features of the Australian voting system. Begin by asking students if they have ever had to vote for someone or something. What was the process? Does your school have student representatives? If so, how are they elected?

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

  • First- past-the-post
  • Preferential voting

Collate student responses to develop a whole class definition of each system.

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?

Students can use their research finding to create a brochure or poster that either:

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

Self evaluation
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?

Related Research Links
ABC Behind the News – Preferential voting

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. What 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?

What makes an election fair?

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

Students can then check their definitions using a web or print resource. There are some web links at the end of this activity to support students. Students will then examine an aspect of elections – the secret ballot. Ask students to decide on a classroom, school or community issue that they can vote on. Students first vote with a show of hands and then use the secret ballot system. Ask students to reflect on the results:

  • 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?

Ask students to share their responses in small groups and use either a plus, minus and interesting or SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats) chart to display the information.

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.

Related Research Links

ABC News - US questions Ahmadinejad's election win

ABC News - Tweeting from Tehran: social media and the Iranian election

ABC News – Iran blocks foreign coverage of election protests: media

Australian Electoral Commission – Democracy Rules: Teacher information

Parliamentary Education Office – Information about elections

BBC Country profile – Iran

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