Elections, referendums + voting systems

Question 1

democracy

Answer 1

democratic way to elect leaders/representatives

Question 2

opinion on policy

Answer 2

shows public opinion on policies
policies of 2nd/3rd parties can be considered

Question 3

majority/minority

Answer 3

shows who majority want in power
prevents tyranny of the minority

Question 4

representation

Answer 4

gives public a representative- can choose govt.

Question 5

power transfer

Answer 5

makes the transfer peaceful from one govt. to another

Question 6

pluralism

Answer 6

is promoted- many competing possible centers of power/ideas- have an equal chance of gaining power (e.g. resources/funding)

Question 7

types of election in UK

Answer 7

-local
-council
-general
-mayoral
-by-elections
-elections for police + crime commissioners
-national assemblies (Wales/Scot/NI)
-recall elections
-European elections (pre 2019)

Question 8

Additional Member System- what kind of system is it?

Answer 8

a hybrid system- mix of FPTP and ListPR

Question 9

AMS- what is it used for?

Answer 9

electing members of Scottish + Welsh Parliaments + London Assembly

Question 10

AMS- how many ballot papers/votes?

Answer 10

2 ballot papers
2 votes

Question 11

AMS- what is on the first ballot paper?

Answer 11

a list of candidates standing as constituency representatives

Question 12

AMS- what is on the second ballot paper?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

AMS- what kind of MPs are made?

Answer 13

2 types- one have a constituency link, one do not

Question 14

Single Transferrable Vote (STV)- what is it used for?

Answer 14

European elections in NI
Scottish local council elections

Question 14

AMS- what does the regional vote do?

Answer 14

makes up for underrepresentation in constituency votes

Question 15

STV- how does it work?

Answer 15

on basis of multi-member constituencies- voters rank choices in order of preference

Question 16

STV- how do candidates get elected?

Answer 16

candidate w/ more votes than quota is immediately elected
least pop. candidate is eliminated + 2nd choice votes for them are distributed

Question 17

STV- what does it mean?

Answer 17

there are no wasted votes

Question 18

Referendums- what are they?

Answer 18

a pop. vote on a single issue

Question 19

Referendums- are the results binding?

Answer 19

no- Parliament is sovereign

Question 20

Referendums- why are they held?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Referendums- what did the Political Parties, Elections + Referendums Act 2000 do?

Answer 21

-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

Question 21

Referendums- who are they controlled by?

Answer 21

the Electoral Commission- 2000

Question 22

Referendums- Ads for referendums

Answer 22

-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

Question 23

Referendums- Disads for referendums

Answer 23

-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

Question 24

Referendums- Clement Atlee quote on referendums

Answer 24

‘referendums are a device so alien to all our traditions which has only too often been the instrument of Naziism and fascism’