Cat and her classmates are on an excursion to Parliament House where they participate in mock parliament. Sadie is ecstatic, taking her role very seriously. Meanwhile, Cat finds herself making a bet with Miro on the outcome of the mock legislation and after consulting with Sadie, uses questionable measures to bribe the mock parliament participants to vote her way.   

Reflect

• How does the mock parliament in the clip relate to the real democratic process? What similarities and differences do you notice?
• In a democracy, why is it important for everyone to have a fair and equal vote? How did Cat’s actions undermine this principle?
• What responsibilities do citizens have when participating in a democratic process like voting or making decisions for a group?
• How does Sadie’s dedication to her role reflect the qualities of a good citizen in a democracy? What lessons can we learn from her approach?
• Why is it important to act with integrity and fairness when involved in civic activities, such as mock parliament or real elections?
• What does this clip teach us about the role of leadership and ethics in a democracy?
• How can citizens ensure that decisions made in a democracy are fair and reflect the best interests of everyone, rather than just a few?

Explore

Hold your own mock parliament. To help guide you use the Australian Parliament, What is a Bill? and Passing a Bill in Parliament resources from ABC Education.

You will be assigned roles such as Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, and committee members. Your teacher will introduce a mock bill on a topic that interests your class. Some suggested topics include:

• Reducing Single-Use Plastics
• Mandatory Recycling in Schools
• Climate Change Action
• Free School Meals for All Students
• Improving Public Transport

The bill will be debated through the key stages of the legislative process, including the Second Reading, Committee Stage and Third Reading.

During the debate, you will discuss and suggest amendments to the bill. Afterward, your class will vote on whether to pass the bill.

After the mock parliament, reflect on what you learned by discussing the challenges of creating fair laws and how different political views impact the legislative process.