Good Political Representatives

POINTS
1

MODE
Workshop

TYPE
Knowing

KIND
SoCIETIE KNOT

THREAD
Active Citizenship

Summary

This knot will comprise 2 workshops involving the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy (CAPaD). We will consider issues of representation, expectations of political representatives, and how this connects with our roles as citizens.

The first workshop will consider what expectations we should have of elected representatives, in the present and in an ideal democracy. It will introduce the work of CAPaD in setting expectations and eliciting responses from candidates. We will also consider what we as citizens need to do to meet expectations of representation.

Before and after the first workshop, we will encourage students to engage with CAPaD resources and potentially other sources (see preparation).

In the second workshop, we will consider methods of deliberation, and practice these in developing candidate assessments, working in groups. As well as providing learning about political representation and participation, and skills in deliberation, we hope that the assessments exercise will prove useful to students in voting on 3rd May.

Preparation

The following will help you prepare for the first workshop.

  1. Think about what matters to you in the upcomingelection. Make a list of the most important issues you’d like addressed.
  2. Think about how you would like to be representedin Parliament. What would the ideal candidate be like from your perspective?What would they do?
  3. Look at the CAPaD Voters’ Expectations of MPs: https://canberra-alliance.org.au/2025-federal-election/


For the second workshop, please look at the Candidate Questions and Candidate Videos for your electorate (https://canberra-alliance.org.au/2025-federal-election/) . If you are not registered in the ACT, you can look at resources available for the candidates in your electorate (websites etc), or for the exercise in the second workshop, you can choose an ACT electorate.

While watching the videos, listen out for:

  • How will they engage and involve the people they represent?
  • How will they feed back?
  • What is their attitude & approach to representation?
  • What is their approach in terms of policy?




What participants will learn

The students will reflect and learn about what it takes to be a good democratic representative, about their role as citizens in elections, and about how political representation could be more accountable, engaged, responsive and informed. They will learn how to be more informed as voting citizens.

Advice

There are two separate workshops delivered in this KNOT. Students are encouraged to attend both, but may attend one. Students who have not completed the first workshop are strongly encouraged to have completed the pre-workshop activities and looked at the CAPaD resources before attending the second workshop.

Completion

Consider your answers to the pre-workshop activities, and your experience during the workshops. Provide a reflection on what you've learnt about political representation, and how this has changed your experience of voting in this election.

Compile your pre-workshop activity, any resources created through the workshop, and your reflection on the question above as the completion task.

Material

CAPaD resources: https://canberra-alliance.org.au

Written by
Wendy Russell
Created by
Wendy Russell