1. Timings
5 mark- 5 minutes 10 mark- 10 minutes 25 marks- 25 minutes START: 9 END: 9.45

2. Topic 2: Electoral Systems
This week you will be introduced to:
Types of Electoral Systems
First Past the Post

3. The role of elections

4. Types of Electoral Systems
MAJORITARIAN SYSTEMS- Winner needs more than 50%
PLURALITY SYSTEMS- Winner needs more votes than closest rival
PROPORTIONAL SYSTEMS- Seats distributed in proportion to votes cast
HYBRID SYSTEMS- Combines elements of the above three

5. First Past the Post: Reform or Retain?

6. FPTP

7. What was wrong with the 2015 General Election?
Look through the diagrams and graphs representing some data from the 2015 election.
In your groups, write down:
Trends (at least 3)
Anomalies (at least 2)
Positives of using FPTP
Negatives of using FPTP

8. Characteristics of First Past the Post:
With your neighbour, write down as many as you can think of:

9. Characteristics of First Past the Post:
With your neighbour, write down as many as you can think of:

10. Reasons to reform FPTP from 2015
Votes to seats
Turnout
Wasted Votes
Safe seats

11. 1) Votes to seats Analyse the 2015 data and make notes of:
At least 3 examples that show that FPTP is not proportional and parties over been under-rewarded with seats
At least 3 examples that show that FPTP is not proportional and parties over been over-rewarded with seats
Make analytical comments as to why this is a reason why FPTP should be reformed due to the 2015 election

12. 2) Turnout
Read the NewStatesman article and analyse the 2015 individual seat turnout and pieces of evidence that you could use to show why FPTP needs reforming.
In your notes answer these questions:
Record at least three examples of low seat turnout
Why is low turnout an issue for government?
Has FPTP contributed to low turnout?
Is this a reason to reform FPTP?

13. 3) Wasted votes
Read the extract from Electoral Reform Society’s report on the 2015
Annotate/highlight any pieces of evidence that would show how wasted results are a reason to reform FPTP.
In your notes:
Record at least three examples that show votes are wasted
Why are votes wasted with this system?
What is the consequence of wasted votes?
Is this a reason to reform FPTP

14. 3) Wasted votes
Read the extract from Electoral Reform Society’s report on the 2015
Annotate/highlight any pieces of evidence that would show how wasted results are a reason to reform FPTP.
In your notes:
Record at least three examples that show votes are wasted
Why are votes wasted with this system?
What is the consequence of wasted votes?
Is this a reason to reform FPTP

15. Homework- 4) Safe seats
Certain seats or areas have become ‘electoral desserts’ with only one party standing a chance.
Record at least 3 constituencies where the opposing parties could not win
Using the data at record any evidence that shows certain regions becoming ‘electoral desserts’

16. Take it in turn to explain each of these key terms to your neighbour…
Mandate
Legitimacy
Turnout
Wasted vote
Simple plurality
‘Electoral deserts’

17. FPTP Recap Number 1’s need to explain to your partner:
What happens in constituencies
How a government is elected
Number 2’s need to explain to number 1’s:
Which parties are disadvantaged
Evidence that we should use a proportional system

18. Judgements FPTP benefits the main parties only
Strongly agree, mildly agree, mildly disagree, strongly disagree
FPTP benefits the main parties only
FPTP does not work in the UK
UK General Elections are an example of representative democracy

19. Strengths of FPTP
Weaknesses of FPTP

20. Single Party Governments
Two Party System
Outcomes of FPTP
Single Party Governments
Winner’s Bonus
Bias towards Labour

21. Single Party Governments
Two Party System
Outcomes of FPTP
Single Party Governments
Winner’s Bonus
Bias towards Labour

22. Strengths of FPTP
Weaknesses of FPTP

23. Strengths of FPTP
Weaknesses of FPTP
F BLOCK

24. Single Party Governments
Two Party System
Outcomes of FPTP
Single Party Governments
Winner’s Bonus
Bias towards Labour

25. Single Party Governments
Two Party System
F BLOCK
Outcomes of FPTP
Single Party Governments
Winner’s Bonus
Bias towards Labour

26. “Under FPTP are we still a representative democracy?”
YES NO

27. Role Play- Debate on FPTP
Roles:
Spokesperson for the bill
Spokesperson of the opposition
Speaker
Backbench MPs supporting X6
Backbench MPs opposing x4
Two UKIP MP’s
One Green MP
Nicola Sturgeon

28. Task for next Monday (16th)
In teams of 4, you are to prepare a 10 minute teaching activity to the group on one of the electoral systems used in other elections in the UK.
You should do a ppt presentation, it must cover:
A detailed explanation of the system and how it works (you may want to include a short youtube clip to help you explain)
Which elections in the UK it is used in and an example of results from the last elections
Advantages and disadvantages
Consequences (positive and negative) of adopting the system in UK General Elections
Extension: What 2015 might have looked like using your system.
Use the rest of this lesson now to make an action plan of who is going to do what and when you are going to meet.

29. Additional Member System (AMS)
Zoe Joyce
Holly Parker
Maria
Josef
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Violet H
Andie
Shamas
Daniel Shaw
Regional List (Sometimes called Closed List system)
Simran
Dayna
Elisa
Alternative Vote (AV)
Hannah A
Josh
Olivia B
Cameron
Supplementary Vote (SV)
Ashira T-W
Olivia Boswell
Mollie Middleton
Daniel B

31. Additional Member System (AMS)
Nicole
Elli
Finlay
Leo
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Chloeann
Helena
Alisha
Jamie
Regional List (Sometimes called Closed List system)
Rachel C
Grace
Kave
Miles
Alternative Vote (AV)
Hannah R
Morgan
Ivan
Supplementary Vote (SV)
Ciara
Esme
Matt
Aaron

32. Additional Member System (AMS)
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Regional List (Sometimes called Closed List system)
Alterative Vote (AV)
Supplementary Vote (SV)

33. Applying the evidence
“The 2015 General Election shows that the UK should change its voting system.”
Put this question in the middle of your A3 paper and the four reasons on each quarter.
Each reason should be accompanied by the three most important pieces of evidence and supporting knowledge from the textbooks.