1- Murphy- Elections Flashcards
Define election.
An election is an occasion when voters are given the opportunity to choose a representative or political leader.
Define majoritarian representation.
Majoritarian representation is a system which garuntees that a government/ since individual is elected by an overall majority of voters (more than 50%). This applies to SV and AV systems.
- produces clear winner
- once elected candidate per constituency
Define mandate.
A principle that, when a government is elected, it is considered to have the authority to carry out the commitments made in its election manifesto.
Define proportional representation.
Proportional representation is a system whereby votes are converted to a corresponding percentage of seats. E.g if a party won 30% of the votes, they would gain 30% of the seats.
- no clear winner
- multi member constituencies
Define electoral reform.
Electoral reform is any process which involves changing the electoral system and thus effecting changes in the political system.
Define party system.
A description of a political system indicating approximately how many parties gain significant representation and influence. Systems range from single- dominant party, to two party, three party or multi-party.
Define strong government.
Strong government refers to a government that can rely upon a sufficient majority of support in Parliament so it is able to act decisively and carry through its own legislation/ proposals.
Define stable government.
Stable government refers to a government that is unlikely to become divided or fall from power before its term of office is complete.
Give 4 functions/roles of elections.
- Selecting a government- done indirectly through selecting seats.
- Legitimacy- the electorate give the representative the authority to act on their behalf/ gov. gets a mandate to carry out manifesto.
- Accountability- the electorate can remove representatives/ gov. by not voting for them if they feel like they didn’t keep their promises.
- Educative function- citizens become informed on the major issues concerning the state when they read manifestos.
What is the difference between an election and a referendum ( features of an election)
- elections deal with a wide range of issues whereas referendums concern a single issue.
- elections are held at regular intervals, while referendums can happen any time.
- elections concern political parties whereas referendums can cut across party differences.
In which ways are elections democratic.
- Legitimacy- clear mandate is given to government.
- Equality- a key feature of democracy is that everyone has an equal chance to influence gov. policy. 1 person = 1 vote
- Accountability- electorate has a choice to hold representatives accountable.
- Simple plurality system- although many do not view the westminster system as democratic, the person with the most amount of votes wins, obeying the will of the people.
In which ways are elections undemocratic.
- No real choice- voters can only choose between manifestos not actually influence what they consist of.
- Excessive gov. power- some say the mandates that elections grant gives the gov. too much power
- Disproportional- elections are not proportional which often works to the detriment of smaller parties
- Unequal resources- due to their expense, elections often work in favour of those with more abundant financial resources because the can raise awareness with more people/posters.
What type of elections exist in the UK?
- General election
- Local elections (local council/ mayor)
- European
- Devolved assemblies
- Other- by-elections, party leadership elections
Which system is simple plurality?
First past the post
Which voting systems are majoritarian?
- Alternative vote (plus)- AV
2. Supplementary vote- SV
Which systems are proportional?
- Regional list/ closed party list
2. Single transferable vote
Which systems are hybrid?
Additional member system
Where is the Additional Member System used?
- Scottish Parliament
- Welsh Assembly
- Greater London Assembly
Where is the Single Transferable Vote used?
- Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Scottish/ Northern Ireland local governments
Where is Regional List used?
European Parliament
Where is Supplementary Vote used?
London mayor elections
Where is the Alternative Vote used?
Labour and Lib-Dem leadership elections
How does SV work?
- used to elect a single individual
- each voter choses first and second preference
- if one candidate gets over 50% of the FIRST PREFERENCES of voters, they are elected
- if not, all but the top two candidates are eliminated
- second preferences for each of the top two candidates are added up. whoever has more votes wins
How does Regional List (closed party list) work?
- each party presents a list of candidates in its chosen order of preference
- voters have one vote which they cast for a PARTY LIST, NOT AN INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE
- seats are awarded broadly in proportion to the votes cast for that party
How does STV work?
- on the ballot paper, the voter numbers candidates in order of preference.
- they can vote for as many or as few candidates as they wish as in STV the constituencies are multi- member. (1 or all of them)
- instead of securing a majority the candidate has reach an electoral quota
- quota calculated by number of votes, divided by the number of seats plus one, and then one is added to the total.
- candidates who reach the quota on first choices are automatically elected
- any extra (wasted) votes are re-allocated to other candidates.
- this continues until enough candidates meet the quota
How does FPTP work?
- voters select one candidate from a list, nearly all of whom have been nominated by a political party
- the candidate with the most votes wins the seat for the constituency
- 1 MP for 1 of the equally sized (population wise) constituencies
Name 4 disadvantages/ reasons for electoral reform FPTP?
- disproportional
- large amount of wasted votes
- favours larger parties/ parties with concentrated support
- results in ‘safe seats’ so voters in these constituencies have less influence and votes are not of equal value
- 2011 coalition proves that a strong and stable government does not always strong gov. is not always provided
- lack of legitimacy- most MPs are elected with less than 50% of the vote
Name 4 advantages/reasons for keeping FPTP?
- widely accepted and well understood
- retains strong link between the MP and their constituency
- produces a strong and stable government
- arguably keeps out extremist parties
Advantages of a proportional system
- Fairer- less votes are wasted because they are more equal.
- Satisfying- could restore confidence in political process as is easier to see your vote coming into practice
- Prevent and ‘elective dictatorship + help smaller parties- number of parties would share power
- Consensus politics- a multi party system could encourage parties to work together
Disadvantages of a proportional system
- Weak and inefficient government
- Weaker MP constituent link
- More difficult to understand
