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Politics Unit 1 > Elections > Flashcards

Elections Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three functions of elections?

A

To form government, ensure representation and uphold legitimacy

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2
Q

How may elections not be successful in forming governments?

A

Often, through use of proportional representation (or even very rarely under FPTP) a single ‘winning’ party is not found, and so deals must be made to form a coalition between two or more parties.

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3
Q

How do elections ensure representation?

A

They create a strong link between constituents and representatives, and also a strong link between the government and public opinion. This is ensured by making politicians removable and accountable to the public.

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4
Q

Why might elections not ensure representation?

A
  • There are conflicting theories of what it means for politicians to represent the electorate
  • 5 year terms weaken the constituents and representatives, because they are too long.
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5
Q

How do elections ensure legitimacy?

A

Elections uphold legitimacy by providing a ritualised means through which citizens consent to being governed, by voting.

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6
Q

How do elections NOT uphold legitimacy?

A
  • Low turnout levels imply lack of consent, so no legitimacy
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7
Q

Define an election and explain what makes it different to a referendum

A

Elections are intended to form a government whereas referendums make singular policy decisions. When you vote in an election you vote for a party that has views on many policies, whereas a referendum you vote on one single issue. Referendums are direct, Elections are representative democracy.

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8
Q

Define Representation

A

Representation is a relationship through which an individual or a group acts on behalf of a larger body of people.

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9
Q

What are the three main theories of electoral representation?

A

‘Doctrine of the Mandate’, Burkean Trusteeship and Descriptive.

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10
Q

How does Burkean representation/Trusteeship work as a theory of representation?

A

Representatives should use their own better judgement and expertise to make decisions that are best for their constituents, rather than listening to their constituents’ potentially ill-advised opinions.

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11
Q

How has Burkean/Trusteeship Representation been criticised?

A
  • MPs may act out of self interest, which is not at all representative
  • Due to the whip system, trusteeship is now no longer applicable in any scenario except backbench revolts.
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12
Q

How does Doctrine of the Mandate work as a theory of representation?

A

It says that an elected government is given the authority and legitimacy to represent the public because it gained a ‘popular’ mandate. Thus, the entire party, not individual candidates, represent the public.

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13
Q

What are the criticisms of Doctrine of the Mandate?

A
  • It assumes votes rationally, basing their decisions only on policy
  • A vote for a party does not necessitate support for the entire manifesto
  • There is no way of forcing governments to carry out manifestos once elected
  • Does not work in Coalitions (e.g. Lib Dems with Tuition Fees)
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14
Q

How does the ‘descriptive/microcosm’ theory work as a theory of representation?

A

The composition of parliament/the government should be a microcosm of society to ensure needs are proportionately met; containing all races, social classes, genders, etc. in the same proportion as in society.

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15
Q

What are the criticisms of Descriptive/Microcosm Representation?

A
  • a microcosm represents the weaknesses of a society as well as the strengths.
  • it cannot really happen without limiting electoral choice, which weakens the integrity of democracy.
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16
Q

What are the main feature of FPTP, or any simple plurality system?

A

FPTP is a majoritarian system that works with a simple plurality on a constituency level, where a candidate only needs one more vote than any other party to win. The party with a majority of seats overall ‘wins’ and forms a government.

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17
Q

Where is FPTP used?

A

The General Election?

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18
Q

Where is AMS used?

A

The Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Greater London Assembly

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19
Q

Where is STV used?

A

Northern Ireland Assembly

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20
Q

Where is Regional List used?

A

EU Parliament Elections

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21
Q

Where is SV/AV used?

A

London Mayor (SV) and Scottish by-elections (AV)

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22
Q

How does AMS work?

A

Mix of Regional List and FPTP. Hybrid system. Voters get a Constituency vote and regional vote. Regional vote is calculated with the D’Hont method.

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23
Q

How does STV work?

A

Multi member constituencies. Voters vote in order of preference. Candidates are elected if a reach a quota determined by the Droop formula. First, second, third votes all have their own weighting (e.g. Second vote is like half a vote). If seat left unfilled, least popular candidate drops out and it repeats.

24
Q

How does Regional List work?

A

Large multi member constituencies. Voters vote for parties, who compile their own list of candidates, ranked by preference. Seats are allocated proportionally to the proportion of votes.

25
Q

How does SV/AV work?

A

Single member constituency majority system, AV votes preferentially, SV gets 2 votes. If no majority is found, in AV the bottom candidate drops out, in SV all candidates but the top two drop out.

26
Q

What are the advantages of AMS?

A
  • Balances the need for constituency representation with electoral fairness
  • Proportional yet single party government is still possible
  • Gives voters much more choice
27
Q

What are the disadvantages of AMS?

A
  • Single member constituencies limit extent of proportionality
  • Issues may arise with having two classes of MPs
  • constituency representation not as good as FPTP due to large constituencies.
28
Q

What are the advantages of STV?

