AMS advantages/disadvantages

Question 1

semi-proportional

Answer 1

due to the regional list ballot and d’Hondt AMS offers a better measure of the ‘general will’ than FPTP
-inaccurate measurements of the general will under FPTP lead to majority governments on minority vote shares
-unrepresented parties at the constituency vote receive a top up at the regional list stage
-fewer votes are wasted because of this to
-under AMS in 2021 SNP received 47% of votes and 49% of the seats (fair) under FPTP would have been 85% of seats

Question 2

semi-proportional evaluation

Answer 2

-AMS can be criticised from a liberal perspective. It isn’t entirely proportional and like FPTP and can punish minor parties
-For example, in the 2021 Scottish elections, the nationalist party Alba received 1.6% of the vote on the regional list ballot but no seats.

Question 3

constituency link maintained/increased representation

Answer 3

-hybrid system embracing a positive of FPTP,direct link between constituents and representative, lines of accountability remain strong
-MSPs can be ‘sacked’,regional MSPs provide the scottish electorate with more representation
-the Glasgow region has 8 MSPs to redress their grievances to,compared to the 1 they would have under FPTP

Question 4

constituency link/increased rep evaluation

Answer 4

Lines of accountability become confused under AMS – and in particular, regional list MSPs and MSs have been accused of ‘passing the buck.’ Additionally, MSPs on the party list like Emma Harper (SNP) canot be directly sacked by the electorate.

Question 5

pluralistic parliaments

Answer 5

-smaller parties have a greater chance of gaining seats
-pluralism in the legislature is good for a number of reasons:increases representation of ideologies within the law,enriches political debate in the legislative chamber,and reduces voter apathy&abstention as it better reflects the general will
-in Westminster 1 party has a monopoly on power,comparatively the greens gained 8 seats in the 2021 scottish election

Question 6

pluralism evaluation

Answer 6

-AMS can be criticised from a liberal perspective for not being as pluralistic as STV or ‘pure PR’ systems. The Greens and Lib Dems received 0 MSs in the 2021 Welsh Parliament elections – even worse than under FPTP. The Greens averaged 3% voteshare for 0 seats. The Lib Dems averaged 4% for 0 seats. In this sense, the d’Hondt system doesn’t always rectify the problem of underrepresentation of minor parties.

Question 7

party elites/regional list

Answer 7

-in the house of commons,every MP is chosen by the electorate,but due to the regional lists,56/129 MSPs are selected this way and these are chosen by party elites weakening the electorate and strengthening party elites
-regional list MSPs cannot be directly sacked,party elites can help their allies or punish their rivals this way, 2021 Sturgeon placed her ally Harper at the top of the list for south scotland
-the issue with this is accountability will be damaged as MSPs will be scared to hold the party elites to account as their career is in their hands

Question 8

party elites/regional list evaluation

Answer 8

Party leaders exercise power in the FPTP system too – ‘parachuting’ their political allies and proteges into safe seats.