Proportional Representation Social Studies Vishnu Boys’ Hindu College

Activity: Students will be called upon to identify any differences between the number of constituencies in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Activity: Students will be called upon to identify any besides Guyana that uses proportional representation.

Aspects of Proportional Representation: 1.All parties are represented in the legislature based on the amount of votes that they gain in the election. 2. Any number of parties can contest the elections. 3. Citizens vote for the party of their choice. 4. After the election, seats are distributed in proportion to the number of votes gained by the respective parties. 5. If a party gains 20% of the votes, they will occupy 20% of the seats in the legislature.

Aspects (continued): 6.Guyana has a uni-cameral legislature with 65 members, all of whom are elected. 7. Guyana’s legislature also has non-elected members who serve as Ministers and can participate in debates. They cannot vote however.

Group Activity: In their various groups (at least six students per group), students, based on what they have read on the aspects of proportional representation, will identify advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation. These advantages and disadvantages will be presented to the class on sheets of bristol board. Three groups will present two advantages each and three groups will present two disadvantages each.

Activity: In their respective groups, students will come up with at least three differences between proportional representation and first-past-the-post system.

Closure: Students will recap the main points of the lesson.

Homework: Students will write a paragraph of at least seven lines on which electoral system is better for Trinidad and Tobago