3 Electoral Systems Flashcards
Majoritarian systems
require the winning candidates to win a simple majority of 50%+1 or more of the valid votes
e.g. supplementary vote
Plurality systems
require the winning candidates to gain more votes than any other candidate
e.g. FPTP
Proportional systems
allocate the number of seats gained roughly in proportion to the percentage of the vote gained
e.g. additional members system, single transferable vote
Northern Irish Assembly
every 5 years
STV
90 elected
Scottish Parliament
every 5 years
AMS
129 elected
Local election
4-year terms
FPTP
UK Parliament
every 5 years
FPTP
650 elected
London Assembly
every 4 years
AMS
London Mayor
every 4 years
FPTP
Police and Crime Commissioners
every 4 years
SV
Welsh Parliament
every 5 years
AMS
60 elected
FPTP
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
Advantages of FPTP
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
Disadvantages of FPTP
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
AMS
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
Impacts of AMS
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
STV
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
STV impacts
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
SV
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
SV impacts
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
2010 General Election
turnout 65%
Conservative - 36.1% 306 seats
Labour 29.0% 258 seats
Lib Dems 23.0% 62 seats
coalition of Conservatives and Lib Dems
2015 General Election
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
2017 General Election
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
2019 General Election
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
Scotland 2021
turnout 64%
Conservative - 22% 5 seats
Labour - 22% 2 seats
SNP - 48% 62 seats
SNP and Green Party power-sharing
NI 2022
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
London 2021
turnout 42%
Conservative 35%
Labour 40%
Sadiq Khan retained post as Mayor of London
Elections improve democracy
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
Elections hinder democracy
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
Referendums
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
1997 Referendum
Should there be a Scottish Parliament?
turnout 60%
yes 74%
no 26%
1998 Referendum
Approval of the Good Friday Agreement
turnout 81%
yes 72%
no 29%
2011 Referendum
should the UK change to an alternative voting system
turnout 42%
yes 32%
no 68%
2014 Referendum
Should Scotland be an independent country
turnout 85%
yes 45%
no 55%
2016 Referendum
Should the UK leave the EU
turnout 72%
yes 52%
no 48%
Consequences of using referendums
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
There should be more referendums
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
There should be less referendums
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
