Electora systems essay plan Flashcards
- ‘trustees’ rather than delegates essential in representative democracy to advance best interests of electorate
o ‘Delegates’ merely act out will of the people; ‘trustees’ in the Burkean theory of representation have autonomy to speak and vote in the interests of their constituency, vital to represent that constituency and advance their interests
How is ‘trustee’ system complicated by Westminster pressure
, use of three-line whips ensure MPs vote in a particular way lest the whip be withdrawn and they have to sit as an independent. In a vote on Heathrow expansion in 2018, 8 Tory MPs defied the 3 line. Thus, representation less important in an electoral system as it becomes blurred by other influences
What was the turnout in 2001
59.4%.
What was the turnout in 2017
68.8%
What was the turnout in 2019
67.3
What did MP Alaistair Mcdonnel get in 2015 election
24.5% of the vote.
What did the the Electoral Reform Society predict in 2015
predicted the outcome of 368 safe seats - over half of parliament.
How much of tory seats safe in 2015
61% according to the Electoral Reform Society
How much of labour seats safe in 2015
58% according to the Electoral Reform Society
How does fptp encourage moderation and limit extremism
In 2010, BNP got 563,743 but not a single MP, whilst Conservatives got 306 seats with about 35,000 votes per seat
How many seats did Tony Blair win in 1997
418 seats
What is an example of weak links mp-constituents
In sparsely populated areas, like the Scottish Highlands, STV has led lead to enormous constituencies
) Furthermore, each ward in Scotland has 3-4 councillors meaning that people may be confused as to who to approach with issues. For example, Glasgow East Centre ward has 4 councillors – 3 Labour and 1 SNP.
How does STV show proportionality?
in the 2016 Local Government Election in Scotland, SNP received 46.5% of votes and 48.8% of seats; Labour received 22% of votes for 24% of seats.
How is STV good for voter choice?
o Works through ranked voting thus multiple candidates chosen in order of preference. Unlike FPTP where lack of choice on which candidate a party puts forward. One might like a candidate but not their party, putting you in a bind under FPTP. For example, in Glasgow East Centre an SNP supporter might be more likely to approach the SNP councillor in the ward, Jennifer Dunn, rather than one of the Labour councillors for the area. Using STV means that people have the option
What is donkey voting?
This has led to people filling in ballot papers incorrectly in Scottish Local Government elections. Donkey voting where voters just rank candidates in the order they appear on the ballot - stv also takes longer to count
Issue with STV (too many representatives)
o For example, Glasgow East Centre ward has 4 councillors – 3 Labour and 1 SNP. Who do people contact with concerns about their area?
Issue with stv (weak gov’t)
Contrast to the 2012 election, 22 of Scotland’s 32 LAs have no party in overall control (NOC) and are run as minority/coalition councils.
A 2013 Audit Scotland Report into Aberdeen City Council found that political feuds and infighting were preventing real progress from being made.
What dies A 2013 Audit Scotland Report show?
political feuds and infighting were preventing real progress from being made.
How does AMS give the greatest choice to voters
o AMS works by giving the voter 2 votes. 1 ballot paper for constituency and another for regional MSPs. An example might be the constituency MSP for the Glasgow Proven Constituency being Paul Martin, who belongs to the Scottish Labour Party. This represents citizens as AMS produces a fairly proportional result, but still maintains a clear link between voters and their representatives.
What does AMS give that FPTP?
Chance for voters to make a difference
. Choosing both top up and constituency members means having a genuine impact
. In the North East of England, 79% of seats are safe.’ Reduces participation as for some recognition their vote won’t matter (disillusionment).
How is AMS anti-democratic?
- Party chooses who is on the list that voters choose from, limits dissident members
o In 2003, Margo MacDonald, an experienced and popular MSP resigned from SNP, due to internal party squabbling, as she was placed a lowly 6th on the SNPs list for the Lothian’s region.
stv better in this case as they can number their preference
How does AMS still disadvantage smaller parties
o E.g. in Wales, the small number of top-up seats has advantaged Labour (e.g. in the Welsh Assembly elections in 2016, Labour won 27 constituency seats, and top up seats only accounted for 20 seats in total, with UKIP getting the most – 7)
Why is a stable gov’t overrated, whats wrong with coalitiosh
- Coalitions are better to ensure democratic pluralism and multiplicity of ideas
o Before STV was used in local government elections, councils across Scotland were dominated by Labour. The introduction of the STV means that more parties are represented and have a say in Scotland’s 32 local authorities – arguably more democratic. Con/LD coalition shows possible with stability
How does referendums been a democratising force
- Provides majority consensus, giving a mandate for major constitutional reform
o Professor Vernon Bogdanor has said that it is “illusory” in today’s climate “to believe that you can confine legislative matters solely to parliamentarians”. AV 2011 rejected, Brexit now being enacted; similarly, devolution in 1998
