How Groups Make Decisions · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

How Groups Make Decisions

Civics & Economics · Citizenship in Action · ages 8-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A soccer referee decides alone whether a goal counts. Which method is that?

    • Voting
    • One person decides
    • Talking until everyone agrees

  2. Everyone in class raises a hand to pick a class pet name, and the most hands wins. Which method is this?

    • One person decides
    • Voting
    • Talking until everyone agrees

  3. Consensus means everyone talks until they all agree.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which sentence describes a true trade-off of consensus (talking until everyone agrees)?

    • It is fair but can take a long time
    • It is fast but ignores people
    • It always picks the wrong answer

  5. A town needs to pick a new mayor, and everyone's voice should be counted. Which method fits best?

    • One person decides
    • Voting
    • Talking until everyone agrees

  6. During a fire drill, why does the school use one person deciding instead of a class vote?

    • Voting is fairer in an emergency
    • There is no time to vote when speed matters
    • The class has no opinions about exits

  7. A jury must decide if someone is guilty. One juror says, 'Let's just vote fast and go home.' Why might that be a problem?

    • Voting is always the wrong method for any group
    • A judge should decide alone instead of the jury
    • Juries often need everyone to agree, not a quick vote, so no one is wrongly judged

  8. A club president decides every rule alone and never asks members. Members feel unheard. What trade-off is happening here?

    • The method is fast but leaves people out
    • The method is slow but very fair
    • There is no trade-off at all
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

How Groups Make Decisions W1-mt_nW4AxgWheP-s1

  1. One person decides · The referee does not ask anyone else. One person makes the call.
  2. Voting · When people raise hands and the most hands wins, that is voting.
  3. True · That is exactly what consensus means: talking it out until nobody is left unhappy.
  4. It is fair but can take a long time · Consensus works hard to make everyone happy, and that takes time.
  5. Voting · A whole town cannot sit and talk until everyone agrees, so it votes instead.
  6. There is no time to vote when speed matters · An emergency needs a fast call, so one person in charge fits better than a vote.
  7. Juries often need everyone to agree, not a quick vote, so no one is wrongly judged · Courts often use consensus for juries because getting it right matters more than getting it fast.
  8. The method is fast but leaves people out · One person deciding is quick, but it can leave others feeling ignored.
Worksheet · LightMySky