Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 1

Term: 3^rd Term

Week: 12

Class: Senior Secondary School 1

Age: 15 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Electoral system II

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Define plurality system, second ballot system, alternative system and absolute majority system
2. Highlight the advantages and disadvantages of plurality system and absolute majority system

 INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

PRESENTATION	TEACHER’S ACTIVITY	STUDENT’S ACTIVITY
STEP 1 INTRODUCTION	The teacher reviews the previous lesson on types of electoral system	Students pay attention
STEP 2 EXPLANATION	He explains the meaning of plurality system, second ballot system, alternative system and absolute majority system	Students pay attention and participates
STEP 3 DEMONSTRATION	He highlights the advantages and disadvantages of plurality system and absolute majority system	Students pay attention and participate
STEP 4 NOTE TAKING	The teacher writes a summarized note on the board	The students copy the note in their books

 

NOTE

TYPES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM

PLURALITY SYSTEM

This is also referred to as ‘first past the post’ or simple majority system. In this system, the candidate who scores the highest number of votes is deemed elected.

 

MERITS OF PLURALITY SYSTEM

1. It enables a voter to vote directly for or against a particular candidate, party or policy
2. The procedure is simple and it appeals to both literate and illiterate electorate
3. It produces a winner after the first ballot
4. It is economical because it saves money, time and energy e.t.c

DISADVANTAGES OF PLURALITY SYSTEM

1. There may be possibility of rigging
2. The system does not produce result that reflect the wishes of the majority
3. The system may enthrone a government that is not popular

 

SECOND BALLOT SYSTEM

This system involves two ballot (elections) at the first instance the successful candidate is required to obtain an absolute majority of the vote cast(50 percent plus one). If this is not obtained by any of the candidate a second ballot is required and those having low results will be eliminated. And the winning candidate is required to obtain the single majority.

 

THE ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM

In this system each voter is given the permission to indicate the choice of candidates in order of preference i.e 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd and if there’s no absolute majority the candidate who scored least can be dropped and is vote distributed to other candidate according to the second preference of the voters

 

ABSOLUTE MAJORITY SYSTEM

In this system a candidate must score more than half of the votes cast before he can be declared the winner

 

ADVANTAGES OF ABSOLUTE MAJORITY SYSTEM

1. It is reflection of the wishes of the people
2. There’s no room for unpopular candidate
3. It produces credible candidates

 

DISADVANTAGES

1. It is expensive and time consuming
2. It encourages rigging of result

 

EVALUATION:    1. Define

a. plurality system

b. second ballot system

c. alternative system

d. absolute majority system

2. Outline two advantages and disadvantages of

a. plurality system

b. absolute majority system

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively