Electoral Systems Flashcards
What is the name of the electoral system used for UK General Elections?
First Past the Post (FPTP)
What is a constituency?
A geographical area represented by one MP or MSP
How many constituencies are there in the UK?
650
How many MPs are there in the House of Commons?
650
Why is the system used for UK general elections known as ‘first past the post’?
The party with the most votes in a constituency wins.
MPs are elected to sit in the ______ of ___________.
House of Commons
What is the name of the electoral system used for elections to the Scottish Parliamen?
Additional Member System (AMS)
AMS is used to elect MSPs to where?
The Scottish Parliament
How many MSPs are elected in Scottish Parliamentary Elections?
129
Why is the AMS known as a ‘hybrid’ system?
It is a mix of two electoral systems - FPTP and Party (or Regional) List
How many constituency MSPs are elected in Scottish elections using the AMS?
73
How many regional MSPs are elected in Scotland using the AMS?
56
How many regions in Scotland under the AMS?
8
How many MSPs are elected to each region under the AMS?
7 MSPs per region. (8 regions in total)
Why are constituencies in UK General Elections known as ‘single member constituencies’?
Only one MP is elected to represent each constituency
What is the aim of a proportional representation electoral system?
To achieve a proportional result - the % of votes should be similar to the % of seats gained
How many votes do you get in Additional Member System?
Two: one for your constituency MSP and one for the Regional Vote
AMS gives voters more choice than FPTP. Why?
You get two votes
What is the aim of AMS?
To achieve a more proportional result than FPTP
When were the last elections to the Scottish Parliament?
2021
Who won the Scottish Parliamentary Election in 2021?
SNP
One advantage of AMS is that it offers greater choice. Why does AMS offer voters more choice than FPTP?
You get two votes - one for a constituency MSP and one for a party.
One advantage of AMS is that is fairer than FPTP. Why is AMS fairer than FPTP?
It produces more proportional results. The percentage of seats a party wins is broadly similar to the percentage of votes.
An advantage of AMS is that is fairer on smaller parties. Why?
Smaller parties are more likely to gain representation through the Party List system.
One disadvantage of AMS is that is complex. Why is it said to be complex?
It can be difficult to understand. The regional vote and the D’Hondt formula are complicated.
