Elections, referendums + voting systems Flashcards
Politics
democracy
democratic way to elect leaders/representatives
opinion on policy
shows public opinion on policies
policies of 2nd/3rd parties can be considered
majority/minority
shows who majority want in power
prevents tyranny of the minority
representation
gives public a representative- can choose govt.
power transfer
makes the transfer peaceful from one govt. to another
pluralism
is promoted- many competing possible centers of power/ideas- have an equal chance of gaining power (e.g. resources/funding)
types of election in UK
-local
-council
-general
-mayoral
-by-elections
-elections for police + crime commissioners
-national assemblies (Wales/Scot/NI)
-recall elections
-European elections (pre 2019)
Additional Member System- what kind of system is it?
a hybrid system- mix of FPTP and ListPR
AMS- what is it used for?
electing members of Scottish + Welsh Parliaments + London Assembly
AMS- how many ballot papers/votes?
2 ballot papers
2 votes
AMS- what is on the first ballot paper?
a list of candidates standing as constituency representatives
AMS- what is on the second ballot paper?
a list of parties standing for election in the region
-Scotland divided into 8 regions, 73 MSPs are selected by 1st paper, 56 from the second
AMS- what kind of MPs are made?
2 types- one have a constituency link, one do not
Single Transferrable Vote (STV)- what is it used for?
European elections in NI
Scottish local council elections
AMS- what does the regional vote do?
makes up for underrepresentation in constituency votes
STV- how does it work?
on basis of multi-member constituencies- voters rank choices in order of preference
STV- how do candidates get elected?
candidate w/ more votes than quota is immediately elected
least pop. candidate is eliminated + 2nd choice votes for them are distributed
STV- what does it mean?
there are no wasted votes
Referendums- what are they?
a pop. vote on a single issue
Referendums- are the results binding?
no- Parliament is sovereign
Referendums- why are they held?
for constitutional change (gives it legitimacy)
party motivations e.g. split over EU
political deals e.g. 2011 AV vote (Lib Dem coalition)
political pressure (Brexit)
bc politicians don’t want to be responsible + can’t decide on some decisions
Referendums- what did the Political Parties, Elections + Referendums Act 2000 do?
-more recs. on wording of referendums (could ask leading q’s, understandable)
-register groups/individs. who expect to spend £10,000+ on the campaign
-designate the lead orgs. who have higher spending limits, receive public money + make TV broadcasts
-completes a report on campaign + spending
-controversy abt Brexit referendum in terms of spending + alleged lying in the campaign
Referendums- who are they controlled by?
the Electoral Commission- 2000
Referendums- Ads for referendums
-will of ppl achieved by removing doubt that a single GE may lead to what ppl want on an issue
-reduces power of the Commons/Govt (accountability)
-shows support/resistant for change
-increases political awareness/understanding
-independently supervised- should be fair
Referendums- Disads for referendums
-clashes w/Parliamentary sovereignty
-q’s are more complicated than stated- not always fully clear (would be better as series of q’s)
-no consistency on when they’re called
-influenced by party politics/protest votes
-highly divisive
Referendums- Clement Atlee quote on referendums
‘referendums are a device so alien to all our traditions which has only too often been the instrument of Naziism and fascism’
