Should we reform the voting system in the UK?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can critically assess whether we should reform the voting system for general elections in the UK.
Key learning points
- FPTP is a voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority.
- FPTP can lead to 'wasted vote' and may not reflect the views of all voters.
- The UK uses more proportional voting systems like AMS in Scotland and Wales for fairer representation.
- Some argue FPTP should be reformed to better reflect voters' true choices.
- Others defend FPTP for its simplicity, fearing reforms may complicate results.
Keywords
Election - the voting process to select a person for a public position
First Past The Post (FPTP) - the voting system used in the UK to elect members of some local councils and members of Parliament, whereby the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins
Proportional systems - an electoral system where political parties get a number of seats in Parliament that matches the percentage of votes they receive in an election
Reform - make changes in something, (especially an institution or practice), in order to improve it
Common misconception
The First Past The Post (FPTP) system produces strong and stable governments.
There have been coalition and minority governments using FPTP. In addition, there can be instability as the party in power can be divided over certain issues or can have weak leadership / poor governance.
Teacher tip
When teaching about voting systems, encourage pupils to think critically about how different systems might impact the fairness of elections. Use real examples to illustrate the pros and cons of each system. Consider holding a mock election to show how votes are counted and how results can vary.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to the correct definition.
people have the power to elect their leaders and make decisions
leaders have complete control; people are expected to obey
the activity of choosing someone or something in an election
taking responsibility, making a positive difference
Q2.In a democracy, voting is important because it allows people to their leaders and have a say in the laws and decisions of the country.
Q3.What is the main difference between democracy and authoritarianism?
Q4.Which of the following is not a way to get involved in politics in the UK?
Q5.To be an active citizen, it’s important to understand the issues that affect your community and with others to make a difference.
Q6.Which of the following is true about voting?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to the correct definition.
voting process to select a person for a public position
the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins
number of seats a party wins more evenly matches % of votes they get
Q2.Which voting system is used for general elections in the UK?
Q3.In a First-Past-The-Post system, the candidate with the votes in a constituency wins, even if they don’t have more than half the votes.
Q4.Which of the following is a potential advantage of a proportional system?
Q5.Some people believe the UK should its voting system to ensure fairer representation, especially for smaller parties.
Q6.Why might some people argue that the UK should not change its voting system?
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: Should we reform the voting system in the UK?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: Should we reform the voting system in the UK?, 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the What are the different ways we can become involved in politics? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.