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Elections in a Democracy: Winning and Losing

Essential Question: 

  • Why is it important in a free society that majorities rule while minorities assent to just laws? 

Objectives: 

  • Students will interact with each other to understand the importance of magnanimity in victory and commitment to the system even in defeat in a self-governing country based upon majority rule and minority assent.  
  • Students will explore the results of recent elections to understand shifts in which political party holds certain offices of the federal government.  

Materials: 

Anticipate: 

  • Begin class with a brief discussion about the November 5 election. Students should understand that while the election was important, there will be another national election in just two years, and a presidential election in four years. Whether you’re happy or disappointed by the result, change is always just around the corner.  

Explore: 

  • Engage students in an activity to begin to develop the concept of magnanimity in victory, and commitment to the system in defeat. Have them play rock paper scissors, roll dice, or use a randomized online spinner. There should be a “best out of five” to determine winners. Students will engage and see that likely will each win and lose during the best of five.  
  • To continue to develop the concept, have students vote on three minor classroom policies of your choice. Make sure that the questions being voted on will generate enough disagreement to cause some division. Students will win on one policy but lose on another. Engage students in a brief recap on the activities to discuss the importance of humility in victory and in defeat. Why is it important that both sides stay committed to the rules and system that was agreed upon, even if they initially lost? Self-government means we do not always get what we want, but we always have the opportunity.  

Engage: 

  • In small groups, have students explore past presidential and congressional elections. They may use the below links for their research. Divide your class into groups to determine which party won the presidency, House of Representatives, and the Senate in the past 50 years. Write the class findings on the board to show the winners of each branch of government. 
  • Have students write a reflection on the activity. Use the following questions: 
    • What did they learn about winning and losing in both the game, the classroom vote, and historic elections?  
    • Why is it important in a free society that both sides have the chance to win or lose each election?  
    • If you lose, what is the importance of having a system where you know you have a good chance to win the next time? 
    • Why is it important that a majority rules justly, and that a minority assents to that just rule?