Electoral systems Flashcards
What type of system is FPTP ?
Simple Plurality
What are the problems surrounding FPTP ?
-Disproportionate result
-Prejudicial against third parties
-Safe seats = wastes votes
-Encourages tactical voting
What was the Jenkins commission ?
-Introduced by the labour party in 1997 to investigate alternative voting systems
What is a majoritarian electoral system ?
A system in which the winning candidate must secure an absolute majority of the vote - more than 50%
What does AV stand for ?
Alternative vote
Where is AV used ?
-labour and liberal party leader elections
-By-elections for hereditary peers
What are the advantages of AV ?
-MPs win a majority
-Keeps the existing consistuency boundaries
-might reduce no. of safe seats
-reduces the need for tactical voting
What are the disadvantages of AV ?
-Could produce an even less proportional result than FPTP
-Might lead to more coalitions as third parties win more seats
What does SV stand for ?
Supplementary vote
Where is SV used ?
-London Mayors elections
-Police and crime commisioner elections
Are the votes re-distributed in SV ?
Yes
Where is the closed party list used?
Is the closed party list proportional ?
Yes very- closely matches the percentage of votes with the percentage of seats
What is the d’Hondt formula ?
Party list votes / number of seats won + 1
What are the advantages of the Closed Party List ?
-Highly proportional
-Every vote has equal value - no wasted votes
-very simple ballot paper
What are the disadvantages of the closed parry list ?
-Clear link between constituency and MP is broken
-Very limited voter choice - no say over the Mp only the party
-Gives greater power to the party leader.
-Likely to result in a coalition
What does STV stand for ?
Single Transferable vote
Where is STV used ?
-Local elections in Scotland
-The Australian senate
-European and local elections in Northern Ireland
What are hybrid electoral systems?
-Electoral systems that combine plurality and majoritarian voting systems e.g AMS
What is AMS?
-Additional Members system
-FPTP + Closed party list
How does AMS work?
Voters have 2 votes - 1) for a local candidate to represent their constituency and 2) one for a party to be allocated proportionally
What are the pros of AMS ?
-Boradly proportional result
-partially retains constituent and mp link
-Gives a greater vote (less wastage)
What are the cons of AMS?
-Parties may be over represented
-Creates two classes of Mp - responsiblities to either Electorate or party
-Gives party leaders greater influence
