civics and citizenships 9

term 1 week 4

Preferential Voting (Used for the House of Representatives) 

• Voters rank candidates in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). 

• To win, a candidate must get more than 50% (an absolute majority) of the votes. 

• If no candidate gets 50% in the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. 

• Their votes are reallocated based on voters' next preferences. 

• This continues until one candidate has over 50% and is elected. 

• Ensures the winner is the most preferred overall candidate. 

Proportional Voting (Used for the Senate)

• Voters rank parties or candidates in order of preference. 

• A quota is set (a minimum number of votes needed to win a seat). 

• Candidates who reach the quota are elected. 

• Extra votes they receive are transferred to other candidates based on preferences. 

• This process continues until all Senate seats are filled. 

• Ensures fairer representation of different political parties in the Senate. 

Influencing Voter's with Social Media

1. Advertising & Promotion – Parties run targeted ads to highlight their policies and achievements. 

2. Engaging with Voters – Politicians use live streams, Q&A sessions, and posts to interact with the public. 

3. Attacking Opponents – Negative ads and posts are used to criticize rival parties and their policies. 

4. Viral Campaigns – Memes, hashtags, and trending topics help spread political messages quickly. 

5. Misinformation & Fake News – Some groups use social media to spread false or misleading information to influence voters. 

House of Representatives (Lower House) 

• Members represent different areas (electorates), with more populated areas having more MPs. 

• The party with the most seats forms the government, and its leader becomes the Prime Minister. 

• Proposes and debates most new laws, especially those about money and taxes.

• 151 members

• green 

Senate (Upper House) 

• Each state has an equal number of senators, ensuring fair representation. 

• Reviews laws passed by the House of Representatives to make sure they are fair. 

• Holds the government accountable and investigates issues through committees. 

• 76 members

• red

westminster system

The Westminster system is a democratic government model with a parliamentary structure, where the executive (prime minister and cabinet) is drawn from and accountable to the legislature.