Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A Level Politics Edexcel > Electoral Systems > Flashcards

Electoral Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Functions of elections

-Participation

A

Voting is a key act of political participation for many

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Functions of elections

Citizen education

A

Elections provide voters with information on issues, policies and the government record

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Functions of elections

-Choosing a representative

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Functions of elections

-Developing policy

A

Parties publish a manifesto

Can be changed in office but often public opinion has a huge impact on this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Functions of elections

-Holding representatives to account

A

Election allows for judging the performance of those in power during the 4/5 year electoral term

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Functions of elections

-Legitimising political power

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define legitimacy

A

The rightful holding of political power usually gained through winning an election

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define electoral systems

A

A process by which the votes cast can be translated into elected officials or seats

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define party system

A

The number of parties that have a realistic chance of forming gov

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Scottish parliament

A

Every 5 years
Uses AMS
Last election was 2021
SNP won with 64 seats (1 seat short of a majority)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Northern Irish Assembly

A

Every 5 years
Uses STV
Last election was March 2017- DUP won 28 seats

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

UK parliament

A 
Every 5 years 
MPs and PM 
Uses FPTP 
650 constituencies 
Last election was 2019- Boris Johnson won with a 80 seat majority
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

By-elections

A

When a seat in HOC becomes vacant between general elections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Welsh assembly

A

Every 5 years
Using AMS
Last election was 2021- won by Lab with a 30 seat majority (1 seat off of a majority)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

London mayor

A

Last election was 2021
Every 4 years
Uses SV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

London Assembly

A

Last election was June 2021
Every 4 years
Using AMS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Local elections

A

Every 4 years

Using FPTP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Police and crime commissioners

A

Every 4 years

Using SV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Which significant parts of the UK are not elected

A

PM- elected by party

HOL

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Define constituency

A

A geographical area represented by a representative in an assembly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define single member constituency

A

A constituency that has one representative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Define multimember constituencies

A

A constituency that has more than one representative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Simple plurality systems (FPTP)

A

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

24
Q

Majoritarian systems- SV

A

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

25
Q

Why is FPTP often described as majoritarian

A

Very similar with the winner having to get the most seats

26
Q

Proportional systems- STV and Regional List Systems

A 
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
27
Q

Mixed or hybrid systems- AMS

A

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

28
Q

Majoritarian vs proportional systems

A

Single member vs Multi member
Single party gov vs Coalition gov
Not proportional vs proportional
Absolute majority vs electoral formulas

29
Q

FPTP at a constituency level

A

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

30
Q

FPTP at a national level

A

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

31
Q

Boundary commission

A

Reviews constituencies and redraws the boundaries every 8-12 years

32
Q

Safe seats

A

Constituency highly likely to be won by a specific party at repeated elections

33
Q

Marginal seats

A

A constituency in which the electoral outcome is not easily predictable and could be won by a number of parties

34
Q

Coalition gov

A

Gov formed form 2 or more parties following an election

35
Q

Two party system

A

2 dominant parties
Winner takes it all system
Discourages 3rd party support
2017- 82.4% voted Lab and Con

36
Q

Winners bonus

A

Disproportionately rewards winning parties

37
Q

Single party gov

A

Usually FPTP returns a single party with a majority of the seats
Not since 1935 has a party won a majority of the vote

38
Q

2010 Coalition

A

No overall majority of 326 seats

Con and Lib Dem formed a coalition gov

39
Q

Minority gov 2017

A

No overall majority, Con formed a minority gov with a supply and demand arrangement with the DUP

40
Q

Tactical voting

A

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

41
Q

Main problems with FPTP

A

Can’t cope with people’s changing voting habits
Made to benefit two parties so can’t handle complex electoral swings
Wasted votes

42
Q

Advantages of FPTP

Simplicity and clear outcome

A

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

43
Q

Advantages of FPTP

Strong gov

A

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

44
Q

Advantages of FPTP

Close constituency link

A

One MP- single member constituencies
Voters can take concerns to MP
Voters can hold their representatives to account– 2015 MP recall act

45
Q

Advantages of FPTP

Centrist policies

A

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

46
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

Lack of voter choice

A

Limited choice
Two party race
Tactical voting- 2017- 6.5 million
Low turnout

47
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

Unequal vote value

A

Wasted votes- 2017- 68% wasted

Safe seats- low turnout and electoral deserts- 2015-368 safe seats

48
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

Lack of majority

A

Need a plurality rather than a minority

49
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

Disproportionate result

A

Winner takes it all/ landslide effect- 1997- 63% seats vs 43% votes

50
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

Third and minor parties

A

Struggle to gain seats due to two party nature of FPTP

Lib Dems have been discriminated against

51
Q

Emergence of third parties

A

Disproportionate results

2015- UKIP 12.6% votes vs 1 seat

52
Q

Failure to produce strong, single party gov under FPTP

A

Small majorities
Minority gov
Coalition
All more likely

53
Q 
AMS
-type of system 
-how many votes do voters get 
-how does the constituency vote work 
how does the regional vote work
A

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

54
Q

AMS

  • main effects
  • advantages
  • disadvantages
A

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

55
Q

d’Hondt formula

A

number of regional votes gained for a given party// number of seats a given party has gained +1

56
Q

STV

  • types of system
  • type of constituency
  • how does it work
A

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

57
Q

STV

  • advantages
  • disadvantages
  • effects
  • droop quota
A

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

A Level Politics Edexcel (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions