Elections And Voting Flashcards
Which act allow women to vote ?
The Equal Franchise Act in 1928
What is an enfranchisement ?
A statutory right or privilege granted to a person
Which act reduce the age of voting to 18 ?
The Representation of the People Act in 1969
What is the system used for the general election ?
First past the post
Define First Past The Post
Voters vote once one round of voting to elect local MP to represent one constituency. The MP candidate who obtains the most votes wins and becomes MP for that constituency. The political party which wins the most constituencies win the general election and that party forms the government
Who many constituencies there were in 2010 ?
650
What are the strength of FPTP ?
Gives clear choice Usually leads to an clear victory Encourages political stability Are very few coalition government Encourages positive voting Makes tactical voting rare Ensures each MP represents a particular constituency
What are the different types of election ?
A general election A local election A regional election A European election A by-election
What are the different kinds of electoral systems ?
- Proportional Representation
Single transferable vote
Borda - Majority systems
Alternative
First Past The Post
What are the weaknesses of FPTP ?
Ignores size of majorities
Voters cast for the losing MP become irrelevant
Penalises small parties
Elects usually only 2 parties
Candidates are elected with a simple majority
Because some three quarters of seats are safe, many voters are denied an effective choice in most seats.
There is sometimes a discrepancy between the proportion of the vote and of the seats (ex : in 1974 Labour won 50% of the seats with only 39,3% of the vote)
What is class dealignment ?
When voters from a particular social class no longer support the party which traditionally claims to represent the interests of that social class.
What are the three main parties ?
Conservative
Labour
Liberal Democrats
