1.3 Elecoral Systems

Question 1

What 4 ways should you judge the effectiveness of an electoral system on?

Answer 1

Whether it provides:

• A strong + stable government
• Proportionally representative results
• The ability to hold a government to account
• The

Question 2

What are the advantages of FPTP?

Answer 2

• Quick and simple
• Produces a majority/ strong and stable government the majority of the time
• Excludes extremist groups
• Ensures there is a strong link between MPs and their constituency

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of FPTP?

Answer 3

• Regularly produces governments elected on a minority of the popular vote
• Does not proportionally translate the number of votes into seats
• There is a limited voter choice
• Votes are of unequal value (a small constituency vote counts for more than a large constituency vote)

Question 4

What is AMS a hybrid system of?

Answer 4

FPTP and Proportional representation

Question 5

What are the advantages of AMS?

Answer 5

• It is more proportional than FPTP
• The FPTP element ensures close connection between constituents and MPs
• Electors have a wide choice in comparison to FPTP

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of AMS?

Answer 6

• It creates 2 types of member, 1 with constituency policy and one without
• A closed list system is used which means that party leadership ranks members limiting the powers of the electorate
• Smaller parties achieve less representation than under a proportionally representative system

Question 7

Where in the UK is SV used?

Answer 7

In the London Mayoral elections