Georgia SS6CG4

SS6CG4 is a Georgia social studies standard. These are the elements under it.

• SS6CG4.a

  Explain citizen participation in democratic governments [i.e. the role of citizens in choosing the leaders of Australia (parliamentary democracy)].

01

What Students Need to Do

Students compare how much voice citizens have in democratic and autocratic governments. They explain how Australians participate by voting, contacting representatives, signing petitions, joining campaigns, and protesting peacefully. They connect compulsory voting and secret ballots to citizen influence.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A student can explain how Australian citizens elect members of Parliament and how the parliamentary majority determines the prime minister. The student can contrast these rights with restricted participation under an autocratic government.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students often think Australians elect the prime minister directly. They may believe the monarch makes daily government decisions. They may also think compulsory voting removes voter choice or that autocratic governments never hold elections.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: Name two ways an Australian citizen can influence government, then explain one way participation would differ under an autocracy.

1. 01

   Run a mock Australian election with candidate cards, secret ballots, a voter roll, and a tally of each class vote.

2. 02

   Ask students: How does compulsory voting change who has a voice, and should citizens be fined for not voting?

3. 03

   Play a sorting relay with cards showing voting, petitioning, protesting, censorship, and arrests, then label democratic access or autocratic restriction.

4. 04

   Have students use an Australian Parliament webpage to find an active petition and explain how citizens can support it.

• SS6CG2

  Explain citizen participation in the Canadian government.

• SS7CG1

  Compare and contrast different forms of citizen participation in government.

• SS7CG1.a

  Explain the role of citizen participation in autocratic and democratic governments.