Electoral system analysis - (3.3) Electoral Systems - UK Politics

Question 1

Why has FPTP survived for Westminster elections?

Answer 1

Outcomes suit the interests of the 2 largest parties (who gain power and therefore are the ones who have the power to change it)
People like the simplicity of it - as showed in outcome of May 2011 referendum on AV

Question 2

Why was AMS adopted for Scottish and Welsh devolved elections and for the Greater London Assembly?

Answer 2

Compromise (Lib Dems & SNP wanted STV in Scotland Labour wanted FPTP) - would result in broadly representative government without radical change to STV
Proportional & had local representation
Enabled Labour to play a part in Scottish government until SNP won in 2007
Selected for Wales & London because of success in Scotland

Question 3

Why was STV adopted for the Northern Ireland Assembly?

Answer 3

(After Good Friday Agreement 1998). because highly proportional and likely to ensure the broadest possible representation of different parties
Important to avoid single-party domination in NI due to conflict between unionists and nationalists.
STV ensures power-sharing bodies
STV was also already in use in Republic of Ireland
And had been used before so roots had province

Question 4

Why was SV used to choose elected mayors?

Answer 4

Simple
Only top 2 candidates would make it through to final round
Winner would have clear mandate

Question 5

How the electoral system impacts type of government

Answer 5

PR = more likely to be coalitions
Parties (with shared power) have to compromise and negotiate with other parties
Impacts policy making

Question 6

Type of government (i.e. coalition etc) in Scotland

Answer 6

Normally minority government
Feb 2011 in order to win support for its budget, administration (SNP) had to make concessions to the Conservatives & Liberal Democrats

Question 7

How electoral system impacts policy making

Answer 7

AMS meant that Labour in Scotland entered a coalition with Liberal Democrats (centre left) and therefore Scottish labour did not follow the ‘rightward drift’ in Westminster and Scotland as a result has better welfare (e.g. prescription charges abolished)

Question 8

Impact of electoral systems on party representation

Answer 8

Proportional = more smaller parties

Question 9

Impact of electoral systems on voter choice

Answer 9

AMS allows people 2 votes, STV offers even more choice.
STV = fewer wasted votes than FPTP
SV allows voters 2 choices
Proportional systems tend to offer more choice than FPTP.