Class Election Project

Class Election Project

Requirements of our Class Constitution Candidates must: Be a member on our class roster. Be at least eight years old. Have been at in our school for at least nine weeks.

Parties and Platforms Candidates usually belong to one political party whose members share similar ideas about the way the government should run. (In the US, the two main political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.) Each party has a platform, or statement of beliefs and values they are committed to represent.

Class Parties Our class will have two main political parties: Servicrats Honorarians Take the survey on the following page to find out which party your beliefs most strongly align with!

Servicrat or Honorarian? Rank each statement below in order of importance in your opinion. 1= Most important; 7= Least important Our class officers must look for the needs of other people and find ways to meet those needs. Our class officers must take initiative, seeing what needs to be done & doing it to benefit the whole class. Our class offices should implement a program in which doing good deeds is celebrated. Our class officers must look for the good in other people and find ways to celebrate those strengths. Our class officers must never say hurtful words to or about their classmates. Our class officers should implement a program in which acts of kindness are celebrated.

Servicrat or Honorarian? Add up your rankings in each of the areas below. Whichever area you scored LOWEST in is your political affiliation! S E R V I C R A T H O N O R A R I A N Our class officers must look for the needs of other people and find ways to meet those needs. Our class officers must take initiative, seeing what needs to be done & doing it to benefit the whole class. Our class offices should implement a program in which doing good deeds is celebrated. Our class officers must look for the good in other people and find ways to celebrate those strengths. Our class officers must never say hurtful words to or about their classmates. Our class officers should implement a program in which acts of kindness are celebrated.

Your Party? Servicrat Score Honorarian Score Which are you? Servicrat Honorarian

Without ANY talking, move seats to sit with your party. (This would be a great time to demonstrate leadership qualities.)

Servicrat Platform Servicrat candidates must: Look for needs of others within our classroom, grade level, and school, and work to meet those needs. Take initiative, seeing what needs to be done and taking care of it or leading others to take care of it, to the benefit of our class or school. Propose a program within our classroom in which we as a class meet the needs of other people.

Honorarian Platform Honorarian candidates must: Look for the good in other people and find ways to celebrate other people s strengths. Never say hurtful words to or about their classmates. Even if a classmate is not acting honorable, the officers will treat them honorably. Propose a program within our classroom to spur each other towards acts of kindness.

Nominations During the Primaries and Caucuses, parties nominate the candidates that they feel would best represent their party. It is essential the nominees are not selected based on: Manipulation- When someone tries to bully others into backing them. (Example: If you don t nominate me, I m not going to be your best friend anymore. ) Backroom Deals- When someone tries to buy another person s support. (Example: If you nominate me, I ll nominate you. ) Favoritism- When someone gives advantages to their best friends. (Example: I like her the best so I m going to nominate her even though she doesn t represent our platform as well as the others. )

Nominations Take a moment to look back over your party s platform. Look around at the other students in your party. Who do you feel best represents the platform of your party? because (When you are finished answering in a well-developed, complete, and convincing sentence, screenshot this page and SeeSaw so that that nominations can be totaled.)

Accepting Nominations You must decide whether you will accept or decline your party s nomination if you are chosen as your party s presidential or vice presidential nominee. Accepting the nomination means you are agreeing to: Organize your party s campaign with the help and support of its citizens. Lead the creation of a class government program reflecting your party s platform. Speak in front of the class during a friendly debate. Do your best to uphold the values of your party through your words and actions, not only during this election but throughout the year. Serve on student council (which includes meetings or leadership seminars once a week during recess, planning spirit days, giving tours to visitors to our school, welcoming during school-wide assemblies, and consideration of any other leadership act requested by teachers or administrators.) If I receive my party s nomination, I will will not run. (Screenshot & SeeSaw)

Candidates Servicrat Honorarian Presidential Candidate: Presidential Candidate: Vice Presidential Candidate: Vice Presidential Candidate:

Campaign Whether you are a candidate or not, your job now is to make sure your party s candidates win the election! To do this you must: Develop a campaign slogan (with your party) and create campaign posters. (You may choose paper or digital.) Work with your party to develop a class government program reflecting your party s platform. Write a campaign speech for your party s candidates to read during the debate. Write two thoughtful questions you might ask to each candidate (from both parties) during the debate. (Candidates are exempt from this and may practice their debate speech during this time.) Draft a persuasive email requesting the support of one adult in the school for your candidates. Be sure to include a statement of your party s platform and detailed evidence of how your candidates exemplify those qualities.

Support Email Write and email to another adult in the building (former teacher, administrator, related arts teacher, etc.) requesting support for your parties candidate. Your email must include: An explanation of our class election. An introduction of your party s candidates. An explanation of your party s platform. Evidence demonstrating ways your candidate demonstrates the values of their platform. Request for support. Proper email etiquette and formatting.

Slogan What is the purpose of a campaign slogan? What some different approaches to campaign slogans? What makes a campaign slogan successful? Use the following link for research and evidence: http://www.presidentsusa.net/ campaignslogans.html

Party Program Plan Read Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio. In the story, Grace volunteers in several different ways throughout the school in order to make good on her campaign promises. You have a unique chance to develop your own school program focusing on your party s platform. Identify a need within your school related to service or honor. Present your idea to your teacher to make sure it fits with educational programming at your school or in your classroom.

Debate Speech/ Questions Work with your Political Party to write your candidates' speeches for the debate. Speeches should include: An introduction of each candidate. A detailed description of your party's platform. Examples and evidence of ways your candidates live out their platform. A proposal of the government program that your party plans to implement if elected. A quote from an adult at school who responded to your support email and who supports your candidates. A strong closing statement which includes your party's slogan.

During the Debate Take notes in your journal of important statements the candidates make. Look at each party s platform and think about how well each candidate represents that platform in their speech and with their answers. Have an open mind. At this point, you are no longer bound to choose the people who represent your party. Your job is to educate yourself about all four candidates.

Voting Considerations Which candidate: Lives out his/ her platform best? Did the best job leading his/ her party during the election process? Proposes the most needed class government program? Represents a platform that is most in line with my beliefs, priorities, and needs? Will best represent our class during school-wide functions and leadership assignments? Will unite Servicrats and Honorarians after the election by advocating for both service and honor?

Ballot Honorarian Candidates Servicrat Candidates Write-in President: Vice President: