Electoral systems

Question 1

2 British examples that use AMS

Answer 1

Scottish and Welsh Assemblies

Question 2

2 British examples that use SV
Which recent Act ended this?

Answer 2

London mayor and police and crime comissioner
Elections Act 2022

Question 3

British examples that uses STV

Answer 3

NI Assembly

Question 4

What does FPTP being a plurality mean? What are some alternatives?

Answer 4

Plurality - person with the most votes wins
Majority - winner has more than 50% of vote - SV
Proportional - winners distrbuted according to vote - STV and partially AMS

Question 5

How to juddge voting systems

Answer 5

Constituency link
Effective governance/ party system
Proportional/ fairness
Voter choice

Question 6

The average seat has stayed in the same hands for ?? years. This shows how FPTP often leads to ???? seats (316 in 2019)

Answer 6

The average seat has stayed in the same hands for 42 years. This shows how FPTP often leads to safe seats - (316)

Question 7

How many votes were “lost” in the 2019 election

Answer 7

14.5 million voted for a losing candidate

Question 8

How has one positive of FPTP come under scrutiny recently

Answer 8

It is often praised for returning a strong government/ mandate. This has not been the case in 2010, 2015 and 2017. 2 minority governments and one weak majority which soon imploded.

Question 9

Example of a safe seat switching?

Answer 9

Bristol West has changed from -20% for Labour top one of its safest seats.

Question 10

How much of the vote share did the SNP receive in 2015 - for how many seats?

Answer 10

just under 5% for 56 seats!

Question 11

Example of a referendum held to unite a party

Answer 11

1975 - vote on the EEC called by Harold Wilson to shut dissenters up. This was the same as in 2016 for David Cameron with remainers being largely removed from the party afterwards

Question 12

Example of a referendum held in response to public pressuree

Answer 12

2014 Scottish independence came as a result of large pressure from the SNP
Brexit referendum largely as a result from inside the party and UKIP/ UKIP voters

Question 13

Examples of referenda being used for an agenda

Answer 13

1997 - devolution referenda held by Blair and the same in 1998 for an elected London mayor. Part of a push for constitutional reform and democratisation

Question 14

Between them, how much did BeLeave and VoteLeave exceed their spending limits by in 2016

Answer 14

£1.1million

Question 15

Example of a clear ‘no’ mandate from a referendum

Answer 15

2011 - 67% of voters against

Question 16

Do referenda always clear up divisive issues?

Answer 16

No - SNP built its 2017 election around a second referendum (a.k.a the neverendum)
Brexit still divides and there were calls for a second referendum

Question 17

What should I consider when thinking about more or less referenda

Answer 17

Do they encourage participation, political education and healthy debate?
Do they resolve issues? Especially for controversial topics or ones by minority governments?
Do they enhance representation without undermining existing systems i.e. Parliament

Question 18

How did voting change under the elections act 2022

Answer 18

Requires photo ID to vote
Placing the electoral commission under the provision of a government minister - the chair was “concerned”