Electoral systems Flashcards
Name the theories of political representation
Trusteeship: Representatives act as trustees who exercise their best judgement to respresent their people
Delegate: Representitives act as delegates for their constituants
Mirror: Representitives speak for group that they are apart of by mirroring who they claim to represent
Why does the voting system matter?
Can affect the voters choices
Changes how the party’s will behave
Parlimentary proceedings
Government operations and policies
What is FPTP electoral system?
Based on territorial representation
Single member districts; one vote is cast for one candidate
Whoever wins the most votes, not whoever gets majority
Regardless of % distribution winner wins
Currently 338 districts
What are some benefits of FPTP?
Simplicity, speed and clarity. Easy for voters to understand
Stability. FPTP often creates majority governments
This in turn makes for decisiev governments
Accountaboloty: Voters have a direct link to their representitive and can place blame etc accordingly.
What are some cons to FPTP
Distortion affect: FPTP creates a gap between actual number of votes and number of seats, sometimes meaning opposition cannot be represented well.
Regional affect: FPTP grossly amplifies the regional concentration of party support; favours small parties with regionally concentrated support while punishing small parties with diffuse national support
All votes for losing candidate essentially wasted. May influence voter decisions
What is the proportional system?
Proportional systems (PR): party seat totals reflect the proportion of the vote won; the preferences of all voters are represented in the election results (no wasted votes); no regional amplification effect; all small parties fairly represented
What is the alternative if reform is needed?
A combination of PR and FPTP.
Hybrid system that combines FPTP and PR
Two types of MP: constituency and regional
Two votes: voters make candidate choice and party choice; parties that are underrepresented are ‘topped up’ using regional seats
Easier to address representational deficits: regional, women, visible minorities, aboriginals
