Chapter 2 - UK political parties in context

Question 1

What is a party system?

Answer 1

The features of a political system in relation to the parties that operate within it.

Question 2

What is a one-party system?

Answer 2

A system where one party operates.

Question 3

What is a dominant-party system?

Answer 3

A system where parties can operate freely but only one party has a realistic chance of gaining power.

Question 4

What is a two-party system?

Answer 4

A system where only two parties have a realistic chance of forming a government.

Question 5

What is a three-party system?

Answer 5

This is usually when two parties dominant the share of seats available but do not gain enough to win an overall majority. A third, smaller party therefore must form a coalition, giving them a disproportionate amount of power.

Question 6

What is a multi-party system?

Answer 6

A system where four (not three) or more parties operate.

Question 7

What 3 countries have a one-party system?

Answer 7

• China
• Cuba
• North Korea

Question 8

What country has a dominant-party system?

Answer 8

Scotland

Question 9

What countries have a two-party system?

Answer 9

• USA
• Australia

Question 10

What country has a three-party system?

Answer 10

Ireland

Question 11

What countries have a multi-party system/

Answer 11

• Italy
• Germany

Question 12

What sort of system is the UK in terms of seats?

Answer 12

Two-party

Question 13

What sort of system is the UK in terms of votes?

Answer 13

Multi-party

Question 14

What sort of system does the UK have a local council elections?

Answer 14

Multi-party system, with Labour gaining the most seats across English local councils.

Question 15

What four reasons do small parties fail in elections?

Answer 15

1. They lack funding.
2. The electoral system discriminates against them.
3. They lack media exposure.
4. People consider voting for them as a wasted vote.

Question 16

What six qualities do voters prefer in a party leader and, therefore, a potential prime minister?

Answer 16

• Experience
• Decisiveness
• Media image
• Ability to lead
• Intelligence
• Apparent honesty

Question 17

What was Theresa May before she ran for prime minister, and for how long?

Answer 17

Home Secretary for 6 years.

Question 18

What percentage increase did Theresa May win in 2017?

Answer 18

5.5%

Question 19

What did Theresa May’s vote percentage increase lead to in 2017?

Answer 19

A decrease of seats by 13!

Question 20

What three factors help parties to electoral success?

Answer 20

• Leadership
• Unity
• Media image

Question 21

What does research suggest about newspapers and the way people vote?

Answer 21

Newspapers tend to reinforce existing political affiliations rather than change voters’ minds.

Question 22

Who did the Sun support in the 2017 general election?

Answer 22

Conservative Party

Question 23

How many Sun newspaper readers voted for the party they supported in the 2017 general election?

Answer 23

Just 39% voted for the Conservatives who The Sun supported.

Question 24

Who did the Guardian support in the 2017 general election?

Answer 24

Labour

Question 25

What percentage of Guardian readers voted for the party they supported in the 2017 general election?

Answer 25

50% voted for Labour, who the Guardian supported.

Question 26

Who did the majority of parties support in the 2017 general election and what was the outcome?

Answer 26

They tended to support the Conservative Party but a Labour resurgence occurred and the Tories lost their majority.

Question 27

Because of FPTP, how do voters view small parties?

Answer 27

As a wasted vote

Question 28

When was May Home Secretary?

Answer 28

2010-16