3.3 electoral system analysis Flashcards
FPTP single party government , there are ‘ clear winners ‘ in the GE’s also as the ‘ winner takes all ‘ the winning party has the winners bonus of
elective dictatorship in the HOC
ie 1997 landslide victory of Labour (179 majority seats) paved the way for Blair’s government to pass constitutional reform, HRA 1998, etc. without gridlocks; 2019 victory of Conservatives (80 seats majority) enabled Johnson’s government to pass the Coronavirus Act 2020 without significant challenges.
FPTP does no produce a single party gov every time such as
2010-2015 coalition government, 2017-20 19 minority government were hung parliament, so the unstable government faces more challenges during legislation, e.g. 2017 May faced challenges in Parliament tackle EU issues in Soft Brexit approach, later used sub-committees and cabinet committees to pursue soft Brexit (failed, she stepped down and called for an election in 2019)
AMS evaluation
two-party coalition government/one-party minority government. Promote multi-party system
AMS reduced tactical voting - allow voters to vote for their preferred party in the regional seats (close list)
AMS reinforces coalition government — SNP-Green Pact (2021-)
Close list is drafted by the party and the candidates are not chosen by the voters
FPTP is still used in constituency seats — share the same problems
Vague accountability: don’t know who to turn to when issues raised
STV evaluation
two-party coalition government, power-sharing among several parties, promote multi-party system
STV reinforce power-sharing due to the political nature in Northern Ireland (The Trouble and Good Friday Agreement 1998) Sinn Fein-DUP coalition
STV ensures no wasted votes as ranking candidates can ensure elected MLAs are the representing electorate’s preference (no tactical voting)
No stable government: Stormont suspended for 3 times and the longest time is 5 years (2002-2007), recent suspension is during 2022-2024 due to the controversy on first minister selection and protocol. In the case of Stormont, this is perhaps more due to party political tensions than the voting system itself
Extremely confusing voting system: voters rank the candidates and votes transfer to other candidates if their 1st preference is elected (until 6 seats are filled)
Confusing accountability: 6 MLA in one constituency although increases representation but don’t know who to turn to and who has the “most power and liability”
SV evaluation
single candidate as mayor (not in use after Elections Act 2022), two party system as only the majority parties can usually get into the final round.
