Component 1: Electoral Systems

Question 1

First-past-the-post
(FPTP)

Answer 1

an electoral system,
sometimes known as a
plurality system, where the
candidate with the largest
number of votes is elected.
Victory is achieved by
having at least one more
vote than other contenders.

Question 2

Additional Member
System (AMS)

Answer 2

a hybrid electoral system in
which the voter makes two
choices. Firstly, the voter
selects a representative
on a simple plurality (first
past the post) system,
then a second vote is
apportioned to a party list
for a second or ‘additional’
representative.

Question 3

Coalition government

Answer 3

a government formed
of more than one
political party, normally
accompanied by an
agreement over policy
options and offices of
state (for example, the
Conservative–Liberal
Democrat coalition of
2010–15).

Question 4

Marginal seats

Answer 4

seats held by a small
majority, where a small
swing to an opposition
candidate can cause the
seat to change hands.

Question 5

Safe seats

Answer 5

constituencies in which
the sitting MP has a secure
majority over the nearest
rival, and is largely immune
from swings in voting
choice.

Question 6

Single transferable vote
(STV)

Answer 6

an electoral system that
allows voters to rank their
preferences in numerical
order. In order to win a seat,
a candidate must obtain
a quota. After the votes
are cast, those candidates
with the least votes are
eliminated and their votes
are transferred. Those
candidates with excess
votes above the quota also
have their votes transferred.

Question 7

Supplementary vote (SV)

Answer 7

a majoritarian electoral
system that gives the
voter two choices. If one
candidate obtains more
than 50 per cent on the first
vote, then they are elected.
If no candidate attains this
level, all but the top two
candidates remain. Then the
supplementary choices are
redistributed to produce a
single winner.

Question 8

Minority government

Answer 8

a government that takes
office but does not have
a majority of seats in
parliament, which makes
passing legislation very
difficult. After an indecisive
general election, Labour
leader Harold Wilson
took office in March 1974
as leader of a minority
government, although he
was able to win a small
majority in a further
election in October.

Question 9

Referendum

Answer 9

A referendum is a vote on a particular issue, usually requiring a yes/no response. It is an example of
direct democracy within a representative system.