Electoral systems

Question 1

What is a manifesto?

Answer 1

Policy produced by a political party with the intent of being implemented once in power

Question 2

What is a mandate?

Answer 2

The right a political party has to rule once in power

Question 3

Name two ways in which elections promote democracy?

Answer 3

Electorate have a range of choices in elections
Ultimate expression of the popular will

Question 4

Name the four voting systems?

Answer 4

First-past-the-post
Supplementary vote
Additional Member System
Single Transferable Vote

Question 5

Outline the features of First-past-the-post?

Answer 5

UK is divided up into 650 constituencies and representatives aim to win constituencies by being the first to pass 50% of the vote in their area

Question 6

Where is First-past-the-post used?

Answer 6

UK General elections

Question 7

Outline the features of Supplementary vote?

Answer 7

Voters choose two candidates. all candidates are eliminated apart from the top two. Eliminated candidates votes are redistributed leaving the candidate with most original and second preference votes the winner

Question 8

When was supplementary vote used?

Answer 8

London Mayor elections up until 2022 in which they were changed to FPTP

Question 9

Outline the features of the additional member system?

Answer 9

They have two votes, one for constituency and one for overall government in order to gain a more proportional vote where seats are equal to votes received

Question 10

Where has the additional member system been used?

Answer 10

Scottish parliament in 2021 in which the SNP gained 64 seats

Question 11

Outline the features of single transferable vote

Answer 11

The Droop formula is used to establish the quota needed for a candidate to be elected. Any votes above the established quota are redistributed to second preferences. This process repeats until all available seats are filled. Candidates with the lowest votes are also eliminated and redistributed

Question 12

Where is single transferable vote used?

Answer 12

Northern Ireland assembly in 2022 Sinn Fein won with 27 seats

Question 13

Define referendum

Answer 13

Vote on a particular issue

Question 14

Name a strength and a limitation of referendums

Answer 14

The electorate decide on big issues
Campaigns can be misleading

Question 15

Give an example of a misleading referendum campaign

Answer 15

Both remain and leave campaigns in the 2016 EU referendum made claims that were disproved by fact checkers

Question 16

In 2015 how many FPTP votes were cast to a losing candidate?

Answer 16

50%

Question 17

How many votes did Sadiq Kahn get during the London Mayor elections of 2016?

Answer 17

1 million first preferences and 400,000 second preferences

Question 18

How many majority governments has AMS caused Scotland to have since 1999?

Answer 18

Only one in 2011