Electoral Systems Flashcards
What is another name for first past the post system
Plurality system
What are the main features of the first past the post system
Country is divided into constituencies
Each constituency returns one MP
At elections each party presents one candidate
The winner of the election is the candidate who wins more votes than any other candidate (plurality)
It is not necessary to win an overall majority to win a seat
What are the outcomes of using first past the post system
Many seats are safe seats
Usually a single party wins an overall majority (but this is becoming less certain 2010/2017)
Small parties have little chance of winning seats
Associated with 2 party system
As each party only has one candidate in each seat the system favours “safe” candidates ie less diversity
What is a marginal seat
A constituency where more than one party has a realistic chance of winning
What is a safe seat
Where one party is so dominant in the constituency that it is unthinkable that it would lose
How do elections enhance democracy
mandate - gives government legitimacy
Accountability - outgoing government held accountable for their actions
Representation - constituent views are represented
What is the additional member system also known as
Hybrid system
What is the plurality system also known as
First past the post
Which regions of the uk uses the additional member system
Scottish parliament
Welsh assembly
Greater London assembly
Why is it called the additional member/hybrid system
It is a hybrid between first past the post and proportional representation
How does the AMS work
2/3 of seats first past the post
1/3 elected on basis of closed regional list voting
What is closed regional list voting
Country divided into regions
Each party offers a list of candidates for each region
Voters have 2 votes - one for constituency and one for the party lists
Seats are added to each party in the list system in proportion to votes cast
The more votes the more seats
What is the Variable top up system
Device used in the AMS where parties most discriminated against in the constituency system are awarded additional seats in the list system to compensate
Why might variable top up be used
To make the system more proportional
What is the variable top up method also known as
D’Hont method
Name a party what would benefit from the use of the variable top up system
Greens
UKIP
What are the outcomes of the AMS
Tends to be approximately proportional to the votes cast
There are still many safe constituency seats so few violent swings
Voters have 2 votes and some “split the ticket”
Small parties can win seats through the list system even though they would not win constituencies
What is the single transferable vote system also known as
Proportional representation
Which uk elections use the STV (single transferable vote) system
Northern Ireland
Scottish local government
How does STV work
6 seats in each constituency
Each party can put up as many candidates as seats (so max 6)
Voters put candidates in order using a number (1,2 etc)
At the count an electoral quota is calculated.
All first preferences are counted and all who achieve quota are elected
After this it becomes complex - basically the 2nd and subsequent preferences for elected candidates are added to other candidates totals and if they reach the quota then they are elected
Repeat til 6 are elected
How is an electoral quota calculated
Take the total number of votes cast and divide by the number of available seats plus 1 and then adding 1 to give the final result
What are the main outcomes of the Single transferable vote system
Overall outcome largely proportional to 1st preference votes
Results in a multi party system
Small parties have a chance of winning seats
As voters can discriminate between all candidates and have many votes leads to diversity
How might Proportional representation affect proportionality
Pr gives more proportional outcomes than first past the post
How does proportional representation favour voter choice
Both STV (single transferable vote) and AMS (additional member system) give voters more than one vote
How does Proportional representation favour equal value of votes
Under pure PR systems all votes count equally
How does proportional representation favour small parties
They are more likely to win seats under pr
How does Proportional representation favour democratic legitimacy
Parties of coalitions which win under pr can claim a genuine consensus of support
How is the supplementary vote system used in the UK
It is used to elect mayors in english cities and regions
What is supplementary vote system also known as
Majority system
How does the supplementary vote system work
Voters have 2 choices, 1st and 2nd. If any candidate achieves and overall majority (ie 50%) of first choices then they win
If not the top 2 candidates go into a second round
Second choice votes are added to first choices to give final totals
As there are only 2 candidates left one will achieve a majority
What are the outcomes of using the supplementary vote system
The winner can claim to enjoy majority support
It favours candidates from the major parties
Small parties have little chance in winning
Candidates personality and qualities are important
What does the “working of”an electoral system mean
How the system operates
Do NOT mix up with impact of
What does the “impact of” an electoral system mean
Concerns the typical results and outcomes of a system
Do NOT mix up with “workings of”
An electoral system that regularly produced a government with a working majority in the UK parliament until 2010 is known as and give an example
First past the post or plurality system
UK parliament
An electoral system that allows voters to discriminate between candidates of the same party is called and give an example
Single transferable vote or proportional system
Used in Northern Ireland and local Scottish elections
What is an electoral system that ensures that the winner is supported by a majority of voters called and give an example
Supplementary vote or majority system
Used to elect mayors in uk cities and regions
What is an electoral system that features both constituencies and proportional representation called and give an example
The additional member system or hybrid system
It is used in elections to Scottish parliament
Give some arguments for retention of first past the post system
Produces an easy to understand and quick result
Tried and tested
Wide spread public support (voters rejected change in 2011 referendum)
Retains strong MP to constituency link
Normally produces strong government with a working majority
Replacing it might lead to the unstable governments seen in other democratic countries (Italy - 66 governments since 1945 compared with 18 in uk)
Arguments for replacing first past the post system
2010, 2015 and 2017 elections suggest it no longer guarantees strong government
It produces v unrepresentative outcome
Unfair to smaller parties
Encourages tactical voting
PR means every vote counts
Replacement would eliminate the problem of too many safe seats as they result in too many wasted votes, voter apathy and disillusionment
Name a party who won many more seats than its proportion of the popular vote warranted
Labour in 1997 43% vote gained 63% seats
Con in 2015 won more than 50% of seats with 38% vote
Name a party who won only one seat but won considerable proportion of the popular vote
UKIP in 2015
Name a party whose representation at Westminster was all but wiped out
Lib Dems in 2015 lost all but 8 seats
Name a party who won a parliamentary majority by winning only one third of the popular vote
Labour in 2005
What does tactical voting mean
When a voter feels they can not influence the outcome of an election because it is a safe seat or they support a small party they may abandon their first choice to try and have some influence
Disadvantages of the supplementary vote system
Winning candidate may not enjoy first choice support of an overall majority
Winning candidate may win on 2nd choices
Is proportional representation an electoral system
No it is a description of a number of systems which have proportional outcomes
Disadvantages of additional member system
Produces 2 classes of representative who may be viewed differently
It is more complex which can confuse voters
Can result in election of extremist candidates
More likely to result in minority/coalition govt
Disadvantages of the single transferable vote system
It is complex and some voters may not understand it
Counting is complicated and takes a long time
Can help extreme candidates be elected
With 6 representatives per constituency the lines of accountability are not clear
More likely to result in minority and coalition govt
If your objective is strong stable govt which system should you use
First past the post
If your objective is maximum voter choice which system should you use
Single transferable vote
If your objective is a multi party system which voting system should you use
Single transferable vote
If your objective is strong constituency representation which system should you use
First past the post
If your objective is a proportional outcome which system should you use
Additional member system
If your objective is an absolute majority for the winner which system should you use
Supplementary vote
If your objective is for all votes to be equal which system should you use
Single transferable vote
Which referendum took place in 1997
What was vote split
What was turnout
What did it mean
Should additional powers be devolved to Scotland and a Scottish parliament established
74% yes
26% no
60% turnout
The Scottish people were really keen to have their own parliament and more devolved power. Was supposed to stop talk of independence
Which referendum took place in 1997 with regards to wales
What was vote split
What was turnout
What did it mean
Should additional powers be devolved to wales and a welsh parliament set up
Yes 50.3%
No 49.7%
Turnout 50%
There was a tiny majority for yes but Wales was not in the same place as Scotland
Which referendum took place in 2011
What was the vote split
What was turnout
What did it mean
Should the uk adopt the alternative vote system for general elections
Yes 32%
Not 68%
Turnout 42%
Whilst this was an issue the Lib Dem were passionate about it was obvious that the general public did not care
Which referendum took place in 2014
What was vote split
What was turnout
What did it mean
Should Scotland become an independent country
Yes 45%
No 55%
Turnout 85%
It was supposed to end the independence conversation for a generation but only 7 years later it is once again the priority for the SNP
Which referendum took place in 2016
What was vote split
What was turnout
What did it mean
Should the uk remain a member of the EU 48% yes 52% no 72% turnout The result was close which meant that the EU debate was not really settled until Boris Johnson who led the leave campaign became PM
Give some reasons that a referendum might be held and state examples
An issue might be divisive within the government/ nation 2016 EU
An issue may be of huge constitutional significance and require direct consent of the people 2014 Scottish independence
Helps entrench and safeguard constitutional changes 1998 Belfast agreement
To judge public opinion on an issue eg local referendums on congestion charging
Which organisation oversee referendums to ensure the govt does not manipulate the outcome
Electoral commission - strictly neutral
Are referendums binding
Not in the uk. They are politically binding obviously but not legally binding
