Elections and Voting Flashcards
Election
Allows the electorate to choose representatives who will carry out the business of govt on their behalf. E.g. in Westminster elections each constituency elects a MP who represents them in the HofC. It allows participation, voting in elections is the most common form of political participation. They are consulted at maximum every 5 years. Everyone 18+ can vote except for prisoners yet this rule may change due to the European Court of human rights.
Majoritarian representation
Where an electoral system is designed to try to ensure that the person or party elected enjoys a broad majority of support from the electorate. AV ranking candidates so you will give consent to them gaining power, more representative.
Mandate
Refers to the authority to govern granted to the winning party at an election by the voters. The mandate suggests that the government may implement policies in its election manifesto. It also implies that the govt has the authority to use its judgement in dealing with unforeseen circumstances (doctors mandate)
Proportional representation
Describes any electoral system that converts votes into seats in a broadly proportional way e.g. Israel.
Electoral reform
The process of making changes to an electoral system, as was recently seen with the AV referendum, which was a way to reform the UK’s electoral system by changing it.
Party system
The typical structure of parties within a political system. It describes the normal number of parties that compete effectively. Thus we may speak of two three or multi party systems. It also refers to the typical party make up of governments- for example single party government, coalitions etc.
Manifesto
A document in which a political party sets it’s policy programme at an election.
Turnout
The proportion of the electorate that votes in an election.
Representative
An individual who acts on behalf of a larger group but id free to exercise their own judgement.
Representation
The process by which an individual or individuals act on behalf of a large group.
Delegate
An individual authorised to act on behalf of others but who is bound by clear instructions.
Constituency
A geographical territory for which representative are chosen in an election.
Simple Plurality System
An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a single member constituency wins.
District magnitude
The number of representatives elected from a particular constituency.
Mixed system
An electoral system where a proportion of representatives are elected under a majoritarian/plurality system in single member constituencies, and the others are elected as ‘additional members’ using a proportional system in multi-member constituencies.
