Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1) define the concept electoral system.
2) identify the two main types of electoral systems in the Caribbean.
3) describe the electoral process of First-Past-the-Post in the
Commonwealth Caribbean.
4) demonstrate an understanding of how First-Past-the-Post process
works in electing government in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Important Points
1) The two main electoral systems within the Caribbean region are
First Past the Post and Proportional Representation. First Past the
Post is a system whereby a country determines the government of a
country based on the number of constituencies/seats that a party
wins after the votes are tallied in the elections. In a system such as
this the country is first divided into constituencies and then a
Key Terms
Challenge Areas
Students will be directed to the following website to complete the
activity that is there. This puzzle entails finding the answers to the
clues given and then finding the concepts within the
maize.http://www.makeworksheets.com/activityofweek/html/election
maze.html
Note to Teacher
Remind students of how important it is for them to revisit content
relating to government and the types of government systems. This is
important in understanding the process and system we use in electing a
government.
Discussion of Elections
b. Connect to the link and project the video so that the class
can hear what is happening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIM3ipmd5Zc
Instruct students to observe closely what they see in the
video and take note of some of things being said. Have the
students use the following questions as a guide in viewing
the video.
i. What is meant by free and fair elections?
Expected answer:
Free and fair election is where electors are allowed
the opportunity to cast their votes without feeling or
being intimidated in any way when going through
the proper voting procedures
ii. What is being done in the video to ensure a free and
fair election?
Expected answer:
An X voting stamp was used to ensure
consistency in the marking of the ballot. It promotes
fairness by ensuring more accurate placement of the
X beside the name and photograph of candidates.
It also reduces the percentage of spoilt ballots.
iii. Describe the steps that were taken to complete the
voting process.
Expected answer: Voters enter the polling station
and get requisite information on how to cast their
votes. The votes are cast secretly where no one is
able to view they voted for. Voter place an X beside
the name and photograph of the candidate of their
choice. Voter places the right index finger in the ink
to indicate that they have voted.
Body of Lesson
1) Definition of electoral system as well as relating concepts
Group work, internet use and discussions.
Challenge You
Play a game with your
friend to see who can
find as many words as
possible that have a
relationship to the
electoral process
Compete with your friend
and other classmates to
see who can define the
term electoral process by a.
using as many of the
concepts in the concept
back drop as is possible. b. For each of the concepts identified including electoral
process, direct students to the following website for the
definitions of these terms.
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Election
http://www.wordiq.com/election
Guide students in using as many words as is possible in the
concept backdrop to define the term electoral process,
for themselves.
Warning. a. Tell students to visit this website and read the page in
Students have a
groups. They should use the questions that follow as a
tendency to confuse guide for their reading purpose and comprehension.
constituency with .http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/voting_sys
constitution because
they are so close in
tem/newsid_1173000/1173697.stm
spelling at a glance. i. What is the name given to the divisions in a country
Make sure to tell the before elections begin?
students to pay
close attention to
Expected answer: Constituencies
this. ii. List TWO countries that use this system of election.
Expected answer: Jamaica and Barbados
iii. What is meant by cast a single ballot?
Expected answer: One eligible voter is entitled to
one vote.
iv. How is a candidate declared the winner of a
constituency?
Expected answer: By winning the majority of votes
cast on the day of election.
iv. What is the interviewee promoting in the video?
Expected answers: The interviewee is promoting
free and fair elections.
Important Point
3) Demonstration of how the First- Past the-Post electoral
process works
Note that there are
some concepts that a. Instruct students to answer the following questions and
are different from
those used in the complete the activity in their groups after watching this
Caribbean such as video.
Ridings, meaning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKAAq_8Poqo
constituencies, MPP
meaning Member of i. Name one country outside the Caribbean that uses
Parliament and the First-Past-the-Post system.
Premier, meaning Expected answer: Canada
prime Minister or
President. ii. Create a story board explaining the process of First
Past the Post in the Jamaican context. OR
iii. Create a song explaining the First Past the Post
process in the Jamaican context.
Try This!
Use the map to right
and try to locate the
constituency in
which you live
Closure
In Class Assignment
1) Students are to complete the worksheet below.
Supplemental
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) Visit the website below and complete the quiz which is there.
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/le.../120502_flash_quiz_1_elections.
shtml
Glossary of Terms
Recommended Materials
http://caribbeanelections.com/education/caribbean_systems.asp
Sources:
Figure 5.1
Figure 5.2
http://www.jamaicapage.com/jamaica-elections-2011-results/