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Uk Politics > 7 - Elections and referendums > Flashcards

7 - Elections and referendums Flashcards

1
Q

Key info for FPTP

A

A plurality system
Whichever candidate gets the most votes win
Candidates DO NOT need a majority
Used in generals

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2
Q

Advantages of FPTP in terms of voting

A

Simple - voters simply put a cross to a candidate

Easy to understand

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3
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP in terms of voting

A

Millions of wasted votes

Encourages tactical voting

There is only one candidate per party

Turnout tends to be lower with countries who use FPTP

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4
Q

Advantages of FPTP in terms of constituencies

A

Each constituency is represented by one mp so constituents know who to contact

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5
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP in terms of constituencies

A

A majority of voters in a constituency may have voted against their representative

Voters in safe seats tend to not turn up

Election campaigns only focuses on marginal seats

In 2019 there were only 67 marginal seats

Difference in population size means some votes are worth more than others - in 2019 isle of white had 113,020 for a seat compared to na h-eileanan an iar with 21,106

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6
Q

Advantages of FPTP in terms of parties

A

FPTP tends to produce a two-party system giving voters a clear choice

Extremist parties find it hard to win seats

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7
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP in terms of parties

A

It favours parties with concentrated geographical support

Minor party’s win fewer seats - in 2015 ukip won 1 seat for 3.9m votes

Difficult for new party’s to break into politics

Minor party struggle for votes as people feel like voting for them is wasting their vote

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8
Q

Advantages of FPTP in terms of governments

A

FPTp tends to result in majority single-party governments who can pass legislation

Majority governments have a clear mandate

Governments are easily held accountable by the electorate for implementing their manifestos

Coalition and minority governments are rare

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9
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP in terms of governments

A

Exaggerates the mandate the government get - in 1997 labour got 2.5x the seats of the torys but 1.4x the votes than them

Since 2010 the rise of minor and regional party’s (SNP) have lead to smaller majority’s

UK now haas a multi-party system but a voting system for 2 parties

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10
Q

What is a majoritarian system

A

Requires a candidate to get 50% plus one vote

Not proportional so likely to result in a majority government

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11
Q

What is a Proportional system

A

Seats given in proportional to votes

More likely to get a minority government

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12
Q

How does age influence voter behaviour

A

Young people in 2019 were more likely to vote labour and people over 39 were more likely to vote conservative

In the 2016 eu referendum a majority of 18-34yr olds wanted to stay whereas over 55’s wanted to leave

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13
Q

Turnout of age groups in 2019 general

A

55% of 18-24 yr olds

more than 80% of over 75’s

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14
Q

How does class influence voting behaviour

A

Traditionally the middle/upper class voted tory and working voted labour

Since 1980’s class dealignment has started, in the 2016 eu referendum middle class voters more more likely to vote remain than working class of the same age

In the 2019 general voters of all classes were more likely to vote conservative - with skilled workers voting more conservatively too

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15
Q

How did education levels affect voting behaviour in the 2019 general

A

People with a Degree-level education voted labour

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16
Q

How does gender affect voting behaviour

A

Women are more likely to vote for party’s that favour public service’s

More likely to vote remain in eu referendum 2016

Both equally likely to turn out to vote

In the 2019 women were slightly more likely to vote labour

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17
Q

How does ethnicity affect voter behaviour

A

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups ae significantly more likely to vote labour than conservative - with an approximately 64% in 2019 voting labour

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18
Q

How does geography affect voter behaviour

A

Rural english areas and southern constituencies are more likely to vote conservative

Urban areas and the south of wales is more likely to be labour

Regional parties dominate in scotland and northern ireland

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19
Q

What happened to the red wall in 2019

A

Conservatives broke it winning labour safe seats in the midlands, the north and wales

These constituency’s had voted leave in 2016 so liked Johnsons “Get brexit done”

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20
Q

What is rational choice theory

A

Assumes voters will weigh up all the political options logically and will vote for the one that bests them the most

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21
Q

What is issue voting

A

Voters prioritise one issue above all others and vote purely based on that issue

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22
Q

What is valence issues

A

issues that are universally seen as important

Voters choose a party based on this

issues are normally: Economy, Education and healtcare

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23
Q

What is a majoritarian voting system

A

Supplementary vote (SV)

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24
Q

Where is supplementary vote used

A

Elections for the mayor of London
Directly elected metro mayors
Police and Crime Commissioners

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25
Q

How does the supplementary vote work

A

A candidate needs 50% plus one vote to win
Single-member constituencies
Voters choose a 1st and 2nd choice
If no candidates win the first preferences the second come into play - all but the top 2 candidates are counted
The second preferences are added to the first preferences to produce a winner

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26
Q

Advantages of the Supplementary vote system

A

Increased legitimacy
Choice - voters can vote for a minor option with their first preference then the second can use for the frontrunner

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27
Q

Disadvantages of the supplementary vote system

A

Not proportional
Very difficult for the minor party to win
Votes for anyone but the front runners are wasted
It is possible for the winner to be elected without a majority
Can result in the “Least - worse” candidate winning

