Different electoral systems - (3.1) Electoral Systems - UK Politics Flashcards
Functions of elections (x5)
Representation Choosing the government Holding government to account Participation Influence over policy Smaller party influence
Representation (function of an election)
Fundamental purpose of all elections is to choose a representative to speak on behalf of a community. MPs are trustees who have autonomy to speak and vote as they fit in the interests of their constituency.
Burkean theory of representation
MPs are not mere delegates but can make their own decisions.
Why is representation complicated in Westminster
Pressure from party leadership to support an agreed line. Ambitions (e.g. important posts) may influence MPs but failure to represent and they may not be revoted.
Choosing the government (function of an electoral system)
Leader of the party with the largest number of seats has the right to form a government. FPTP usually makes this simple.
Examples of election failing to choose a government
2010 - coalition due to Conservatives being 20 seats short of majority
2017 - Conservatives 8 seats short formed agreement with Democratic Unionist Party
Holding a government to account (function of an electoral system)
Every 5 years (normally) government has to face electorate at general election to renew its mandate to govern.
Recall of MPs Act 2015 has strengthened the power of voters to remove MPs who have behaved poorly
Recall of MPs Act 2015
If an MP is sentenced to prison, or suspended from Commons for more than 21 days by-election can be triggered by 10% of constituent (sign a petition)
Participation (function of electoral system)
Most obvious way for people to take part.
…
2001 Labour manifesto stated ‘we will not introduce ‘top up’ fees’ for university tuition but then increased fees to £1,000/year
Influence over policy (function of electoral system)
Election defeats can send clear messages to parties about unpopular policies.
Smaller party influence (function of electoral system)
Elections allow smaller parties which can’t hope to form a government to put their views across. This draws attention to their issues & sometimes leads to larger parties adopting their issues
Example of smaller party influencing bigger party policy
Green party popularity / increased public profile 1990 led to parties emphasising climate change
Criteria of an electoral system (i.e. how to judge it) (x4)
Delivers fair result equal to votes
Offers a choice of candidates
Offers an effective link between the elected representative and the constituency
Delivers a strong government that can pass laws but can be held to account by electorate
first-past-the-post system explained
Simple plurality system. Electoral system where the candidate with the largest number of votes is elected. Victory is achieved by having at least 1 more vote than contenders.
Where is FPTP used
UK general elections, by-elections, local council elections England & Wales
Examples of FPTP ending in government without the most votes being formed
1951, Feb 1974
Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011
Law that requires elections to be held every 5 years on first Thursday in May, early elections may only be held in special circumstances
Before fixed-term parliament act (2011)
Prime Minister could choose time in those 5 years
Example of exceptions to fixed term parliament act
Theresa May June 2017 - act allows PM to dissolve Parliament with support of 2/3 of MPs
Single-member representation
Each constituency elects one MP
What changed in 1948
Some constituencies had been dual member (elected more than one MP) (such as Blackburn & Bolton) but they all became single-member
Average number of voters per constituency
70,000
Constituency reform
Reforms in the making of reducing constituencies in UK from 650 to 600.
Advantages of FPTP (x4)
Speed & simplicity
Strong & stable government
Exclusion of extremists
Strong link between MPs & constituencies
Speed & simplicity (FPTP)
Easy to use & quick result.
May 2010 election exception due to coalition (took 5 days)
Almost 68% of voters in referendum on electoral reform (FPTP vs AV) voted for FPTP
Strong and stable government (FPTP)
Tends to promote 2 party system
Usually gives clear majority to a party which then has a mandate
Unlikely to lead to coalitions
Exclusion of extremists (FPTP)
Due to restricting smaller parties it prohibits extreme parties (racist, xenophobic etc) to gain a foothold
Strong link between MPs & constituencies (FPTP)
Small size of constituencies seen as strength.
MPs can communicate with constituents and hold surgeries to make themselves available to those seeking help & advice
Disadvantages of FPTP (x5)
MPs & governments can be elected on less than 50% of vote Lack of proportionality Winner's bonus Limited voter choice Votes are of unequal value
MPs & governments can be elected on less than 50% of vote (FPTP)
Most MPs don’t hold majority support (only have to win one more vote than runner up). Possible for more to vote against than for the winning candidate
Governments also can be elected on minority of votes. Weakens their mandate. Lack of legitimacy
Example of MP being elected on small number of votes
2015 election Belfast South. Alasdair McDonnell polled 14.7% of the electorate (due to low turnout as well)
Example of government being elected on small number of votes
2005 Tony Blair re-elected on 35.2% of votes
Lack of proportionality (FPTP)
FPTP doesn’t translate the number of votes into seats for each party with any real accuracy.
