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Elections 2017

What is an election?

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ACTIVITY 1 What is an election?

Think about these three questions:

  • What is an election?
  • Why do we have elections?
  • What happens during an election?

In groups of 2 or 3 people, discuss each of these questions.

Click here and share your ideas

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KEY POINTS

Look at all the responses to the three questions: � What is an election? � Why do we have elections? � What happens during an election?

In your groups, summarise the key ideas and complete these sentences ��1) We think an election is….�2) We think elections are held to…�3) In an election ...

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ACTIVITY 2 New Zealand’s system of government

Discussion: �What do you know about how the NZ democratic system works?

K (I already know)

W (I want to know)

L (What I have learned)

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ACTIVITY 3 What is a democracy?

Brainstorm your ideas on these concepts:

decision making�� democracy�� participation�� collective action

Use a dictionary to find out the meaning of each word.�Write one or two sentences to explain how each concept is related to each other.

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ACTIVITY 4 Mind Map

Read FACTSHEET A

In your groups, create a MIND MAP to show how our democratic system of government works.

Use these questions to guide your mind map:

Who is in charge?� How did they get to be in charge?� How are laws made?

Class Discussion: How (and at which stage) do people influence the system?

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ACTIVITY 5 Representatives of the People

Electorate - all the people in an area who are allowed to vote in an election

Look at the electorate map for NZ on the right.�1) Why do you think the electorates in NZ are divided in this way?�2) Is every electorate the same?

The names and areas for each electorate change after a census. �3) Why do you think this happens?��Maori can choose between two electoral rolls after each census - the Maori roll or the General roll.

Click here to find your electorate4) Research who represents your electorate in Parliament - include any list MPs and the electorate MPs

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ACTIVITY 6 Who can vote?

CLASS DISCUSSION�Who can vote?�What are the criteria for enrolling to vote?

In groups of 2-3 people, research answers and fill out the table with your findings.

You can vote if you are...

You can’t vote if you are...