Elections

Question 1

Election?

Answer 1

Process in which people are given the opportunity to choose/elect representatives who will form representative institutions or government

Question 2

UK General election system?

Answer 2

First past the post

Question 3

European election system?

Answer 3

Ireland elects through Single Transferable Vote (STV)

Rest of the UK elects through Party List

Question 4

Number of UK MEPs?

Answer 4

73 includes politicians such as Nigel Farage

Question 5

National Assembly of Wales election system?

Answer 5

Additional Members system

Question 6

N.Ireland Assembly election system?

Answer 6

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

Question 7

Scottish Parliament election system?

Answer 7

Combination of FPTP and AMS

4 year term

Question 8

London Assembly election system?

Answer 8

Supplementary Voting

Question 9

We vote because.,,

Answer 9

Representation (MPs to Parliament)
Accountability (Conservative lose majority 2017)
Legislation (program chosen and mandate provided)

Question 10

Manifesto?

Answer 10

Statement produced by political party at election time, outlining policies they wish to implement if it gains power.

Question 11

Conservative manifesto promise

Answer 11

Deliver road, rail, airports and broadband businesses need. Southall station is evidence of fulfilment

Question 12

Mandate?

Answer 12

The authority to govern granted to the winning party at an election by the electorate.

1) Gives permission to govt. to implement policy as stated in their manifesto.
2) Govt. further has the authority to use their judgement to deal with unforseeable circumstances.

Question 13

Conditions of mandate (3)

Answer 13

1) Govt. should go above and beyond
2) Govt. held accountable according to manifesto
3) Govt. expected to use judgement against unforseeable circumstances

Question 14

Example of unforseeable circumstance

Answer 14

Poisoning of Sergei Skripal - frozen Russian accounts and expelled diplomats

Question 15

Political recruitment?

Answer 15

Elections give citizens chance to re-elect representatives, allows for verdict for performance
EG. Cons lose majority 2017

Question 16

Accountability?

Answer 16

Enables electorate to hold govt responsible.
EG. Labour ousted arguably for the 07/08 recession
Lib Dem failed to deliver tuition fee reduction

Question 17

Legitimation?

Answer 17

Elections hand winning party mandate to carry out its manifesto
EG. No mandate for 2017 due to hung parliament

Question 18

Preserving democracy?

Answer 18

Gives people a say on who should govern

EG. D Farrell “the cogs which keeps the wheels of democracy turning”

Question 19

Electoral system?

Answer 19

1) Converts votes in an election to seats

2) Refers to the process in electing a single leader

Question 20

Majoritarian?

Answer 20

System that throws up a majority government

EG. AV and SV

Question 21

PR?

Answer 21

System that converts votes into seats in a broadly proportional way
EG. STV and List system

Question 22

Plurality?

Answer 22

System where the winning candidate does not require an overall majority, but more votes than candidate in second
EG. FPTP

Question 23

Hybrid System?

Answer 23

Combination of systems used to elect candidate

EG. AMS - FPTP + List

Question 24

Features of an election? (4)

Answer 24

1) Used to fill post
2) Regular use
3) Mandatory
4) Focuses on a broader range of issues

Question 25

Features of a referendum? (4)

Answer 25

1) Does not fill a post
2) Not regular
3) Mandatory or Advisory
4) Focuses on single issue

Question 26

How does elections promote democracy? (5)

Answer 26

1) Participation
2) Govt. Accountability
3) Representation
4) Choosing a Govt.
5) Influence over policy

Question 27

Why are electoral systems important? (4)

Answer 27

1) Shapes body politics - Govt decisive or not
2) Affects party system - 2 party system or free for all
3) Indicative - represents public opinion
4) Creation of strong govt. - Clear majority?

Question 28

FPTP pros? (3)

Answer 28

1) Produces strong govt.
2) Clear link between MPs and Constituents
3) Provides clear mandate

Question 29

FPTP cons? (3)

Answer 29

1) Wasted votes - 70%
2) Minority achieve majority
3) Regional imbalance - 2001 No Cons MP Wales - 21% vote

Question 30

AV/SV pros? (2)

Answer 30

1) Votes wasted limited

2) Produces majority Govt(s).

Question 31

AV/SV cons? (1)

Answer 31

1) Benefits larger parties

Question 32

List system pros? (1)

Answer 32

1) Fairer representation

Question 33

List system cons? (2)

Answer 33

1) Weak Govt. - Coalitions

2) Loose link between MPs and constituents

Question 34

STV pros? (3)

Answer 34

1) Fairer representation
2) Votes are not wasted
3) Based on compromise - Coalitions

Question 35

STV cons? (3)

Answer 35

1) Complex system
2) Forms coalitions
3) Multi-member constituencies

Question 36

AMS pros? (1)

Answer 36

1) Fairer representation

Question 37

AMS cons? (3)

Answer 37

1) Produces coalitions
2) Status of top-up MPs unclear
3) Not a pure form of proportional representation

Question 38

Safe seat?

Answer 38

Seat that is unlikely to change hand at an election.

EG. Ealing constituency of Southall is a Labour stronghold

Question 39

Marginal seat?

Answer 39

Likely to change hand at an election, can also be considered a swing seat.
EG. 2017 had 100 constituencies at 5% marginal band, higher than previous elections.

Question 40

West Lothian question?

Answer 40

Idea that should N.Ireland, Scottish and Welsh MPs have a say on English issues, considering English MPs don’t have that say in devolved assemblies (Tom Dalyell)

Question 41

Implications of West Lothian Question? (2)

Answer 41

1) Unfair to English MPs

2) Difficult to claim mandate EG. Coaltion has majority in the UK, Cons has majority in England

Question 42

For Electoral Reform (4)

Answer 42

1) FPTP limits representation
2) FPTP produces disproportionate result
3) Votes under FPTP are off unequal value
4) FPTP has seen a decline in voter turnout

Question 43

Against Electoral Reform (4)

Answer 43

1) FPTP produces decisive Govt.
2) FPTP has strong link between MPs and Constituents
3) FPTP is an organic system
4) Voter turnout is actually on the rise