In person or online: How should MPs vote?
I can determine whether MPs should vote electronically or continue voting in person.
In person or online: How should MPs vote?
I can determine whether MPs should vote electronically or continue voting in person.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- MPs vote in person by walking into aye or nay lobbies and scanning passes to record their vote.
- Tellers count votes and report results to the Speaker, who oversees and announces the final outcome.
- During Covid-19, MPs used a digital system to vote remotely for the first time in UK Parliament history.
- Remote voting offered benefits like better access, time-saving, and continuity in emergencies.
- Concerns included security risks, weaker debate, and the loss of tradition and accountability.
Keywords
Member of Parliament - a person elected to represent our interests and concerns in the House of Commons; they consider and can propose new laws, as well as raising issues that matter to you in the House
House of Commons - an elected body consisting of 650 Members of Parliament, where MPs debate, make laws, and scrutinise the government; it is the lower house of Parliament and meets in the Palace of Westminster
Speaker (House of Commons) - an MP chosen by other MPs to chair debates in the House of Commons; they make sure the rules are followed; once elected they stop being involved in party politics and stay neutral in debates
Common misconception
MPs don’t vote digitally at all, it is all done on paper or by hand.
It is true that MPs vote in person, but since 2020 they have used electronic systems in the division lobbies to record their votes by scanning a pass.
To help you plan your year 9 citizenship lesson on: In person or online: How should MPs vote?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 citizenship lesson on: In person or online: How should MPs vote?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the Can digital democracy increase political participation? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
a system where people vote to make decisions or choose leaders
using online tools and technology to support political processes
the number of people who vote in an election
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
the elected person who represents a local area (constituency)
the place where MPs debate and vote on laws
the person who keeps order during debates in the Commons