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Politics > 3 Electoral Systems > Flashcards

3 Electoral Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Majoritarian systems

A

require the winning candidates to win a simple majority of 50%+1 or more of the valid votes

e.g. supplementary vote

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2
Q

Plurality systems

A

require the winning candidates to gain more votes than any other candidate

e.g. FPTP

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3
Q

Proportional systems

A

allocate the number of seats gained roughly in proportion to the percentage of the vote gained

e.g. additional members system, single transferable vote

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4
Q

Northern Irish Assembly

A

every 5 years

STV

90 elected

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5
Q

Scottish Parliament

A

every 5 years

AMS

129 elected

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6
Q

Local election

A

4-year terms

FPTP

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7
Q

UK Parliament

A

every 5 years

FPTP

650 elected

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8
Q

London Assembly

A

every 4 years

AMS

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9
Q

London Mayor

A

every 4 years

FPTP

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10
Q

Police and Crime Commissioners

A

every 4 years

SV

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11
Q

Welsh Parliament

A

every 5 years

AMS

60 elected

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12
Q

FPTP

A

UK divided into 650 constituencies based on population (done by the Independent Boundary Commission and voted on by Parliament)

each constituency is represented by a single MP

voters cast their vote for the person they want to represent their constituency

the person with the most votes becomes MP

the party with the majority of MPs (at least 326 out of 650) is invited to form government by the monarch

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13
Q

Advantages of FPTP

A

simple, quick system which should encourage voter turnout and increase legitimacy of the resulting government

strong government with majority of MPs, allowing parties to carry out their manifestos

single representatives means a close party representative link and accountability

creates a 2 party system which keeps extremist parties from getting into power

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14
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

A

results in wasted votes because only the candidate with the most takes the seat

winner’s bonus can give the government power in excess of the vote they received

2 party system leads to tactical voting, voters choosing the least bad of the two main parties

creates safe seats in which the value of an individual vote is reduced

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15
Q

AMS

A

voter casts two separate votes - the first for an MSP or MS to represent their constituency and second for a party to represent their region

Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies, Wales has 40. Constituency MSPs are elected using FPTP from the first vote cast

the second vote is used to elect regional MSPs in 8 large regions in Scotland, 5 in Wales. Using the d’Hondt formula takes the results of the constituency elections and votes cast in the region to allocate the remaining seats proportionally

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16
Q

Impacts of AMS

A

creates a multi-party system

creates minority or coalition governments

smaller parties have greater success in the regional vote, major parties do well in the constituency vote

growing success of nationalist parties in devolved Parliaments - SNP and Plaid Cymru

17
Q

STV

A

NI is divided into 18 regions which each elect 5 MLAs. Multiple candidates from each party appear on the ballot paper

the voter ranks candidates in order of preference, ranking as many or as few as they would like - ordinal voting

the Droop quota is calculated

any candidates who reach the quota are awarded a seat, any votes above the quota are redistributed according to next preference, if a candidate now reaches the quota they also get a seat

if any seats remain but no one has reached the quota, the bottom candidate is eliminated and their votes redistributed by next preference. this is repeated till all seats are filled

18
Q

STV impacts

A

creates a multi-party system

in NI the Good Friday Agreement (not STV) means the government resulting from an election must be power sharing, Both Sinn Fein and DUP must hold roles in government

smaller parties do better in the regional vote

19
Q

SV

A

the voter has one vote but is able to identify a first and second choice on their ballot

all votes are cast and first choices are counted

if anyone has 50%+1 or more they are the winner and the election is over

if no one has 50%+1 all but the top 2 candidates are eliminated and their votes redistributed by second preference

someone will now have 50%+1 or more and they are the winner

20
Q

SV impacts

A

creates a 2 party system

if used on a large scale, would result in a single party government with smaller parties having little chance to gain power

create safe seats if used for general elections

21
Q

2010 General Election

A

turnout 65%

Conservative - 36.1% 306 seats
Labour 29.0% 258 seats
Lib Dems 23.0% 62 seats

coalition of Conservatives and Lib Dems

22
Q

2015 General Election

A

turnout 66%

Conservative - 36.8% 330 seats
Labour - 30.4% 232 seats
Lib Dems - 7.9% 8 seats
UKIP - 12.6% 1 seat

