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politics - unit 1 - uk politics > 3.1 Different Electoral Systems > Flashcards

3.1 Different Electoral Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Why are elections important?

A
  • Choice
  • Education
  • Legitimacy
  • Government
  • Accountability
  • Policy
  • Representation
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2
Q

Outline the different elections in the UK

A
  • General Elections
  • Local Council elections
  • Regional and city mayoral elections
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3
Q

What is AMS?

A
  • Additional Member System
  • Have two votes, one for a constituency rep elected using FPTP, second is a party (Proportional rep)
  • The Westminster-style ballot papers are counted first. The candidate with the most votes in the constituency wins.
  • The second ballot papers are then counted.
  • The people counting look at how many seats a party won on the first ballot paper.
  • They then add ‘additional members’ from the party lists to make parliament match how the country voted.
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4
Q

Where is the AMS voting system used?

A

Scotland, Wales, London Assembly

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5
Q

What are the two votes for in AMS?

A
  1. Constituency rep (FPTP)
  2. Party (proportional rep)
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6
Q

Outline some advantages of AMS

A
  • Give minor parties a chance
  • More representative
  • Proportional
  • Gov with broad popularity
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7
Q

Outline some disadvantages of AMS

A
  • Can’t pick the MP which will hold a seat
  • Unlike single party government
  • Some disadvantages of FPTP
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8
Q

What are the advantages of FPTP?

A
  • Clear winner/strong gov
  • Simple
  • MP constituency link
  • Centralist policies
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9
Q

What are the disadvantages of FPTP?

A
  • Lack of voter choice
  • Unequal vote value
  • Lack of majority
  • Two Party System
  • Disproportionate result
  • Winners bonus
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10
Q

What are the implications of Marginal seats?

A
  • Campaigns will be focused on there’s areas
  • Receive more attention than safe seats
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11
Q

What is a winners bonus? Give an example

A
  • Over rewarding the winning party
  • 2019, Conservative got 44% of popular vote but 56% of seats
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12
Q

What is STV?

A
  • Single Transferable Vote
  • Voters number a list of candidates. Voters can put numbers next to as many or as few candidates as they like. Parties will often stand more than one candidate in each area. The numbers tell the people counting to move your vote if your favourite candidate has enough votes already or stands no chance of winning
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13
Q

Where is STV used?

A

Northern Ireland

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14
Q

What does STV require voters to do?

A

Ordinal voting/ranking candidates

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15
Q

Through STV, what do they need to win?

A

‘A droop quota’

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16
Q

What are the advantages of STV?

A
  • Proportional result
  • Voter choice
  • Greater representation
17
Q

What are the disadvantages of STV?

A
  • Complication
  • Unlikely single party government
  • Extremists can be elected
  • No accountability
18
Q

What is SV?

A
  • Supplementary vote
  • One column of boxes is for voters to mark their favourite candidate and one in which to mark a second favourite. Voters don’t have to make a second favourite.
19
Q

Where was SV used?

A

London Mayor election

20
Q

What is on the SV ballot paper?

A

Contains candidates listed, and two columns. One for voters first choice, and the other is the second choice.

21
Q

When are the second preferences used in SV?

A

If there is not a majority in all the first choice ballots

22
Q

What are the advantages of SV?

A
  • Get a majority result, strong and stable
  • More voter choice
  • Simple system
23
Q

What are the disadvantages of SV?

A
  • Two party dominance, result is not proportional and people may be tactical with their second preference
  • A false majority- in second round, many votes aren’t counted, meaning the winning may not have a true majority
  • Wasted votes
24
Q

Why are referendums held?

A
  • Public pressure (Scotland referendum)
  • Deciding on controversial ideas (EU)
  • Part of a coalition agreement (AV)
  • Gives legitimacy to constitutional changes
25
Q

How many people voted yes to the good Friday agreement?

A

71%

26
Q

What was the turnout for the good Friday agreement referendum?

A

81%

27
Q

Outline some arguments against referendums

A
  • Public not educated
  • Undermine representative democracy
  • Can represent the ‘tyranny of the majority’
  • Examples where parties were fined due to false campaigning

politics - unit 1 - uk politics (17 decks)

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