A
  • More choice of representatives in a constituency for constituents to contact
  • increased competition amongst candidates
  • capable of highly proportional outcomes
29
Q

What are the disadvantages of STV?

A
  • Strong and stable government is unlikely to be formed

- multi member constituencies may be divisive because they encourage candidate competition

30
Q

What are the advantages of Regional List?

A
  • It is the only purely proportional system
  • promotes unity by encouraging electors to identify with a region rather than constituency
  • makes it easier for women and minority MPs to be elected
31
Q

What are the disadvantages of Regional List?

A
  • many small parties leads to weak and unstable government
  • weak or no link between constituencies and representatives
  • gives parties more power to decide their candidates
32
Q

Why are the advantages of SV/AV?

A
  • Fewer wasted votes than FPTP

- better legitimacy because winners require at least 50% of vote

33
Q

What are the disadvantages of SV/AV?

A
  • Winning parties only succeed because they are the least unpopular candidate
  • The outcome may be determined by people whose first preference were small possibly extremist parties.
34
Q

What are the major implications of using FPTP?

A

FPTP is disproportionate, has systematic bias, encourages two party systems and leads often to a single party government.

35
Q

How is FPTP disproportionate?

A

The constituency plurality system means a party can get a majority of seats in the House of Commons but have far fewer than 50% of the overall votes.

36
Q

How does FPTP have systematic biases based on the size of the party?

A

Large parties are favoured. Voters are discouraged from supporting smaller parties because they are so unlikely to win a seat, so large parties are voted for because they are ‘least bad’, not a first choice.

37
Q

How does FPTP have systematic biases based on the distribution of support?

A

Parties with concentrated support do well because they are more likely to get pluralities. Thinly spread support gets sop of seats because they cannot get a plurality anywhere. (E.g. UKIP 13% of votes, but only 1 seat.)

38
Q

How does FPTP encourage the two party system?

A

Due to the systematic bias towards large parties, smaller parties cannot gain enough traction to ever have a chance of winning.

39
Q

Why does FPTP favour forming single party governments?

A

Because there is often a two party system in FPTP, one party usually gets a majority and can form a government on their own.

40
Q

What are the major implications of using PR Election Systems?

A

PR gives greater proportionality, often creates multiparty systems that form coalition or minority governments. This also means they are consensus-building.

41
Q

How do PR Systems promote proportionality?

A

The biases of FPTP are not present and seats are allocated proportionally to the percentage of votes.

42
Q

How does PR support multiparty systems?

A

Parties with more thinly spread support that would be denied power under FPTP would be given their fair share of power.

43
Q

How does PR support coalition or minority governments?

A

Because a multiparty system which PR often creates is less likely to result in one party getting a majority.

44
Q

How does PR result in building consensus between parties?

A

The increased likelihood for coalitions means parties need to work together to get anything accomplished

45
Q

What are the arguments for reforming Westminister elections?

A
  • Electoral Fairness
  • All votes count
  • Majority government
  • Accountable government
  • Consensus political culture
46
Q

What are the arguments against Westminster electoral reform?

A

FPTP provides

  • Clear Electoral choice
  • A high level of constituency representation
  • Mandate democracy
  • Strong government
  • Stable government.
47
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform promote electoral fairness?

A

In PR all votes have the same value and none are wasted, regardless of the party they support.

48
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform make sure all votes count and what other effects might that have?

A

Seats are allocated proportionally to votes so no votes are wasted. This should improve civic engagement in politics and electoral turnout.

49
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform ensure majority governments and what further effect will that have?

A

All governments elected under PR require at least 50% of the vote, as opposed to plurality systems like FPTP where governments can get a majority with as little as 35% of the vote. This will improve the legitimacy of the government and strengthen the Integrity of democracy.

50
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform make governments accountable?

A

Under PR, governments will need to listen to parliament because they will generally need the support of two or more parties, unlike FPTP where parliament is dominated by the executive.

51
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform encourage consensus political culture?

A

Power is distributed more widely under PR, so to make policy, parties will need to work together.

52
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform remove clear electoral choice?

A

FPTP provides clear choice because it promotes a 2 party system. Under PR, there would be many more parties and it would be very difficult to make a decision.

53
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform weaken constituency links to representatives?

A

FPTP is a system which focuses on individual elections in constituencies which creates a strong link between the elected representative and the constituency. Under PR there would be no link because of multi member constituencies and proportional seat allocation.

54
Q

How would Westminster electoral reform create weaker and less stable governments?

A

FPTP encourages single party governments with majority control of the House of Commons, so they can easily pass their policies and can easily survive full terms in office. By contrast multi party coalitions are weak and unstable, and require legislative support from two or more parties so they cannot pass policy as easily.

55
Q

What are the three models that describe voting behaviour?

A
  • Sociological
  • Party identification
  • Issue-Voting

Politics Unit 1 (3 decks)

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