AMS Flashcards
1
Q
Where is AMS used and why ?
A
- Scotland and Wales for national elections
- It gives greater representation, more proportional and it addresses the need for decentralisation
2
Q
How does AMS work ?
A
- Each ballot has 2 things you vote on (One for constituency and one for regional vote), each party running draws up a ranked list of candidates and the d’hondt formula is used to calculate. The vote for constituency is the same as in FPTP
3
Q
How many constituencies do Wales and Scotland have ?
A
- Scotland : 73
- Wales 40
4
Q
2021 Turnout for elections and comparison the 2019 General elections
A
- 2021 turnout
Scottish election = 63%
Welsh election = 47%
Compared to 68.8% at the 2019 general electio
5
Q
Key disadvantages of AMS
A
- More complicated process and less likely to be a single party government
- There are blurred lines of accountability due to confusion over who truly represents them
- The regional list gives excessive influence to party leaders
6
Q
What sort of party system does AMS result in ?
A
- One government is usually formed either in a minority or in a majority
7
Q
How has turnout been undermined in Wales ?
A
- 16/17 year olds were given the vote before the 2021 elections yet 54% failed to register to vote
8
Q
How does AMS fail to give smaller parties representation ?
A
- More proportional but fails to give smaller parties representation eg 2021 (Wales) only 4 parties won seats compared to 11 under FPTP in the 2019 general election
9
Q
Key advantages of AMS
A
- Each person has double representation
- Split ticket voting ensures the government has broad popularity
10
Q
How is AMS more proportional ?
A
- 2021 Wales : Conservatives won 16/60 seats with 25.5% of the vote
- 2021 Scotland : Conservative won 22.7% of the vote and 31 seats
11
Q
2021 Scottish Parliament elections turnout (Constituency and regional)
compared to 2007
A
- Constituency : 63.5%
- Regional 63.5%
- Constituency : 54%
- regional : 54%
- Suggests that AMS has become more popular and works better than ever