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28
Q

What is a proportional voting system

A

Single transferable vote (STV)

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29
Q

Where is single transferable vote used

A

Northern Ireland Assembly elections and scottish local council elections

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30
Q

How does Single transferable vote work

A

Large - multi member constituencies
Voters will write numbers next to candidates in order of preference
Candidates need to reach the “Droop quota” to win a seat
once a candidate gets enough votes to fill the quota their extra votes are relocated to the second preference
Process continues until all seats are filled

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30
Q

Advantages of the single transferable vote, voting system

A

Proportional
Greatest choice

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31
Q

Disadvantages of the single transferable vote, voting system

A

Coalition governments are very likely
Link between voters and constituencies are weaker
Complex voting system
Complex counting system - can take days to find results

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32
Q

What is a mixed voting system

A

Additional Member system (AMS)

33
Q

Where is AMS used

A

Scottish and wales parliament

The london assembly

34
Q

How does AMS work

A

The greater amount of seats are elected via FPTP - Single-member constituencies
The smaller amount is done via proportional representation - large multi-member constituencies
The proportion of the vote in the reginal proportional vote are put up next to the FPTP elected seats and these will get topped up with the other proportional votes

35
Q

Advantages of AMS voting system

A

Much more proportional than FPTP

Voters can vote for minor parties with their regional vote without wasting it

Split-ticket voting means voters can pick one for their constituency and one for the regional vote

The relationship is the same in constituency’s between voters and electors

36
Q

Disadvantages of AMS

A

Not perfectly proportional

Two class of representatives are elected

Voters only had one individual on he closed list

Majority parties are less likely

Relatively complex system

37
Q

Examples of minor parties winning while FPTP isn’t in play

A

The european parliament election 2019 - The brexit party one with the lib dems in second

38
Q

Political context of the 1979 general election

A

Followed the 1978-9 “Winter of discontent”

Labour leader callaghan faced new conservative leader Margaret Thatcher

39
Q

Result of the 1979 general

A

Conservative win

43 seat majority

40
Q

Patterns of voting behaviour in the 1979 general

A

Middle class more likely to vote tory , working class was voting labour

All ages above 18-24 voted were more likely to vote tory

Women slightly more likely to vote conservative

41
Q

Influence of the media in the 1979 general

A

More media focus on leaders than before

Thatcher used television photo’s to raise her profile

The SUN newspaper went to conservatives from labour for the first time

42
Q

Impact of party policies and manifesto’s in the 1979 general

A

The conservatives focused on the economy, lowering unemployment and preventing strikes

Conservative tax cuts and the right to buy were popular with voters

43
Q

Impact of campaigns and leadership

A

Successful “Labour isn’t working” campaign by the conservatives on high unemployment

Thatcher was relatively unknown compared to callaghan

British people had never had a female PM before

44
Q

Impact of the 1979 election on policy making

A

Thatchers majority allowed her to begin transforming the uk by privatisation and reducing union strikes

Thatchers polices became boulder after she won a landslide in 1983

Focused on monetary economic policy - lead to unemployment doubling by 1983

45
Q

Political context of the 1997 election

A

Torys been in power since 1979

Major’s government tainted by sleaze

Labour had moved more centrally in 1994 when blair came in charge

46
Q

Result of the 1997 election

A

Labour landslide

179 seat majority

Best result ever by labour

47
Q

patterns of voting behaviour in the 1997 election

A

Made big gains in the middle class and skilled workers class

All people under 65 more likely to vote labour

Women and women equal

70% of BAME voters went labour compared to 43% of whites

48
Q

Influence of the media in the 1997 general

A

New labour had a proactive approach to the media - new to uk politics

Tony blair met Rupert Murdoch - after the sun switched to labour instead of conservatives

Spin doctors managed labour’s interactions to make sure they where the right message

49
Q

Impact of policy’s and manifestos on the 1997 general

A

Labour had central economic views

The third way appealed to a lot of voters

Conservatives were divided over europe and critical of devolution, the electorate wasn’t impressed either

50
Q

labours 5 pledges in the 1997 election

A

Fast-track punishments for young offenders

Cut NHS waiting lists

To get under 25’s into work

Not to raise income tax

Cut class size

51
Q

Impact of campaigns and leadership on the 1997 general

A

Negative campaign, with the tory slogan “New labour, New danger”

The labour slogan promised change “Because britain deserves better”

Campaigns focused on leaders

Blair was eccentric and interesting whereas blair was fucking boring

52
Q

Impact of the 1997 general on policy making

A

Blairs majority allowed him to bring in a range of policy’s:
Devolution
HRA 1998
Removal of hereditary peers
Freedom of information act 2000
Minimum wage
Increased public spending

53
Q

Political context of the 2019 general election

A

Johnson had been PM since july 2019 and called a snap election for december

The conservatives were a minority government with division

The last 3 elections had been very close

54
Q

Result of the 2019 general

A

Big conservative win

80 seats majority

Regional party’s done well snp won 48 seats

Labour had its worst election since 1935 - leading to the resignation of corbyn

55
Q

Patterns of voting behaviour in the 2019 general election

A

people over 39 and home owners more likely to vote tory

Young people, bame voters, home renters and those with a degree were voting labour

