Electoral Systems

Question 1

Elections function in UK

Answer 1

Representation
Choosing a govt
participation
influence over policy
accountability
legitimacy

Question 2

Majoritarian system

Answer 2

winning candiate must secure absolute majority (50% +)
Single member constituencies
Outcome not proportional- large parties higher proportion
Produces single party govt

Question 3

Plurality system

Answer 3

FPTP single member plurality system- one more vote than closest rival

Question 4

Proportional representation and used for what

Answer 4

Larger constituency more proportional the results. 2 votes winner has a majority
Mayor of London
Multi- member constituencies
Proportional outcome- produce coalition

Question 5

Mixed system

Answer 5

AMS- 2 votes

1 for constituency (elected by FPTP) and 1 for regional list elected by closed list PR

Question 6

Characteristics of FPTP

Answer 6

2 party system
Winner's bonus
bias to major party
single party govt
discrimination against smaller parties

Question 7

Safe seat

Answer 7

constituency in which party has large majority- often retained

Question 8

marginal seats

Answer 8

small majority- won by different parties

Question 9

Winner’s bonus

Answer 9

share of seats that 1st placed party wins in excess of its share of vote under FPTP

Question 10

Characteristics of 2 party system

Answer 10

Favours major parties with nation wide support

2015- UKIP won 1 seat yet 12.6% of national vote

Question 11

Bias of FPTP

Answer 11

favours one of 2 major parties
Tactical voting
Differences in constituency size
differential turnout- turnout lower in Labour seats 
62% in 2015- 69% Tories
Discrimination against smaller parties

Question 12

What does FPTP produce and 2019 election example

Answer 12

majority govt

Conservatives- 43.6 %

Question 13

2015 general election

Answer 13

single party govt

majority of only 12- not as stable

Question 14

Arguments for FPTP

Answer 14

Simplicity
Clear outcome
Strong and stable govt
Responsible govt
Effective representation
Keeps out extremist parties

Question 15

Arguments against FPTP

Answer 15

Disproportional outcomes
Electoral Deserts- EG Tories 34% of vote in N England in 2017 but only 10% of seats
plurality rather than maj support
votes unequal
limited choice

Question 16

Advantages of supplementary vote

Answer 16

Winning candidate achieves broad support- legitimacy
Supporters of smaller parties can use 1st vote to show allegiance and 2nd to indicate which they prefer
People who use both to support minor parties don’t effect outcome

Question 17

Disadvantages of supplementary vote

Answer 17

Winner may be elected without majority if 2nd votes not used effectively
system not proportional for general elections
winning candidate doesn’t need majority to win

Question 18

advantages of Single Transferable Vote

Answer 18

proportional outcomes and equal votes
govt likely ro consist of party w 50% of vote
Greater choice

Question 19

Disadvantages of single transferable vote

Answer 19

less accurate in translating votes into seats than PR
Large multi-member constituencies weaken link between MP and constituents
Produce coalition govt

Question 20

Advantages of AMS

Answer 20

combines best features of FPTP and PR
results proportional + votes not wasted
Voters greater choice- split ticket voting

Question 21

disadvantages of AMS

Answer 21

2 categories of representative- 1 constituency duties 1 without- tensions
smaller parties under represented- large over represented