Electoral Systems Flashcards
Functions of elections
-Participation
Voting is a key act of political participation for many
Functions of elections
Citizen education
Elections provide voters with information on issues, policies and the government record
Functions of elections
-Choosing a representative
Parties decide who runs in an election under their party name
They chose the person who is most likely to win the election
Political elite is responsible for a smoothly, running country
Functions of elections
-Developing policy
Parties publish a manifesto
Can be changed in office but often public opinion has a huge impact on this
Functions of elections
-Holding representatives to account
Election allows for judging the performance of those in power during the 4/5 year electoral term
Functions of elections
-Legitimising political power
Gov formed as a product from a fair and free election is a legitimate one
High turnout is essential as to not undermine legitimacy
Competition is important to chose a person
50% majority is needed to get a legitimate gov
Define legitimacy
The rightful holding of political power usually gained through winning an election
Define electoral systems
A process by which the votes cast can be translated into elected officials or seats
Define party system
The number of parties that have a realistic chance of forming gov
Scottish parliament
Every 5 years
Uses AMS
Last election was 2021
SNP won with 64 seats (1 seat short of a majority)
Northern Irish Assembly
Every 5 years
Uses STV
Last election was March 2017- DUP won 28 seats
UK parliament
Every 5 years MPs and PM Uses FPTP 650 constituencies Last election was 2019- Boris Johnson won with a 80 seat majority
By-elections
When a seat in HOC becomes vacant between general elections
Welsh assembly
Every 5 years
Using AMS
Last election was 2021- won by Lab with a 30 seat majority (1 seat off of a majority)
London mayor
Last election was 2021
Every 4 years
Uses SV
London Assembly
Last election was June 2021
Every 4 years
Using AMS
Local elections
Every 4 years
Using FPTP
Police and crime commissioners
Every 4 years
Using SV
Which significant parts of the UK are not elected
PM- elected by party
HOL
Define constituency
A geographical area represented by a representative in an assembly
Define single member constituency
A constituency that has one representative
Define multimember constituencies
A constituency that has more than one representative
Simple plurality systems (FPTP)
Westminster general elections
Winning candidates must achieve one more vote than the closest rival
Single member constituencies
Not proportional results
Lab/ Con higher proportion of the votes vs minority parties (Lib Dems)
Single party gov
Majoritarian systems- SV
London mayoral elections
Winning candidates must achieve an absolute majority 50%+
Single member constituencies
Not proportional result- large parties take a higher proportion of seats
Smaller parties are underrepresented
Single party gov with working parliamentary majorities
Why is FPTP often described as majoritarian
Very similar with the winner having to get the most seats
Proportional systems- STV and Regional List Systems
Seat are allocated in proportion to the votes won by each party in an election Multimember constituencies Proportional results Allows for voters to rank candidates Represented/ coalition gov
Mixed or hybrid systems- AMS
Systems combine both plurality or majority and proportional systems
Winning candidates must achieve- simple plurality of votes in single member constituencies under FPTP or the required proportion of votes in a multimember constituency under the list system
Single/ multi member constituencies
Proportional results
Smaller parties do well under AMS
Coalition/minority gov
Majoritarian vs proportional systems
Single member vs Multi member
Single party gov vs Coalition gov
Not proportional vs proportional
Absolute majority vs electoral formulas
FPTP at a constituency level
650 constituency
1 seat constituency
Select a candidate to run for election within a constituency
Voters cast a single ballot for a single candidates
Candidate with the most votes wins
FPTP at a national level
Winning candidate in each constituency goes to parliament
Party with majority of MPs (326/650) form gov
If no party has a majority, two or more parties may form a coalition or form a minority gov
Boundary commission
Reviews constituencies and redraws the boundaries every 8-12 years
Safe seats
Constituency highly likely to be won by a specific party at repeated elections
Marginal seats
A constituency in which the electoral outcome is not easily predictable and could be won by a number of parties
Coalition gov
Gov formed form 2 or more parties following an election
Two party system
2 dominant parties
Winner takes it all system
Discourages 3rd party support
2017- 82.4% voted Lab and Con
Winners bonus
Disproportionately rewards winning parties
Single party gov
Usually FPTP returns a single party with a majority of the seats
Not since 1935 has a party won a majority of the vote
2010 Coalition
No overall majority of 326 seats
Con and Lib Dem formed a coalition gov
Minority gov 2017
No overall majority, Con formed a minority gov with a supply and demand arrangement with the DUP
Tactical voting
UK voters believe their first choice vote will be wasted because it is for a party with no chance of winning the constituency
Use their vote to try and keep their least favourite candidate from winning the election
Main problems with FPTP
Can’t cope with people’s changing voting habits
Made to benefit two parties so can’t handle complex electoral swings
Wasted votes
Advantages of FPTP
Simplicity and clear outcome
Simple voting
Count is quick (first results are out within an hour)
Results are quickly available and provide a clear outcome - AV referendum was 67%
Voters are familiar with the system
Advantages of FPTP
Strong gov
Single party gov- clear legitimate gov
Winner’s bonus creates a strong gov with working majority- 2019 Con and Brexit
Gov are able to control policy and put into effect their manifesto commitments- survive 4/5 years
Voters can hold gov to account- change elections
Advantages of FPTP
Close constituency link
One MP- single member constituencies
Voters can take concerns to MP
Voters can hold their representatives to account– 2015 MP recall act
Advantages of FPTP
Centrist policies
Extremist parties are unable to gain sufficient votes in a single constituency- BNP vote increased but failed to win seats
Parties must gain broad support- UKIP- 12.6%- 1 seat
Disadvantages of FPTP
Lack of voter choice
Limited choice
Two party race
Tactical voting- 2017- 6.5 million
Low turnout
Disadvantages of FPTP
Unequal vote value
Wasted votes- 2017- 68% wasted
Safe seats- low turnout and electoral deserts- 2015-368 safe seats
Disadvantages of FPTP
Lack of majority
Need a plurality rather than a minority
Disadvantages of FPTP
Disproportionate result
Winner takes it all/ landslide effect- 1997- 63% seats vs 43% votes
Disadvantages of FPTP
Third and minor parties
Struggle to gain seats due to two party nature of FPTP
Lib Dems have been discriminated against
Emergence of third parties
Disproportionate results
2015- UKIP 12.6% votes vs 1 seat
Failure to produce strong, single party gov under FPTP
Small majorities
Minority gov
Coalition
All more likely
AMS -type of system -how many votes do voters get -how does the constituency vote work how does the regional vote work
mixed- FPTP and closed party list system
2
constituency counted first- elects single rep on plurality basis- use FPTP
draw up candidate list- uses d’hondt formula- 1st seat- party with highest result from equation
repeat until all seats have been allocated
AMS
- main effects
- advantages
- disadvantages
second chance in 2nd round/ more choice/ smaller parties do better
proportional/ split ticket vote/ broad support for gov/ better representation
more complicated/ single party less likely/ disadvantages of FPTP/ 2 types of representation/ party controls candidate list
d’Hondt formula
number of regional votes gained for a given party// number of seats a given party has gained +1
STV
- types of system
- type of constituency
- how does it work
proportional systems
large multi member
voters indicate their preferences
candidates must achieve thr droop quota- excess votes are redistributed
remaining seats and no quota achieved- eliminate lowest candidate and transfer 2nd preference votes
process continues
STV
- advantages
- disadvantages
- effects
- droop quota
proportional/ voters choice/ better rep
more complicated/ coalition gov/ constituency link/ in party fighting
result in multiparty/ coaltion/ unlikely anyone will gain majority/ reduce safe seats
(valid votes cast/ seats need to fill) +1