Conservatives broke labour’s red wall winning 24 safe labour seats up north

56
Q

influence of the media on the 2019 general election

A

Right wing papers such as the sun, daily mail and express supported conservatives

Social media spending was focused on meta and youtube with labour spending 4m compared to the conservatives 900k

Johnson was criticised for avoiding a channel 4 debate on climate change

Was only Labour and the conservatives at the tv leadership debates pushing the 2 - horse race

57
Q

Impact of party polices and manifestos in the 2019 general election

A

Conservatives focus on achieving brexit, 50,000 new nurses, money for social care and police, no income tax raise

Labour focus’s on: Renegotiated brexit deal and a 2nd referendum, NHS spending, minimum wage increase

The Lib Dems promised to rejoin the eu without a second referendum, their leader Jo Swinson lost her seat in the election

58
Q

Impact of campaigns and leadership in the 2019 general election

A

Johnson’s repetition of “Get brexit done” was effective, and helped winning labour seats

Corbyn was seen as weak, and less appealing to the working-class, also was accused of being an anti-semite

Labour’s brexit position was criticised due to being stuck between the leave (red wall voters) and the remain (London voters) seats

59
Q

Impacts on policy making from the 2019 general

A

Johnson “Got Brexit done” in jan 2020

Began a “Levelling up” agenda to try and keep labour seats - This included investments to decrease economic inequalities

The 2020 pandemic transformed government policy to have the highest borrowing since ww2

Johnsons majority meant the conservatives didn’t have to have an emergency coalition

60
Q

Example of a landslide victory in a general

A

1997 labour - Biggest since ww2

61
Q

Example of a discrepancy between votes and seats

A

2015 - Ukip got 3.9m votes but one seat

Greens won 1.1m votes and got 1 seat

SNP got 56 seats for only 1.5m votes

62
Q

Example of large numbers of voters being disenfranchised by the advantage of one party

A

In 2015 - The SNP won 56 of the 59 seats in scotland

1.5m scots , voted for snp, around 50%

Scottish voters who didn’t vote for SNP had been effectively disfranchised

63
Q

Example of an election where the outcome was greatly influenced by their leader

A

1997 - LABOUR

Blairs leadership was crucial

He was young, charismatic and a skilled communicator

HE made the new labour that shifted labour more central and got a lot of middle - class votes

64
Q

Is the result of a referendum legally binding

A

NO

65
Q

The 4 reasons for calling a referendum

A

Constitutional change

Political forces

Party or government management

The localism act 2011

66
Q

Significance of referendums being held for constitutional change

A

Gives a mandate to the change eg devolution votes in 1997

67
Q

Significance of referendums being called by political forces

A

Governments can be compelled to call one if nationalist parties are making ground EG - 2016 EU referendum

68
Q

Significance of referendums being called by party management

A

PM’s can call a referendum on something splitting the party apart - In 2011 the AV referendum was done while the Lib-Dems waned change and the tory’s didn’t

69
Q

Significance of referendums being called in line with the localism act 2011

A

Act was intended to devolve power to local governments, including an increase in local elections

Local referendums must be called over certain plans for housing development and to control council tax

70
Q

Context of the 1975 European communities membership referendum

A

Labour PM Wilson called this referendum after the party and cabinet were split over europe

71
Q

Result of the 1975 European communities membership referendum

A

67% of the electorate wanted to stay in the EEC

72
Q

Impact of the 1975 European communities membership referendum

A

Britain remained in the EEC that transformed into the EU

73
Q

Context of the AV referendum 2011

A

The coalition government called this after the conservatives wanted FPTP and the Lib-Dems wanted proportional representation

The public struggled to understand the AV system and the campaign didn’t inspire people to vote

74
Q

Result of the 2011 AV referendum

A

68% voted to keep FPTP

only a 42% turnout

75
Q

Impact of the 2011 AV referendum

A

FPTP was continued to be used

The low turnout and the emphatic rejection of AV means it’s unlikely future party’s will try to change the system

76
Q

Context of the 2016 EU referendum

A

Was in the conservative manifesto

Included the referendum to stop tory voters going to UKIP

The campaigns were cross-party with Johnson and Gove leading the LEAVE campaign

Cameron and most ministers stuck with REMAIN

77
Q

Result of the 2016 EU referendum

A

52% voted to leave

Turnout was high at 72%

78
Q

Impact of the 2016 EU referendum

A

Cameron resigned as he didn’t want it

May became the PM but couldn’t leave the Brexit Process

The public seemed divided like never before

Didn’t leave the eu until jan 202

79
Q

Positives of referendums

A

Enhanced direct democracy

High participation

Gives legitimacy to decisions

Been used effectively since 1998

80
Q

Negatives of referendums

A

Governments still have the power so wont run an election if they know they will lose

Low turnout in some referendums suggests the public aren’t always engaged

Can threaten parliamentary sovereignty

Campaigns can be misleading

Aren’t legally binding

Uk Politics (9 decks)

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