Social Studies Vishnu Boys’ Hindu College Electoral Systems Social Studies Vishnu Boys’ Hindu College

Activity: Students will be called upon to identify the other constituencies in Trinidad and Tobago besides those named by the teacher.

Activity: Students will be called upon to identify countries in and outside the Caribbean that use the first-past-the-post system.

Aspects of the First-Past-the-Post System: 1. General Elections are held in Trinidad and Tobago every five years. 2. At the time of a General Election, the country is divided into forty one constituencies. 3.The various political parties will nominate candidates to contest the various constituencies. 4. The candidates will campaign to win the support of the people. Activity: Students will be called upon to define the word, “campaign.”

Aspects (continued): 5. On election day, citizens over the age of 18 are to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. 6. After the elections, the votes are counted. 7. The candidate with the most votes in a constituency becomes the Member of Parliament for that area. 8. This is the first-past-the-post system.

Activity: Students will be called upon to identify another electoral system in the Caribbean. Group activity: In their various groups (at least six students per group), students will sketch four cartoon frames using the sheets of bristol board provided illustrating to a ten year old the steps involved in the first-past-the-post system.

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

Home work: Students are to identify two advantages and disadvantages of the first-past-the-post system.