C1: Electoral Systems

Question 1

What are the five functions of elections?

Answer 1

Representation
Choosing Government
Holding Government to account
Participation
Influence over Policy

Question 2

How does the First Past the Post electoral system work?

Answer 2

Voters make one choice, whichever candidate gets the most votes wins.

Question 3

Which general elections have led to the winning party losing the popular vote?

Answer 3

1951, 1974

Question 4

What are some advantages of FPTP?

Answer 4

Quick and Easy
Will provide strong majority government
Excludes extremist parties
Provides strong link between MPs and local constituencies

Question 5

What are some disadvantages of FPTP?

Answer 5

MPs and Government don’t need 50% of the vote
Lack of Porportionality
Limited voter choice
Votes are of unequal value

Question 6

What percentage of votes to seats did Tony Blair get in 1997?

Answer 6

43% of the vote for 63% of the seats

Question 7

What percentage of votes to seats did Boris Johnson get in 2019?

Answer 7

44% of the vote to 56% of the seats

Question 8

What does AMS stand for?

Answer 8

Additional Member System

Question 9

How does AMS work?

Answer 9

Voters get two votes:
One for constituency MP, and another for a party list, where ‘top-up’ MPs are selected for multi-member regional constituencies.

Question 10

Where is AMS used?

Answer 10

Scottish Parliament & Welsh Assembly

Question 11

How many ‘top-up’ seats are there in Hollyrood?

Answer 11

56 out of the 129 are top-up seats.

Question 12

What are advantages of AMS?

Answer 12

Top-up component adds elements of PR
FPTP component keeps regional link
Voters get wider choice than under FPTP
Gives smaller parties greater chance

Question 13

What are some disadvantages of AMS?

Answer 13

Creates two types of member - ‘top-up’ MPs may lack legitimacy
CLosed list system used - list MPs selected by party leadership
Smaller parties still achieve less than they would under full PR.

Question 14

What does STV Stand for?

Answer 14

Single Transferable Vote

Question 15

How does STV work?

Answer 15

Multi-member constituencies
Voters rank candidates.
Every candidate has to meet a quota to become elected, calculated with the Droop formula. If no candidates meet the quota, or the seats are not filled, the least popular candidate is eliminated and their second preference votes are distributed. This continues until the seats are full.

Question 16

Where is STV used?

Answer 16

Northern Irish Assembly

Question 17

What is an advantage of STV?

Answer 17

Close correlation between no. of votes & seats
Voter choice is high
Created a power-sharing arrangement in Northern Ireland

Question 18

What are some disadvantages of STV?

Answer 18

Not fully porportional
Link between member and their voters is weakened
Power-sharing agreements are often prone to conflict.

Question 19

What does SV stand for?

Answer 19

Supplementary Vote

Question 20

How does SV work?

Answer 20

Voters get two votes, first and second choice. If no candidate gets above 50% of the vote, all but the top 2 are eliminated, and second preference votes are distributed, getting an overall winner.

Question 21

Where is SV used?

Answer 21

London Mayor elections, Police & Crime Commissioner elections

Question 22

What are advantages of SV?

Answer 22

Ensures broad support for the winner
Simple & Straightforward to use
Has allowed some independents to win (Ken Livingstone)

Question 23

What are some disadvantages of SV?

Answer 23

Not very proportional
Winner doesn’t need an absolute majority
Voters need to identify the top 2 candidates for second preference to be worth anything

Question 24

What are the four main reasons for calling a referendum?

Answer 24

Legitimising a major decision - Devolution
Getting the government out of a tricky spot - EU Entry
A result of a political deal - AV referendum
Public/Political Pressure - Brexit/IndyRef

Question 25

What are some positive arguments for using referendums?

Answer 25

Involves the people directly in making decisions
Acts as a check on ‘elective dictatorship’
Settles arguments & entrenches reform
Raises political awareness of voters

Question 26

What are some negative arguments for using referendums?

Answer 26

Referendums challenge Parliamentary Sovereignty
Turnout can be low if arguments aren’t explained clearly
Govt still chooses whether to call it or not
Outcomes can be influenced by issues that have nothing to do with the actual subject of the vote (e.g. protest voting)

Question 27

Why has FPTP Survived so long?

Answer 27

It’s familiar and simple, plus any party that gets into government by FPTP is unlikely to change it

Question 28

Why is AMS used in Scotland?

Answer 28

As part of a concession to smaller parties when setting up Hollyrood

Question 29

Why was STV used in the NI Assembly?

Answer 29

makes it impossible for either SF or the DUP to get an overall majority

Question 30

What impact could proportional systems have on government?

Answer 30

Increase in the politics of compromise & cooperation between parties

Question 31

Will a change in voting system change the outcome in safe seats?

Answer 31

No
Swayne 4eva

Question 32

What was the turnout for the Independence referendum?

Answer 32

84.6%

Question 33

What was the Brexit referendum turnout?

Answer 33

72.2%

Question 34

What was the turnout of the AV Referendum 2011?

Answer 34

42.2%

Question 35

What percentage of votes were essentialy ignored in the 2019 election?

Answer 35

70.8%