Elections and Referendums Flashcards
E+A 3 functions of elections
Choosing a government - elections allow the voters to select a government. The party with a majority forms the government. E.g. In 2024, LAB won the largest amount of seats and formed the government
Legitimacy - candidates can act on behalf of constituents at a local level and in parliament after they have been democratically elected
Mandate - elections allow governments to turn manifesto promises into legislation. E.g. 2017, Theresa May wanted a mandate so she could pursue her Brexit policy
E+A 3 reasons for holding referendums in UK
Allows the government to come to a decision and prevents party disunity. E.g. AV Referendum 2011, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives couldn’t agree
If an important change needs to be made. Referendum results are hard for future governments to overturn and often secure permanence. E.g. 1997 Scottish referendum, people voted in favour of devolution and it was completed.
Government may need public consent. If a decision is controversial or a policy needs public approval (if it changes the constitution, the government often seek public consent.) E.g. 1998 Good Friday Agreement materialised a verbal agreement and helped restore peace in Ireland
E+A 3 factors that influence voting behaviour
Gender. Women are more likely to vote for Labour (35% v 34% 2024.) Small difference = gender has limited impact
Age. Young people are typically more left-wing than older people. In 2024, 19% of 18-24 year olds voted Green whereas only 2% of 65+ people did.
Race. White people are more likely to vote Conservative. 2024, 26% of white people voted Conservative whereas only 17% of ethnic minorities voted for them
E+A 3 ways media can impact elections and referendums
TV. Debates were televised in 2010. Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, was very well received after the debates and ended up in a coalition government with the Conservatives. TV = positive impact
Social media. Still relatively new and some argue it is an echo chamber where people say, rather than do. E.g. 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 85% of online supporters wanted to leave the UK but only 45% voted to leave in reality. No impact?
Print media. Most traditional form of media, influences the most people. Arguably has the ability to swing voters. E.g. 1992 election, ‘The Sun’ newspaper claimed “it’s the sun wot won it” after Major’s victory
E+A 3 features of FPTP/ reasons for keeping it
Majority government. FPTP has consistently produced majority governments. There has only been 1 coalition post-war (2010.) Allows things to get done in government and improves efficiency
Strong constituency link. Each constituency has 1 MP, which creates a strong relationship. Voters also have the ability to get rid of their MP, if they break the law (2015, Recall of MPs Act.)
High intelligibility. FPTP is not complex and therefore easy to understand. The electorate were given the chance to change FPTP in 2011 and chose not to
E+A 3 electoral systems used in the UK
FPTP. Used in English local, mayoral and general elections. It is a simple plurality system that produces majoritarian government. FPTP contains single-member constituencies and is highly intelligible
STV. Used in Northern Ireland, proportional and produces multi-member constituencies. Uses preferential voting and each candidate must meet the ‘droop quota.’ No votes are wasted in STV
AMS. Used in Scottish parliamentary and Welsh assembly elections. It is proportional and has single-member constituencies. Each person gets two votes, a combination of Party List and FPTP
E+A 3 weaknesses of FPTP
Wasted votes. Any vote not used to elect an MP at constituency level is not used, and is called a surplus vote. Around 63% of votes are wasted in UK general elections. Could increase political apathy, people may not vote if they think their votes means nothing
‘Winner’s bonus.’ The winning party is often over represented, makes it even less proportional. E.g. 2024 LAB got 33% of the vote but 63% of the seats. Arguably gives parties/governments a weaker mandate
Discriminates against smaller parties, small parties always get under-represented, they often get fewer seats then they deserve. E.g. 2024 Reform UK got 4 million votes (more than the LD’s) yet only won 5 seats