Favours concentrated votes. Party may come 2nd lots but never first and will get no seats - winner takes all.
Example of lack of proportionality of FPTP - lots of votes and no/ little seats
2015 UKIP won 3.9 million votes and 1 seat
Examples of lack of proportionality of FPTP - few votes and lots of seats
2015 Scottish National Party 56/59 seats and only 50% votes
Winner’s bonus (FPTP)
Winning party wins more seats than they do votes.
This is due to winning marginal seats (swing seats)
Marginal seats
Seats held by a small majority where a small swing to an opposition candidate can cause the seat to change hands
Safe seat
constituencies in which the sitting MP has a secure majority over the nearest rival, and is largely immune from swings in voting choice
Limited voter choice (FPTP)
Safe seats means many don’t have a hope of their candidate winning
Each party only puts forward one candidate - no choice
May lead to tactical voting or vote-swapping websites
Example of safe seat
Maidenhead, Berkshire (Theresa May’s) been Conservative since 1885
vote swapping
Websites enabling those who felt their votes were wasted in their constituency to swap and vote in another constituency with someone else. Not illegal.
Votes are of unequal value (FPTP)
Smaller constituency votes count for more than in larger constituency.
Example of some votes being of more value than others (FPTP)
9,407 votes to elect MP for Orkney & Shetland
28,591 votes to elect MP for Isle fo Wight
Waste votes
Votes cast for a losing candidate or for winning if they are the votes over the winning quota.
Amount of wasted votes in 2015 election
74.4.%
Electoral desert
Area of country where one party just cannot win seats
Example of an electoral desert
South East England electoral desert for Labour
Additional Member system explained / definition
A hybrid electoral system in which the voter makes two choices. Firstly, the voter selects a representative on a simply plurality (FPTP) system then a second vote is apportioned to a party list for a second or ‘additional’ representative. Uses d’hondt formula to calculate
Where is AMS used
Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Greater London Assembly
Advantages of AMS (x3)
Slightly proportional
FPTP element retains strong link between MP & constituent
Electors have more choice - can vote for electorate from one party but support a different party in top-up vote
Disadvantages of AMS
Different types of member - some have constituent responsibility some don’t
Closed list system means party can limit chances of dissident (opposing) members being elected
Smaller parties still receive less representation than under more proportional systems.
Single transferable vote (STV)
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 quote also have their votes transferred
Droop formula
Used in STV. (No. votes cast / no. seats contested) +1
Where is STV used
Northern Ireland Assembly, European parliament elections in Northern Ireland, Scottish council elections
Advantages of STV (x3 inc N. Ireland)
Close correlation between votes & seats (proportional)
Lots of voter choice (can choose between candidates standing for same party)
In Northern Ireland it has created a power-sharing government enabling representatives of 2 rival communities (unionists & nationalists) to work together ending 30 years of violent disturbance in Northern Ireland
Disadvantages of STV (x3)
Not fully proportional - some smaller multi-member constituencies
Weak link between member & voters in large constituencies
Power sharing governments may bring rival groups together but they are still prone to conflict (Northern Ireland executive was suspended several times in early years)
Supplementary vote (SV)
A majoritarian electoral system that gives the voters 2 choices. If one candidate obtains more than 50% on the first vote then they are elected. If this doesn’t happen all but top two candidates are eliminated and the supplementary (second choice) votes are redistributed to produce a single winner.
Where is SV used
Elections for the London & other mayors, Police & Crime commissioners in England & Wales
Advantages of SV (supplementary) (x3)
Ensure broad support for winner - Sadiq Khan (may 2016 Mayor of London) has largest mandate of any politician ever UK)
Simple & straightforward
Has allowed independent candidates to win
Disadvantages of SV
Not proportional as one individual is being elected to single office
Winner doesn’t need absolute majority of votes
Voters need to identify top 2 candidates in order to influence the decision - lots of wasted votes
