CitizenshipDemocratic participation28 min★★★ difficulty

Electoral systems compared

Not every vote works the same way — the system used can change who ends up winning, even with identical votes.

Part of your national curriculum

Democracy and government: Understand the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom, and actions citizens can take to influence decisions

Lesson overview

What you'll learn in this lesson

Understand the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom, and actions citizens can take to influence decisions

Key learning points

• First past the post
• Proportional systems
• Systems beyond the UK

This lesson at a glance

28 minutes
17 parts to scroll through
3 quick checks
Marked quiz at the end
Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses

Words to know

electoralsystemsbeyondunitedkingdom

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Part 1 of 17 · Discover6%

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Part 1 of 17

Visual introduction

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Electoral systems compared

Not every vote works the same way — the system used can change who ends up winning, even with identical votes.

In a nutshell

Understand the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom, and actions citizens can take to influence decisions

Learning cycle

Part 2 of 17

Learning cycle 1 of 2

Part 1 · First past the post

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 3 of 17

Learn

First past the post

UK general elections use first past the post: the country is divided into constituencies, and the candidate with the most votes in each wins that seat. It usually produces clear winners but can mean a party's seats do not match its national vote share.

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Part 4 of 17

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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

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Explore the idea

Part 5 of 17

Learn

Proportional systems

Some UK elections, such as those for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd, use additional member systems that combine constituency seats with proportional top-up seats, giving smaller parties a fairer chance of representation.

Quick check

Part 6 of 17

Quick check

What does 'first past the post' mean?

Give me a hint

Quick check

Part 7 of 17

Quick check

Which UK election uses an additional member system?

Give me a hint

Reset break

Part 8 of 17

Pause

That's sitting 2 of 4 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

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Learning cycle

Part 9 of 17

Learning cycle 2 of 2

Part 2 · Systems beyond the UK

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 10 of 17

Learn

Systems beyond the UK

Many countries, including much of Europe, use proportional representation, where seats closely match vote share. Comparing systems helps citizens understand debates about reforming how the UK elects its representatives.

Quick check

Part 11 of 17

Quick check

What is a common feature of proportional representation systems?

Give me a hint

Reset break

Part 12 of 17

Pause

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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now

Challenge round

Part 13 of 17

Game · Sort it

Which of these are true?

Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.

True

Not true

Challenge round

Part 14 of 17

Game · Fill the gaps

Finish the sentences

Choose the word that belongs in each gap.

Comparing ____ helps citizens understand debates about reforming how the UK elects its representatives.

Challenge round

Part 15 of 17

Game · Recall cards

What does 'first past the post' mean?

Card 1 of 3

Mastery quiz

Part 16 of 17

Marked quiz

End of lesson quiz: Electoral systems compared

3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.

1. What does 'first past the post' mean?
2. Which UK election uses an additional member system?
3. What is a common feature of proportional representation systems?

Lesson round-up

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Understand the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom, and actions citizens can take to influence decisions