Conservative majority

23
Q

2017 General Election

A

turnout 69%

Conservative - 42.3% 317 seats
Labour - 40.0% 262 seats
Lib Dems - 7.4% 12 seats

Conservative government with supply and confidence agreement with the DUP

24
Q

2019 General Election

A

turnout 67%

Conservative - 43.6% 365 seats
Labour - 32.1% 202 seats
Lib Dems - 11.6% 11 seats
UKIP - 0.07% 0 seats

Conservative majority

25
Q

Scotland 2021

A

turnout 64%

Conservative - 22% 5 seats
Labour - 22% 2 seats
SNP - 48% 62 seats

SNP and Green Party power-sharing

26
Q

NI 2022

A

turnout 64%

DUP - 21% 25 seats
Sinn Fein - 29% 27 seats

government not formed due to DUP being unwilling to name a deputy first minister until issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol were resolved

27
Q

London 2021

A

turnout 42%

Conservative 35%
Labour 40%

Sadiq Khan retained post as Mayor of London

28
Q

Elections improve democracy

A

holding government accountable for its actions - regular elections

using a secret ballot - no pressure on votes

leading parties to create manifestos increasing voter choice and education

peaceful transition of power

allow everyone over 18 to vote (universal suffrage)

allow elected representatives in small areas and representation of local issues

Burkean democracy - elect representatives who have full time job as governing

29
Q

Elections hinder democracy

A

cause voter apathy through frequency of elections following devolution - lack of participation undermines government legitimacy

ensures 2 party system through plurality and majoritarian systems, undermining voter choice

only give accountability at election time

confusion under AMS and STV systems where voters represented by many

allows MPs to vote with their conscience, represent the majority to be re-elected rather than representing everyone - including minorities

30
Q

Referendums

A

a vote on a single issue

a binary choice vote

called when the government wishes

result is not legally binding

direct democracy

called: to settle a controversial issue, to give legitimacy to a decision, in response to public pressure

31
Q

1997 Referendum

A

Should there be a Scottish Parliament?

turnout 60%
yes 74%
no 26%

32
Q

1998 Referendum

A

Approval of the Good Friday Agreement

turnout 81%
yes 72%
no 29%

33
Q

2011 Referendum

A

should the UK change to an alternative voting system

turnout 42%
yes 32%
no 68%

34
Q

2014 Referendum

A

Should Scotland be an independent country

turnout 85%
yes 45%
no 55%

35
Q

2016 Referendum

A

Should the UK leave the EU

turnout 72%
yes 52%
no 48%

36
Q

Consequences of using referendums

A

not legally binding on the government as Parliament is sovereign

increased use has called for more referendums
2016 calls for another Scottish Independence referendum, in 2022 the UK Supreme Court decided the Scottish government could not call it alone

37
Q

There should be more referendums

A

improve political education - Vote Leave and Britain Stronger in Europe aimed to explain the pros and cons of EU membership

improve legitimacy of decisions

provide clear answers for controversial issues - 2016 Conservative Party divided on EU issue, 1998 Good Friday Agreement

hold the government accountable between elections

increase participation - 2014 and 2016 referendums saw turnout above that of recent elections

38
Q

There should be less referendums

A

oversimplify complex issues - 2016 EU referendum took years to settle a deal, issues with Northern Ireland even after leaving

undermine representative democracy - population makes decisions making politicians less accountable

called by government when it wishes - 2022 independence referendum denied by UK Parliament

encourage tyranny of the majority - disadvantage to slim minorities - 48% in EU referendum

encourage misinformation - Vote Leave claimed leaving would give an additional £350m a week for the NHS

increase political apathy - voters bored by overuse

39
Q
A

Politics (6 decks)

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