At a time when confidence in our democracy is at historic lows, Majority Rules offers something rare: a clear, compelling look at a real solution. Through the lens of Alaska’s groundbreaking election reforms, this 30-minute documentary illustrates how voters can reclaim power and bring about fairer, more representative elections.
We now have available educational materials for grades 8-12 as well as materials designed for college classrooms that could be used in community learning environments and could be used for International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) level government classes.
Two versions of Majority Rules are available.
Watch the original theatrical release of Majority Rules on Amazon and other streaming platforms.
This is a special cut of the film that educators, policymakers, and other community leaders can use to introduce audiences to election reform and spark conversations about how more choice in our electoral process can lead to a more responsive democracy. This version features new footage of the outcomes of the 2024 open primaries ballot initiatives.
This version works well with the printer-friendly Learning Guide below, available in PDF and Google Slideshow formats.
Watch Majority Rules 101 free on YouTube.
Small grants (up to $2,500) are available to support nonpartisan organizations, community groups, and academic institutions in hosting local screenings of Majority Rules.
Organizations can use this grant to:
Download Majority Rules Grant PDF
Preview Majority Rules Grant PDF
Printer-Friendly Learning Guide with Key Questions, Useful Terms, Extension Activities Available in PDF and Google Slideshow formats.
This guide encourages to explore this driving question: What do you want from your government?
Subject: Civics, Current Events, Government, Political Science, Social Studies
This guide includes:
The Majority Rules Discussion Guide was prepared by Dan Butler, Professor of Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis.
This discussion guide was designed for college classrooms. It can also be used in community learning environments and International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) level government classes.
In this assignment, students write two candidate memos. Each memo outlines a strategic plan for a hypothetical candidate running in the
primary for a U.S. Senate. The memos will analyze the Race Overview, Target Voters, Messaging, and Tactics.
The first memo should be written for a candidate running in a traditional primary where the candidate is only competing against members of the same political party. The second memo should be written for a candidate running in a system like they have in Alaska (i.e. a top-4 primary that will be followed by a general election that uses ranked choice voting).
This assignment was designed for college classrooms. It can also be used in community learning environments and International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) level government classes.
Download Candidate Memo Assignment
Preview Candidate Memo Assignment
This essay assignment asks students to consider ho implementing the Alaska system (i.e., a top-4 primary combined with
ranked-choice voting in the general) could change how campaigns for Congress are run in their state.
This critical thinking and writing exercise can work as an in-class student activity or a take-home writing assignment.
This assignment was designed for college classrooms. It can also be used in community learning environments and International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) level government classes.
These tips can help you create safe space for classroom engagement on the themes and subjects of this film.
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