Elections Flashcards

1
Q

What is a constituency?

A

a geographical area that elects a representative to a parliament or legislature, or a group of people who support a person, product, or idea

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2
Q

What is the FPTP system?

A

A system where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins. However, this system is flawed due to the conditions for winning is not to have the majority of votes in a constituency but to merely beat the other running candidates which leads to “wasted votes”

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3
Q

Advantages of FPTP

A

Preserves 2-party system
Very simple to understand and produces clear/decisive results
Creates a strong single party majority government (exceptions; 2010,2017)
Stronger link between constituencies and representatives- emails, surgeries
Allows voters to choose between different candidates-stronger democratic system

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4
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

A

Those living in safe seats probably feel like their vote makes no difference and reduces turnout/participation
Not a proportional system in 2019, the Brexit Party won a total of 644,257 votes but ended up with no MPs
Often results in coalition governments that are politically volatile and more likely to collapse

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5
Q

What is AMS (Additional Member System)?

A

When voters get 2 votes. One for the constituency representative and the other for the parties

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6
Q

Advantages of AMS

A

Third party candidates are best represented and smaller parties are too
Less chance of votes for smaller parties being wasted. Eg. Scottish Green Party still gained 2 seats thanks to the regional list MSPs
A larger proportionate result seen in the Lothans regions

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7
Q

Disadvantages of AMS

A

It doesn’t guarantee a turnout boost. For example, Welsh turnout in the 2019 general election was 67%. For the 2016 devolved assembly elections, which use AMS, it was just 45%
More complicated than FPTP
Produces minority government although SNP has been the dominant force in the Scottish Parliament recent elections, it has only once in 2011 secured an overall majority

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8
Q

Factors that can influence voting behaviour other than class

A

Age
Gender
Race
Ethnicity

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