Electoral Systems Flashcards
Define Plurality System
An electoral system where the most votes wins (e.g. FPTP)
Define Majoritarian System
50%+1 of the votes are required to win (e.g. SV)
Define Proportional Representation System
An electoral system where the number of seats are proportionate to the votes cast (e.g. AMS, STV)
Define FPTP
A plurality system used in Westminster elections
Define Supplementary Vote
A majoritarian system once used in mayoral election
Define AMS
A PR system used in Welsh & Scottish Parliament elections
Define STV
A PR system used in NI Assembly elections
Define Safe Seat
A constituency seat where the same party/MP wins
Define Marginal Seats
A constituency seat where the outcome of an election is tight
Define Minority Government
Where a party has the most seats in Parliament but they don’t have an overall majority
Define Coalition Gov’t
Where 2+ parties form a gov’t because no party won an overall majority
Define Stable Gov’t
When a gov’t remains in power
Why might an election be called?
- 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
UK National elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats
- Parliament - Westminster
- up to 5 years
- FPTP
- MP
- 650
Scotland elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats
- Scottish Parliament - Holyrood
- every 5 years
- AMS
- MSP
- 129
Wales elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats
- Welsh Parliament - Senedd
- every 5 years
- AMS
- MS
- 60
NI elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats
- NI Assembly - Stormont
- every 5 years
- STV
- MLA
- 90
Mayoral elections
- for what?
- how often?
- system used
- name of elected reps
- no. of elected seats
- London mayor
- every 4 years
- FPTP
- London Mayor
1
The Dissolution & Calling of Parliament Act, 2022
- 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
Explain the impacts of FPTP
- 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
Describe the use of FPTP in UK general elections
- 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
Advantages of FPTP
- 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
Disadvantages of FPTP
- 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
Explain the impacts of AMS
- 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)
Describe AMS in Hollyrood/Senedd
- 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
What is the d’hondt formula?
no. of seats ÷ (no. of offices held by party + 1)
Explain the effects of STV
- 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
Describe how STV works
- 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
Describe how SV works
- 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
Advantages of majoritarian systems
- 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
Disadvantages of majoritarian systems
- 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’
Advantages if proportional systems
- 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
Disadvantages if proportional systems
- 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
2010 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t
- 65% turnout
- 36.1%
- 0.6%
- 29.0%
- 23.0%
- 1.7%
- 3.1%
- coalition of Cons. & Lib. Dem.
2015 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t
- 66% turnout
- 36.8%
- 0.6%
- 30.4%
- 7.9%
- 4.7%
- 12.6%
- Cons. majority
2017 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t
- 69% turnout
- 42.3%
- 0.9%
- 40%
- 7.4%
- 3%
- 1.8%
- Cons. gov’t with supply & confidences agreement with DUP
2019 UK GE
- turnout
- Cons.
- DUP
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- UKIP
- gov’t
- 67% turnout
- 43.6%
- 0.8%
- 32.1%
- 11.6%
- 3.9%
- 0.07%
- Cons. majority
2021 Scotland Election
- turnout
- Cons.
- Green Party
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- SNP
- gov’t
- 64% turnout
Constituency —– Regional
22% —– 23%
1% —– 8%
22% —– 18%
7% —– 5%
48% —– 40% - SNP & GP power-sharing agreement
2021 Wales Election
- turnout
- Cons.
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- Plaid Cymru
- gov’t
- 47% turnout
Constituency —– Regional
26% —– 25%
40% —– 36%
5% —– 4%
20% —– 21% - Lab. in cooperation with PC
2022 NI Election
- turnout
- Alliance
- DUP
- Sinn Fein
- Ulster Unionist
- gov’t
- 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
2021 London Election
- turnout
- Cons.
- Green
- Lab.
- Lib. Dem.
- gov’t
- 42% turnout
1st round —– 2nd round
35% —– 45%
8% —– 55%
40% —– N/A
4% —– N/A
