Electoral Systems Flashcards
What is AMS
- Additional Member System
- Have two votes, one for a constituency rep elected using FPTP, second is a party (Proportional rep)
- The Westminster-style ballot papers are counted first. The candidate with the most votes in the constituency wins.
- The second ballot papers are then counted.
- The people counting look at how many seats a party won on the first ballot paper.
- They then add ‘additional members’ from the party lists to make parliament match how the country voted.
Where is the AMS voting system?
Scotland, Wales, London Assembly
What are the two votes for in AMS?
- Constituency rep (FPTP)
- Party (proportional rep)
Advantages of AMS
Gives minor parties a chance
More representative
Proportional
Gov with broad popularity
Disadvantages of AMS
Can’t pick the MP which will hold a seat
Unlikely single party gov
Some disadvantages of FPTP
What are the advantages of FPTP?
Clear winner/strong gov
Simple
MP constituency link
Centralist policies
What are the disadvantages of FPTP?
lack of voter choice
Unequal vote value
Lack of a majority
Two party System
Disproportionate result
Winners bonus
What are the implications of Marginal seats ?
- campaigns will be focused on there’s areas
- receive more attention than safe seats
What is a winners bonus ? Give an example.
Over rewarding the winning party
2019, Cons got 44% of popular vote but 56% of seats
What is STV?
Single Transferable Vote
Voters number a list of candidates. Voters can put numbers next to as many or as few candidates as they like. Parties will often stand more than one candidate in each area.
The numbers tell the people counting to move your vote if your favourite candidate has enough votes already or stands no chance of winning.
Where is STV used ?
Northern Ireland
What does STV require voters to do ?
Ordinal voting/ ranking candidates
Through STV, what do they need to win?
‘A droop quota’
What are advantages of STV?
-proportional result
-voter choice
-greater representation
What are disadvantages of STV?
- complication
- unlikely single party gov
- extremists can be elected
- no accountability
What is SV?
Supplementary vote
One column of boxes is for voters to mark their favourite candidate and one in which to mark a second favourite. Voters don’t have to mark a second favourite.
Where WAS SV used?
London mayor election
What is on the SV ballot paper?
Contains candidates listed, and two columns. One for voters first choice, and the other is the second choice.
When are the second preferences used in SV?
If there isn’t a majority in all the first choice ballots
What are the advantages of SV?
Get a majority result, strong and stable
More voter choice
Simple system
What are the disadvantages of SV?
- Two party dominance, result is not proportional and people may be tactical with their second preference
- A false majority- in second round, many votes aren’t counted, meaning the winning may not have a true majority
- Wasted votes
Why are referendums held ?
-public pressure (Scotland ref)
-deciding on controversial ideas (EU)
-part of a coalition agreement (AV)
-gives legitimacy to constitutional changes
How many people voted yes to the good Friday agreement?
71%
What was the turnout for the good Friday agreement ref?
81%
Arguments against referendums
public not educated
undermine representative democracy
can represent the ‘tyranny of the majority’
examples where parties were fined due to false campaigning
What are the different party systems?
One party system
Dominant party system
Two party system
Two and a half party system
Multi party system
What is a dominant party system?
Parties are freely allowed to operate but only 1 party has a real chance
Lacks accountability
Stable
E.g SNP in Scotland
When was the UK a 2 party system?
1945-75
What % of votes did the main parties gain in 2019?
76%
What % of the vote did the libdems secure in 2010?
23%
What % of seats did the two parties gain in 2019?
87%
Define ‘absolute majority’
Candidate wins over 50% of vote
Define plurality
Winning more votes than your rival
What is an example of a safe seat?
- Birmingham, Ladywood West Midlands
68% LABOUR turnout was 56%
What’s an example of a marginal seat?
Bury south, 0.8% majority to con
67% turnout
What’s an example of a winner takes all scenario in 2015
McDonnall won Belfast with 25% of the vote
What’s an example of a ‘winner’s bonus’?
Con gov in 2015 got 37% of the popular vote but 51% seats
Con gov in 2019 got 44% of the popular vote but 56% seats
How did the 2010, 2015, and 2017 elections demonstrate the failures of FPTP?
2010: No overall majority. Coalition agreement became their manifesto
2015: Conservatives gained a small majority
2017: There was no majority gained so the conservatives formed a minority gov with an agreement of confidence and supply from Democratic Unionist Party.
What’s an example which demonstrates the power of by-elections?
Owen Patterson’s North Shropshire seat was a safe seat but when he resigned it was taken by Lib Dems.
Who discusses FPTP as an ‘elected dictatorship’?
Lord Hailsham
What was the result to the 2011 AV Ref?
AV was rejected by 68% of voters
turnout of 42%
