Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AS Politics > Electoral Systems > Flashcards

Electoral Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Define Plurality System

A

An electoral system where the most votes wins (e.g. FPTP)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define Majoritarian System

A

50%+1 of the votes are required to win (e.g. SV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define Proportional Representation System

A

An electoral system where the number of seats are proportionate to the votes cast (e.g. AMS, STV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define FPTP

A

A plurality system used in Westminster elections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define Supplementary Vote

A

A majoritarian system once used in mayoral election

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Define AMS

A

A PR system used in Welsh & Scottish Parliament elections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define STV

A

A PR system used in NI Assembly elections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define Safe Seat

A

A constituency seat where the same party/MP wins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define Marginal Seats

A

A constituency seat where the outcome of an election is tight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Define Minority Government

A

Where a party has the most seats in Parliament but they don’t have an overall majority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Define Coalition Gov’t

A

Where 2+ parties form a gov’t because no party won an overall majority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define Stable Gov’t

A

When a gov’t remains in power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why might an election be called?

A
  • to hold the current gov’t & MPs to account
  • to choose a new gov’t or elected rep.
  • to limit the power of gov’t by ensuring accountability
  • to give a mandate to the manifesto of the winning party
  • to encourage political participation & education of the electorate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

UK National elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats

A
  • Parliament - Westminster
  • up to 5 years
  • FPTP
  • MP
  • 650
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Scotland elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats

A
  • Scottish Parliament - Holyrood
  • every 5 years
  • AMS
  • MSP
  • 129
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Wales elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats

A
  • Welsh Parliament - Senedd
  • every 5 years
  • AMS
  • MS
  • 60
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

NI elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats

A
  • NI Assembly - Stormont
  • every 5 years
  • STV
  • MLA
  • 90
18
Q

Mayoral elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats

A
  • London mayor
  • every 4 years
  • FPTP
  • London Mayor
    1
19
Q

The Dissolution & Calling of Parliament Act, 2022

A
  • replaced the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, 2011
  • gave the power to call elections back to the PM
  • the Elections Act changed the election system for the London mayor from SV to FPTP
20
Q

Explain the impacts of FPTP

A
  • creates a 2-party system, meaning smaller parties have little impact
  • creates safe seat & marginal seats across UK
  • typically leads to a strong, stable gov’t
  • creates a winner’s bonus
21
Q

Describe the use of FPTP in UK general elections

A
  • UK is divided up into 650 constituencies (by population) by the Boundary Commission & voted on by Parliament
  • each constituency is rep. by 1 MP
  • cast their vote for who they want to rep. that constituency
  • the person with plurality becomes an MP
  • party with the most MPs (326+) is invited to form gov’t by monarch
22
Q

Advantages of FPTP

A
  • simple, which encourages higher turnout rates, increasing legitimacy
  • creates strong gov’t with majority of MPs, giving a mandate to follow manifesto & carry it out
  • single-member constituency means the local areas have a rep. with interest to the area
  • 2-party system keeps extremist parties out of gov’t
  • it’s quick, giving a result on the day or the next
23
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

A
  • simplicity leads to wasted votes because only 1 cand. wins
  • winner’s bonus give the gov’t power in excess to the votes received
  • 2-party system means many vote for who is best for the country, not constituency
  • creates safe seats, which devalues individual votes, & opposes equal votes / universal suffrage
24
Q

Explain the impacts of AMS

A
  • creates multi-party system, meaning many parties could realistically win
  • often minority/coalition gov’t due to promotional nature
  • smaller parties do better in regional vote, while major parties do well in constituency votes (plurality)
  • results in the growing success of nationalist parties in devolved assemblies (SNP, Plaid Cymru)
25
Q

Describe AMS in Hollyrood/Senedd

A
  • voter casts 2 votes, 1= M(S)P for constituency, 1= party for region
  • Scotland = 73 constituencies; Wales = 40 constituencies. These MOs are elected via FPTP from 1st cast vote
  • 2nd vote = regional MSPs in 8 large regions; Wales = 5 regions. Using the D’Hondt formula, the rest of seats are allocated more proportionally
26
Q

What is the d’hondt formula?

