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Public Affairs > Electoral System > Flashcards

Electoral System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the franchise?

A

The right to vote

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2
Q

Who was the franchise restricted to at first?

A

Property owning classes

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3
Q

What act expanded franchise to all adult men who owned property worth more than £10?

A

1832 Great Reform Act

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4
Q

What act have vote to women for first time, but had to be over 30. Men over 21 also given vote?

A

1918 Representations of the People Act

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5
Q

What act extended franchise to men and women over 21?

A

1928 Represenations of the People Act

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6
Q

What act lowered voting age to 18

A

1969 Representation of the people Act

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7
Q

What is a general election?

A

When 650 MPs resign to contest their seats

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8
Q

What is a by-election?

A

Election in a single constituency caused by the death or resignation of an MP

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9
Q

What did the coalition government introduce in 2010?

A

Fixed-term Parliaments of five years

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10
Q

What can trigger an early election? (2)

A

A vote of no confidence

Or vote of 2/3 of HOC can trigger election (this happened in 2017)

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11
Q

Who can vote in national elections, what are the 3 conditions?

A

British, Irish, Commonwealth citizens normally resident in UK

Must be 18 plus

Must be on electoral register

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12
Q

Who can’t vote in elections? (6)

A

1) peers sitting in HOL
2) Foreignors (including EU citizens)
3) Patients detained under mental health act for crimes
4) Convicted prisoners
5) People convicted of corrupt or illegal election practices
6) Queen and hiers don’t vote, no law stoping them

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13
Q

Who can stand in elections?

A

1) have to be 18

2) British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen resident in UK

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14
Q

Who can’t stand in elections?

A

1) Peers
2) undischarged bankrupts
3) Patients convicted of crimes under MH act
4) Prisoners serving more than one year in jail (so prisoners can’t vote but can stand)
5) People convicted of corrupt election practices (10 he ban in same constituency, five years if another one)
6) senior civil servants
7) Police officers
8) members of armed forces
9) judges

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15
Q

What method of voting is the election decided on?

A

First past the post

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16
Q

What is first past the post?

A

Simple easy system

Candidate with most votes elected

Party with majority of votes form gov

650 seats, if party gets more than half then they can form gov alone

17
Q

What is a hung Parliament?

A

If no party gets 326 like in 2010

18
Q

What the three things that can happen in hung parliament?

A

1) try to govern as minority administration - in vote by vote basis which is unstable and can be defeated at any moment if other parties gang up on them
2) Enter into confidence and supply agreement with other parties whereby smaller parties support gov on big votes (like budget)

3) formal coalition with other parties to
reach 326 (like in 2010)
19
Q

Why is the FPTP unfair?

A

Does not distribute seats on basis of proportional votes cast

Votes cast for any candidates but winner are effectively wasted

20
Q

Name 3 alternative voting systems

A

1) Supplementary vote - If no candidate gets majority then all but top two eliminated and votes redistributed according to second choices (used in London mayor elections)
2) Alternative Vote - (operates in single member constituencies) candidate has more than 50% of votes he/she is elected. If not candidate with least number eliminated and that candidates votes redistributed according to second choices
3) Additional Member System - Hybrid system where some candidates are elected in single member constituencies according to FPTP and second votes are used to top up from regional lists

21
Q

What are candidates required to pay?

A

£500 as a deposit, but lose their deposit if fewer than 5% of votes cast

22
Q

How much can candidates spend?

A

£7150, plus 5p per vote (7p rural) on campaigning

23
Q

How is pending overseen?

A

By Electoral Commission

24
Q

When do polls close

A

10pm

25
Q

Who can observe counting?

A

Candidates, party workers and press to ensure no electoral fraud

26
Q

Who oversees the whole voting process

A

The Returning officer (usually local council officer)

27
Q

Can candidates demand a recount if votes are close?

A

Yes

28
Q

What happens if the result ties

A

Lots are drawn

29
Q

How many voters voted in General Election 1950 compared to 2015

A
  1. 9% in 1950

66. 1% in 2015

30
Q

What has a lack of voting led to?

A

Ideas to boost voting like

Making voting compulsory with fines for those that don’t vote

Electronic voting

Voting over more than one day

Placing polling stations in supermarkets and shopping centres

31
Q

How long are councillors elected for?

A

4 years terms

32
Q

Local authorities are divided into wards, how many councillors can represent each ward?

A

Up to 3 can rep each ward

33
Q

What can local authority’s choose for councillor voting?

A

Have all councillors face election every 4 years

Have half of them facing election every 2 years

Have 1/3 of them facing election every year with a fallow year when there is no elections

34
Q

Who can stand in Local Authority Elections?

A

UK, Irish, Commonwealth and EU citizens in UK

Must be on electoral register or resident for 12 months

Have his/her main place of work in the area for 12 months

Own property for 12 months

35
Q

Who can vote in Local Authority elections?

A

Must be on electoral register

Must be 18

UK, Irish, EU and CW citizens

36
Q

Who can’t vote in Local Authority Elections?

A

Patient convicted of crimes under MHA

Anyone convicted of corrupt election practices

37
Q

When is voting?

A

Thursdays 8am to 9pm

38
Q

How much can candidates for Local Authority elections spend?

A

£600 (2000 for directly elected mayors)

Public Affairs (15 decks)

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