Elections

Question 1

What are the key features of an election?

Answer 1

• Open and competitive,
• Involve a number of political parties,
• Involve widespread electoral participation,
• Held on a regular basis every 4/ 5 years,
• Legally binding, the result must be respected.

Question 2

What are the Functions of Elections?

Answer 2

• Produce legislature that is representative of political wishes of voters.
• Produce a representative government
• Produce a strong and stable government.
  In the UK:
• Determine composition of The Commons.
• Decide which party form the government.
• Impart legitimacy to government and make it accountable to the voters.
• Resolve policy issues within the public.

Question 3

What are the three voting systems used in the UK?

Answer 3

• Plurality system: candidate who achieves a plurality of votes wins the seat. FPTP
• Proportional system: Close relationship between distribution of votes between parties and allocation of seats in commons. Fairer, more representative.
• Additional Member System: Each voter has two votes: one for constituency, one for party. Each constituency elects one MP by the plurality system. Each region elects MPs on a proportional basis.
• Majoritarian systems: Candidate must receive 50% of the vote to be elected e.g. SV, AV, Two-ballot system.

Question 4

What are the different elections that occur in the UK?

Answer 4

• UK General Election: First-Past-the-Post system
• Local Government Elections: England & Wales - FPTP - every 4 years. (Scotland & Northern Ireland use STV).
• Scottish Parliament, Welsh and Greater London Assemblies: Additional Member System - every 4 years.
• Northern Ireland Assembly: Single Transferable Vote System (STV). 108 members elected - 4 years.
• Mayoral Elections (including London), Police & Crime Commissioner Elections:
  Majoritarian system - Supplementary Vote. Every 4 years. (SV replaced by FPTP in 2024)
• European Parliamentary Elections: Use Regional Closed-List in Britain. (Northern Ireland - STV system). Twelve regions 72 MEPs. Each region returnedl MEPs on a proportional basis. Gave party leaderships greater control over who was elected. Regional Closed List in 1999, part of New Labour’s modernisation programme.
  Last one was held in May 2019.