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A level politics > Electoral system > Flashcards

Electoral system Flashcards

1
Q

Although Boris Johnson won an 80 seat majority, what % of votes did he acquire?

A

43%

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2
Q

What are the functions of an electoral system?

A
  • to chose representatives
  • allow the public to hold the government and representatives to account
  • mandate
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3
Q

4 democratic aspects of uk elections

A
  • most adults are permitted to vote
  • secrecy of the ballot
  • the conduct of elections is safe guarded by the electoral commission which is independent of the government
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4
Q

What are the four types of electoral systems?

A
  • First Past the post
  • single transferable vote
  • supplementary vote
  • additional member system
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5
Q

Define the first past the post system

A
  • The person with the most votes secures the seat
  • an absolute majority is not needed
  • chose someone to represent their constituency
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6
Q

Define the supplementary vote system

A
  • used to elect one candidate
  • an absolute majority for the winning candidate
  • voter makes two choices - if one candidate gets 50% the first vote is complete
  • however if not, the second vote is cast
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7
Q

Define the single transferable vote system

A
  • allocate seats in direct proportion to votes cast
  • rank voting preferences
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8
Q

Where is FPTP used?

A

general elections and local elections in England and wales

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9
Q

Where is AMS used?

A

Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Greater London Assembly

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10
Q

Where is STV used?

A

Scottish Local Council, Northern Ireland Assembly

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11
Q

Where is SV used?

A

London mayoral elections

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12
Q

Define the additional member system

A
  • first vote using first past the post
  • second vote to a party list
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13
Q

In FPTP do the voters chose a party or a candidate?

A

a candidate

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14
Q

How many constituencies are there?

A

650

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15
Q

Negatives of safe seats

A

Little real choice for voters

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16
Q

Statistic e.g of how many seat that (2019) were won by an absolute majority

A

In 2019 - 421 of 650

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17
Q

Statistic e.g of how many MP’s won a seat with less than 40% majority

A

2015 - 50 MP’s

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18
Q

3 advantages of first past the post

A
  • simple
  • outright winner usually
  • representatives focus on constituency isssues
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19
Q

3 disadvantages of FPTP

A
  • parties with dispersed support struggle to win seats
  • favours larger parties with concentrated support
  • failed to produce a decisive government majority causing a coalition
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20
Q

FPTP favours parties that have - support in certain areas

A

Concentrated

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21
Q

Example of FPTP favouring parties with concentrated support

A

2019 General election - Liberal Democrat’s - 11% of votes but only 11 seats

22
Q

Example of FPTP awarding equal votes to seats

A

2019 - Labour - 32% of votes - 31% of seats

23
Q

What is a safe seat?

A

Almost certain that the same political party will win the seat at every general election

24
Q

Safe seats estimate - inc year

A

2019 - estimated 316 of 650 seats were safe

25
Q

2 negative implications of safe seats

A
  • the MP’s of those constituencies are less accountable for their actions as the probability of the loosing the seat is slim
  • wasted votes - no realistic chance of changing the outcome - votes not all of equal value
26
Q

What are marginal seats?

A

Seats held by a small majority, where a small swing to an opposition candidate can cause the seat to change hands.

27
Q

2 negative implications of marginal seats

A
  • votes in these areas have more influence
  • parties concentrate on these seats
28
Q

What did the 2011 referendum propose?

A

Rejected proposal for electoral system change

29
Q

What referendum Rejected proposal for electoral system change

A

2011

30
Q

reasons FPTP should be replaced

A
  • votes are of unequal value
  • wasted votes
  • tactical voting
  • not proportional
  • the winning party does not have an outright majority
31
Q

What is tactical voting?

A

voting for the party that is the least worst option, not the party you would want to vote for

32
Q

What % of votes did the conservatives win by in 2019

A

43%

33
Q

3 positive aspects of AMS

A
  • partly proportional - more than FPTP
  • parliamentary constituencies with a representative MP
  • helps smaller parties who can not win constituency seats
34
Q

What are the 2 systems in AMS?

A

FPTP and closed party list

35
Q

What is closed party list?

A

voters vote for a list of candidates proposed by the party

36
Q

What element of AMS is proportional?

A

Closed party list

37
Q

How is closed party list proportional?

A

votes = seats

38
Q

How does AMS make its results more proportional?

A

‘top-up’ system

39
Q

What is the ‘top-up’ system?

A

Parties that do less well have a proportion of their votes adjusted upwards and those that do proportionally well under FPTP have their list votes adjusted downwards

40
Q

3 Drawbacks of AMS

A
  • produces two classes of representation - constituency and those elected through lists - lists tends to be senior
  • complex
  • can result in the election of extremist candidates
41
Q

Proportional example of AMS

A

Scottish Parliament - 2016 - SNP 49% seats won, 42% votes won in regional lists

42
Q

How many seats are available in each constituency in the STV system?

A

6

43
Q

Which electoral system ranks candidates in order of preference?

A

STV

44
Q

What system has an electoral quota?

A

STV

45
Q

what is an electoral quota?

A

a calculated number of votes a candidate must achieve to be elected

46
Q

Example of STV as a proportional system

A

Northern Ireland Assembly election 2017 - DUP 28 seats won, 28% of first preference votes won

47
Q

3 negatives of STV

A
  • complex
  • 6 representatives per constituency makes accountability unclear
  • donkey voting
48
Q

4 positives of STV

A
  • proportional
  • voters have a wide range of choice - less settling - a candidate who meets their ideals
  • voters can vote for candidates in different parties
  • more likely for smaller parties to be elected
49
Q

How many votes do voters get in SV per constituency?

A

2

50
Q

What does SV only elect candidates if they achieve?

A

an absolute majority

51
Q

3 advantages of SV

A
  • winning candidate has an overall majority - legitimate
  • simple
  • voters can vote for multiple parties

A level politics (32 decks)

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