This page is a key part of the Democracy and Human Rights section in the Grade 11 Life Orientation Term 1 curriculum. After examining why transparency is necessary in government, we focus on how your voice is actually carried into the government through the people you elect.
The Meaning of Representation: Grade 11 LO Term 1
In Life Orientation Grade 11, we define representation as the process where elected individuals speak or act on behalf of the citizens. Because every citizen cannot be in Parliament to make decisions, we use elections to choose representatives who will protect our Constitutional values and interests.
1. How Representation Works
Elections are the primary way you participate in representation. By voting, you ensure that the people in authority are there to look after your needs and well-being. There are two main types of representation systems used to decide who gets a seat in government:
Proportional Representation (PR)
In this system, political parties receive a number of seats in Parliament based on the total percentage of votes they received in the election.
- The Calculation: If a party receives 12% of the national vote, they are entitled to 12% of the seats in Parliament.
- Example: Since there are 400 seats in the South African Parliament, a party with 12% of the vote would occupy 48 seats ($400 \times 0.12 = 48$).
Constituency-based Representation
In this system, the focus is on local areas rather than just the national party.
- The Process: The country is divided into voting areas called constituencies.
- The Candidate: Each political party chooses one specific candidate to represent them in that specific area.
- The Result: Only the candidate who wins the most votes in that specific constituency goes to Parliament to represent that local community.
2. Why Representation Matters for You
Representation is essential for a healthy democracy because it ensures accountability. If an elected official does not represent your interests or fails to follow the Rule of Law, citizens have the right to vote for someone else in the next election.
As a Grade 11 learner, understanding these systems prepares you for your rights and responsibilities as a future voter. It also helps you identify who you should approach when using the petition process to solve community issues.
Activity: Analyzing Representation
- Calculate: If a political party wins 25% of the votes in South Africa, how many of the 400 Parliamentary seats will they get?
- Differentiate: Explain the main difference between proportional representation and constituency-based representation.
- Evaluate: Which system do you think makes a representative more accountable to a specific local community? Give a reason for your answer.
- Reflect: How does voting for a representative link to your personal values and choices?
Next Lesson: The requirement for leaders to answer for their actions: The Meaning of Accountability.
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