A

no. of seats ÷ (no. of offices held by party + 1)

27
Q

Explain the effects of STV

A
  • creates 2-party system, with many parities having realistic chances to form gov’t (highly proportionate)
  • NI, Good Fri Agreement means that gov’t resulting from election must share power
  • smaller parties do better regional, major parties do better in constituency votes
28
Q

Describe how STV works

A
  • NI is divided into 18 regions which each elect 5 MLAs
  • voter ranks cands. in order of preference (they can exclude people)
  • droop quota is calculated
  • any cand. who reach quota = seat. Votes above quota redistribute to next preference
  • if any seats remain, the bottom cand. is eliminated, & those votes are redistributed to next choice
29
Q

Describe how SV works

A
  • voter has 1 vote but can indentify 2nd choice on ballot
  • first choice votes are counted
  • if anyone has 50%+1, they win
  • if not, all but top 2 cands. eliminated & votes are redistributed to 2nd choice
30
Q

Advantages of majoritarian systems

A
  • relatively simple, encouraging turnout
  • gives clear result & strong gov’t, increasing legitimacy
  • maintains strong link between rep. & constituency, improving representation
  • encourages major parties to have central policies with broadest appeal
31
Q

Disadvantages of majoritarian systems

A
  • creates more wasted ballots, undermining rep. democracy
  • likeliness of 2 party system decreases voter choice, encouraging tactical votes to spoil ballots
  • disproportionate result, including winner’s bonus, leading to ‘elective dictatorship’ potentially
  • create gov’t supporting a single majority, possible creating ‘tyranny of the majority’
32
Q

Advantages if proportional systems

A
  • creates fewer wasted votes & safe seats, encouraging turnout
  • wider choice between parties, all who could contribute to gov’t
  • more proportionate result, improving legitimacy
  • creates weaker gov’t who must cooperate with other parties to form a broadly popular gov’t
33
Q

Disadvantages if proportional systems

A
  • usually complicated, increasing voter apathy
  • can create gov’ts with smaller majority, undermining their mandate
  • reps. are often elected in larger areas, reducing direct rep. of constituents
  • smaller parties with extremist polices can influence gov’t
34
Q

2010 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t

A
  • 65% turnout
  • 36.1%
  • 0.6%
  • 29.0%
  • 23.0%
  • 1.7%
  • 3.1%
  • coalition of Cons. & Lib. Dem.
35
Q

2015 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t

A
  • 66% turnout
  • 36.8%
  • 0.6%
  • 30.4%
  • 7.9%
  • 4.7%
  • 12.6%
  • Cons. majority
36
Q

2017 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t

A
  • 69% turnout
  • 42.3%
  • 0.9%
  • 40%
  • 7.4%
  • 3%
  • 1.8%
  • Cons. gov’t with supply & confidences agreement with DUP
37
Q

2019 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t

A
  • 67% turnout
  • 43.6%
  • 0.8%
  • 32.1%
  • 11.6%
  • 3.9%
  • 0.07%
  • Cons. majority
38
Q

2021 Scotland Election
- turnout
- Cons.
- Green Party
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- gov’t

A
  • 64% turnout
    Constituency —– Regional
    22% —– 23%
    1% —– 8%
    22% —– 18%
    7% —– 5%
    48% —– 40%
  • SNP & GP power-sharing agreement
39
Q

2021 Wales Election
- turnout
- Cons.
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- Plaid Cymru
- gov’t

A
  • 47% turnout
    Constituency —– Regional
    26% —– 25%
    40% —– 36%
    5% —– 4%
    20% —– 21%
  • Lab. in cooperation with PC
40
Q

2022 NI Election
- turnout
- Alliance
- DUP
- Sinn Fein
- Ulster Unionist
- gov’t

A
  • 64% turnout
  • 5%
  • 21%
  • 29%
  • 11%
  • not formed at time of going to press due to the DUP being unwilling to name a deputy first minister until issues with the NI Protocol are resolved
41
Q

2021 London Election
- turnout
- Cons.
- Green
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- gov’t

A
  • 42% turnout
    1st round —– 2nd round
    35% —– 45%
    8% —– 55%
    40% —– N/A
    4% —– N/A
42
Q
A

AS Politics (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions