Electoral Systems

Question 1

How has the party system changed?

Answer 1

1945-74: Labour and Conservative has 91-98% vote

1980s: conservative - THATCHER
1990s: New Labour. Lib Dems did make gains (Con Lab vote share fell to 73%)
2015: LD vote share fell. Issue voting (e.g. 2015 - UKIP won 2 seats)
2017: Conservative and Labour had 82% vote share.

Question 2

Who decides constituencies

Answer 2

Boundary Commission

• 650 constituencies
• 75,000 per constituency

Question 3

SNP versus Green vote share and seats

Answer 3

SNP
Vote share = 3.9%
Seats = 48
Green
Vote share = 2.7%
Seats = 1

Question 4

Outcome of FPTP

Answer 4

• 2 party
• winner’s bonus
• strong single party government
• safe and swing seats

Question 5

Two party (FPTP)

Answer 5

-Due to plurality within constituencies
2017 -> North East Fife won by 2 votes
-Favourable to those with concentrated support
-Small parties cannot compete monetarily

Question 6

Winner’s Bonus (FPTP)

Answer 6

-Overrewards winner
2019-> Cons got 43% of vote but 56% of seats
-Take the entire seat
-Excludes small voices

Question 7

Strong single party gov (FPTP)

Answer 7

-Usually gives large majority
1997-> 179
-Not recently
2010-> coalition
-Usually means legislation can be passed easily
-> Blair wasn't rejected until 2005

Question 8

Example of Safe Seat

Answer 8

Birmingham Ladywood

2019-> 79% Labour

Question 9

Example of Swing Seat

Answer 9

Fermanagh and South Tyrone

2019-> won by 0.1%

Question 10

FPTP?

Answer 10

\+easy to understand
\+quick
\+accountability
\+stops radicals
\+proved the test of time
\+AV 2011 rejected by 68%
-wasted votes in safe seats
-unequal vote value

Question 11

How frequent are referendums

Answer 11

Used to be infrequent: only ever been 3 nationwide
Becoming more common, on important issues like Brexit.
Potential #INDYREF2

Question 12

Do governments have to obey a referendum?

Answer 12

No, they are advisory. Realistically, however, they are rarely - if ever - ignored.

Question 13

Role of referendums

Answer 13

• RESPOND TO PUBLIC PRESSURE
• > 2014 Scotland Referendum
• DECIDE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
• > 2016 EU (this actually backfired)
• AGREEMENT BETWEEN FACTIONS
• > 2011 AV Referendym
• GIVE LEGITIMACY
• > 1997 Scotland

Question 14

Regulation of referendums?

Answer 14

• recognition of both sides
• expenditure regulation
• electoral commission oversee false info

Question 15

Impact of referenda?

Answer 15

• undermines representative democracy
• only to give legitimacy when outcome is easily predicted (e.g. Scotland 1997)
• causes notable change
• remove policy from agenda (e.g. AV 2011)
• not binding

Question 16

Why is representative democracy preferable?

Answer 16

• representatives are rational
• politicians have informed advisors
• representatives consider minority interests
• representatives elected for good judgement

Question 17

Why did the UK vote against AV?

Answer 17

• complex
• pro reform campaign poorly run
• division even in labour
• conservatives strongly against it

Turnout = 42%
Voted against by 68%

Question 18

Why did Scotland vote against independence?

Answer 18

Turnout = 84.5%
No = 55%
-Significant change
-Impact on industry
-Dual nationality
-Fear of unknown

Question 19

Impact of Scotland voting against independence?

Answer 19

• all 3 large parties promised more powers

- calls for 2nd referendum as Scotland voted Remain in EU

Question 20

Impact of EU Referendum?

Answer 20

Turnout = 72%
Leave = 52%

• Both sides were lying
• > 350m a week to NHS
• Pushed for 2nd referendum
• Cameron resigned
• Caused 2017 and 2019 elections

Question 21

For referendums

Answer 21

PUREST FORM OF DEMOCRACY 
Uncorrupted by representatives.
MENDS RIFTS IN SOCIETY
1998 -> Belfast agreement
SOLVE CONFLICTS
2016 -> EU Referendum
CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE
Constitutional change respected
PEOPLE EDUCATED
Can vote better on issues
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION

Question 22

Against referendums?

Answer 22

COMPLEX ISSUES
people can't comprehend consequences
SOCIAL RIFTS
emotions reduces cohesion. 2014 scotland
UNDERMINES REPRESENTATIVES
TYRANNY OF MAJORITY
scotland voted to remain in EU, but we left
COMPLEX ISSUES
a yes or no can't cover it

Question 23

What happens in AMS

Answer 23

In Additional Member Systems, the voter gets two votes - One vote is cast for a constituency MP, under FPTP rules. Some seats are filled this way. The other vote is cast for a party. The rest of the seats are filled this way, on a strictly proportional basis with a number of regional lists.

Question 24

Effect of AMS

Answer 24

• Parties who do well in constituency vote don’t do as well later
• Multiparty system
• Coalition until SNP 2011
• Less safe and swing seats

Question 25

Pros of AMS

Answer 25

Proportional
Split ticket voting
Representative
Representation

Question 26

Cons of AMS

Answer 26

Complicated
Coalitions
Different representatives
Party control list

Question 27

What happens in STV

Answer 27

NI divided int0 18 regions, each has 6 representatives
Voter rank their preference
First preference counted, those who reach quota get a seat and the rest redistributed.
If not all seats are taken, then candidate with least votes has seats redistributed

Question 28

Pros of STV

Answer 28

Proportional
Voter choice
Representation

Question 29

Cons of STV

Answer 29

Complicated
Unlikely to supply a single party government
No constituent link

Question 30

What happens in SV

Answer 30

The area (in this case London), is treated as 1 constituency
Voters choose a 1st and 2nd preference vote
A candidate may win from 1st preference, if not, 2nd preference for top 2 candidates are counted.
Candidate with majority wins

Question 31

Pros of SV

Answer 31

Majority
Voter choice
Simple

Question 32

Cons of SV

Answer 32

2 party system
False majority
Wasted votes