Electoral systems

Question 1

What is the current system of voting in the UK?

Answer 1

FPTP

Question 2

Winners bonus

Answer 2

Under FPTP, you can win more seats than your vote share. e.g Blair 43% vote, 60% seats

Question 3

FPTP

Answer 3

HoC, local elections
1 vote
Single representative per constituency
Winner takes it all-no majority needed
Likely to produce single party govt

Question 4

SV

Answer 4

England and Wales Mayors, PCC
Preferential system-1st and 2nd. If one candidate gets 50%, they’re elected. If not, second round-everyone apart from two highest candidates elim, if their second pref is one of the candidates it is redistributed to them. Candidate with most wins

Question 5

Positives and negatives of FPTP

Answer 5

+ -simple, close link between MP and constituency, prevents rise of extremist parties, single party govt
- =votes that don’t go to winner effectively wasted, swing seat votes more important, no maj needed to win, two party system

Question 6

SV positives and negatives

Answer 6

+-all votes count, more likely to get a candidate that is supported by more of electorate
- =only win on 2nd prefs (not everyones 1st choice), may be determined by prefs of those who support small, even extremist parties

Question 7

AMS

Answer 7

Wales/Scotland, GLA
First ballot=party candidates/indys, FPTP. 3nd=vote for a party
FPTP seats elected 1st-most votes wins.
Party ballot-seats assigned proportionally ‘compensatory’-if party has won 5 seats but entitled to 8, they get 3 seats from the list.

Question 8

AMS positives and negatives

Answer 8

+-broadly proportional outcomes but single governance can occur, able to vote for your fave candidate even if theyre not from a party you’d vote for alongside normal party
-=2 classes of rep, no link between list MPs and constituency

Question 9

STV

Answer 9

NI/Scotland elections
Bigger areas elect small team of MPs proportionally
Preferential system=rank candidates
Quote needs to be reached to be elected-no votes/(no seats+1)+1
If a candidate reaches the quota their second prefs are redistributed. Keeps going until no reps filled

Question 10

STV positives and negatives

Answer 10

+-highly proportional, several candidates from same party means voters must judge based on merit, several MPs gives constituents options to take issues to
-=Complex, coalitions likely, multimember constituencies may be divisive because they encourage comp between members of same party

Question 11

What are referendums?

Answer 11

Simple yes or no votes held by a govt on a complex issue to gauge public opinions
They are not legally binding however govt usually accepts result
e.g Brexit 52-48 remain
Scotland-55-45 remain

Question 12

How are referendums initiated?

Answer 12

By parliament-req act of parliament. Public pressure can force govt to hold one

Question 13

What are referendums useful for?

Answer 13

Legitimising maj govt proposal or constitutional change
Bypass or resolve internal split w/in governing party
Response to pressure to hold ref
Result of a deal between parties

Question 14

Positives of referendums

Answer 14

Improves rep demo-electorate answers q
Act as check on govt power
Encourage participation
Legitimises maj decisions and provide degree of entrenchment
Help govt respond to changes in public mood
Help overcome internal party divisions and resolve major issues

Question 15

Negatives of referendums

Answer 15

Undermine doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty
Tyranny of majority or low turnout ‘tyranny of minority’
Voters may lack sufficient/accurate info to express reasoned choice
Low turnout delegitimises result
Outcomes can be influenced by factors beyond issue at stake in ref
Issue may be too complex to be reduced to single yes/no vote