Electoral Systems

Question 1

What is FPTP?

Answer 1

First Past the Post!
Simple plurality
One vote each
Single member constituency-whoever gets one more vote than another MP in a constituency gets to be an MP.
The party with the most MPs forms the government, the party chooses its leader.

Question 2

Advantages of FPTP

Answer 2

Easy to understand.
Quick and simple.
Creates strong and accountable government.
Strong constituency links.
Clear choice as it’s a 2 party system.
Discriminates against extremist parties.

Question 3

Disadvantages of FPTP

Answer 3

Unfair-limited voter choice.
can be elected on under 50% of the electorate vote.
Smaller parties don’t really stand a chance.
Lack of proportionality.
Minority governments.
Discriminates against all parties but the leading two.

Question 4

Where is FPTP used?

Answer 4

In the UK Westminster general elections and in the US

Question 5

What is AMS?

Answer 5

Additional Member System!
Hybrid system-seeks to mix majoritarian and proportional systems.
Voters cast 2 votes-one for the constituency MP and the other for a party list system (to select a party).
Produces 2 types of representative-local and regional.

Question 6

Advantages of AMS

Answer 6

Seeks to mix the good parts of FPTP with the fairness of PR.
It’s proportional.
More choice- meaning it’s fairer.
Additional seats are allocated.

Question 7

Disadvantages of AMS

Answer 7

A number of seats are won by FPTP-which is unfair.
More complicated-so it’ll take longer ( two tiers of MPs).
Often creates coalition (can be seen as an advantage).
Gives more control to parties-list members are chosen by the party.

Question 8

Where is AMS used?

Answer 8

Used in Scottish and Welsh devolved elections and for the Greater London Assembly.

Question 9

What is STV?

Answer 9

Single Transferable Vote!
Large multi-member constituencies.
Preferential voting.
Gives voters a ranked choice of preferences-the number of stages relates to the number of candidates on the ballot paper, and will continue stage by stage until there are 2 candidates left and the one with the most votes transferred is elected.

Question 10

Advantages of STV

Answer 10

Need 50% support to form a government.
Lots of choice-including between candidates in the same party.
Numerically fair outcome.
The list system allows those who don’t get FPTP to still have seats
Fewer votes are wasted.
There are no safe seats-parties must campaign everywhere.
No need for tactical voting.
Often causes coalition-parties work together.

Question 11

Disadvantages of STV

Answer 11

The process of counting votes takes a lot longer.
Potentially complicated and confusing.
Weak constituency links.
Coalition is often produced.

Question 12

Where is STV used?

Answer 12

Used in Northern Ireland Assembly.

Question 13

What is SV?

Answer 13

Supplementary Vote!
Majoritarian system (seeks to give winner a majority-therefore a mandate).
Single member constituency.
Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
If no candidate receives an absolute majority of first preference votes, then all but the leading 2 are eliminated and the second ballot votes are redistributed.

Question 14

Advantages of SV

Answer 14

Ensures majority support.
Easy to understand.
Voters choose a first and second preference.
Strong constituency links.
Has allowed some independent candidates to win.
Encourages moderate campaigning-second preference is important.

Question 15

Disadvantages of SV

Answer 15

Wasted votes.
Usually 2 leading parties/candidates.
Small parties lose out-especially with the 1st preference votes.
All candidates but the top two get recast.
Not proportional.

Question 16

Where is SV used?

Answer 16

Used to choose London elected Mayors.

Question 17

What is PR?

Answer 17

Proportional Representation!
List system-open (choose a candidate) or closed (choose a party).
Multi member constituency.
Parties roughly get the same % of seats to the % of votes.
Seeks to make sure the result is nationally and mathematically fair.

Question 18

Advantages of PR

Answer 18

Prevents a two party system.
Numerically fair.
Less wasted votes.
Likely people will relate to an MP.

Question 19

Disadvantages of PR

Answer 19

Produces weak government and weak coalition.
Unrepresentative-vote for the party.
Party control of list.
Confused mandate- who represents who.

Question 20

Where is PR used?

Answer 20

Used in UK (revolving around the EU) and Sweden.

Question 21

What is AV?

Answer 21

Alternative Vote!
Majoritarian system.
Multi member constituency.
Not all losing parties are eliminated at once (like in SV).
Voters cast a 1st and 2nd choice vote, if no one gets 50% then the last placed candidate is eliminated and the 2nd choice votes are redistributed, this is repeated until someone gets 50%+.

Question 22

Advantages of AV

Answer 22

Government is accountable and strong.
Clear choice (viable alternatives).
No tactical voting.
Small parties stand a chance.
All representatives are equal.

Question 23

Disadvantages of AV

Answer 23

Quite complicated.
Isn’t fair or proportional-votes aren’t split equally between seats.

Question 24

Where is AV used?

Answer 24

Used in the US

Question 25

Do elections promote democracy? (Yes)

Answer 25

Yes!
Educate the public.
Encourage participation.
Express the (popular) publics opinions.
Peaceful change (through political changeover).

Question 26

Do elections promote democracy? (No)

Answer 26

No!
Fail to educate the wider electorate.
Are a form of indirect democracy-takes decision making away from the people.
There are so few differences between the main parties.
Doesn’t indicate which aspects of the manifesto the voters approve.

Question 27

What is abstention?

Answer 27

The act of not voting in an election.

Question 28

Opinion polls?

Answer 28

Aim to gauge a parties popularity by asking a sample of people how they intend to vote.

Question 29

Exit polls?

Answer 29

Asks voters how they voted as they leave the polling station.
This doesn’t take postage votes into account.

Question 30

Coalitions.

Answer 30

Have become much more common in Scotland, Wales and NI but not in Westminster (where there’s single party rule).
These coalitions haven’t proven to be inherently unstable.
E.G The 1999 Welsh Assembly election resulted in a Labour/ Lib Dem coalition.

Question 31

How do referendums work?

Answer 31

An example of direct democracy-within a representative system.
They are called at the discretion of the government-don’t have legal force but it’s unlikely that the government would ignore it.
Has to be approved by Parliament (as it’s sovereign).

Question 32

Why are referendums used?

Answer 32

They settle arguments
They raise voters political awareness
Prevents the government from becoming remote and unaccountable due to the people’s involvement.

Question 33

Why could referendums be used?

Answer 33

In response to panic.
As a result of a deal between parties - e.g In the 2010 coalition, David Cameron agreed to hold a vote on changing the electoral system from FPTP to AV, it was rejected by 68% by those who voted.
To get rid of internal government disagreements.

Question 34

Arguments for the wider use of referendums

Answer 34

Enables the electorate to vote on big constitutional issues.
More informed, educated and engaged electorate.
Settles long-standing disputes/disagreements.
Strengthens the state of democracy.
Promotes participations-equal voices.
Prevents minority governments from rushing through big changes.

Question 35

Arguments against the wider use of referendums

Answer 35

Undermines the authority of Parliament.
Can be asked multiple times until the ‘right’ answer is received.
Campaigns can be misleading or complicated.
Decisions are left in the hands of those who lack specialised knowledge.
Simplify and distort issues with a yes or no decision.
If asked too regularly, can cause voter fatigue.
Popular participation may be low if the question isn’t explained-this was a factor in the low turnout in the 2011 referendum on electoral reform - 42%