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Politics > Electoral systems > Flashcards

Electoral systems Flashcards

1
Q

features of elections

A
  • universal suffrage
  • equal votes
  • secret ballot
  • plurality competition between parties
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2
Q

functions of elections

A
  • confer legitimacy on government and politics s
  • ensuring the will of the majority is cleared
  • help form governments
  • help form a choice of political programme
  • citizens can actively participate
  • provide representation for constituents
  • hold government to account
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3
Q

define electoral mandate

A

authority extended to the winning party or candidate and gives them permission to act or produce legislation in accordance to their manifesto/promises

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4
Q

types of elections

A
  • general
  • devolved assembly
  • european parliament
  • local
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5
Q

define referendum

A

popular vote on a single issue which directly affects policy
it is mostly advisory so the government is not obliged to act on the outcome

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6
Q

examples of referendum

A
  • northern ireland 1973 on whether it should remain part of UK
  • devolution 1997 of scotland (74% yes) and wales (50% yes)
  • good friday 1998- 71% yes and 80% turnout
  • london mayor 1999- 72% yes and 34% turnout
  • AV referendum 2011- 68% no and 42% turnout
  • scottish referendum 2014- 55% no and 84% turnout
  • eu referendum 2016- 51.9% leave and 72% turnout
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7
Q

advantages of referendums

A
  • enable electorate to decide on issues
  • settle long standing disputed like electoral reform
  • keep electorate engaged and informed
  • check on government power
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8
Q

disadvantages of referendums

A
  • may impose decision on a reluctant government like cameron
  • asked more than one for “right answer” like ireland on lisbon treaty
  • divisive
  • misleading campaigns
  • population lack specialist knowledge
  • simplify issues
  • voter disillusion and apathy
  • undermine authority of parliament and it’s sovereignty
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9
Q

features of FPTP and how it works

A
  • main voting system in UK general elections, by elections and local elections
  • MP need simple majority/ plurality to win
  • each MP represents a single member constituency
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10
Q

define safe seat

A

one regarded as secure by a party and has little change of changing over to another party e.g southend west with conservatuves

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11
Q

define marginal seat

A

one held with a small lead and determine outcome of elections

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12
Q

evaluation of FPTP strengths

A
  • simple
  • creates stability and strong governments
  • clear MP to constituency link
  • quick and easy to produce a result
  • exclusion do extremists like racism, and ensures they do not get into power
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13
Q

evaluation of FPTP weaknesses

A
  • favours two big parties (duopoly)
  • favours areas where votes are concentrated rather that overall support, like Reform with 14% of vote in 2024 but only 5 seats
  • ignores smaller parties and votes are wasted
  • most MPs do not receive 50% of the vote to be representative- Alasdair Mcdonnell in Belfast South in 2015 only polled 14.7% of electorate
  • winners bonus- more % of seats than overall share of votes received like Labour 55% of seats but 35% of votes in 2005
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14
Q

features of single transferable vote and how does it work

A
  • used in devolved assemblies like NI and scotland
  • creates multi member constituencies
  • rank candidates in order of preference
  • to be elected, a candidate needs to get more votes than a quota, derived from droop formula (number of votes cast / seats + 1) +1
  • surplus vote above the quota are proportionally redistributed to second preference
  • if no one reaches the quota, the least popular candidate is eliminated and the second preference of those who votes for them are redistributed
  • process continues until all seats are filled
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15
Q

STV evaluation strengths

A
  • more proportional and fewer votes are wasted
  • greater choice
  • no safe seats so parties must campaign everywhere
  • in NI, it has created a a power sharing government that enabled representatives from nationalists and unionists to work together
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16
Q

STV evaluation weaknesses

A
  • coalition government more likely
  • time conus,img and labour intensive
  • donkey voting
  • more likely to get spoiled as people do not understand
  • weaker MP to constituency link
17
Q

supplementary vote features and how it works

A
  • was used in London Mayoral elections but Johnson scrapped it
  • also used in police and commissioner elections
  • majoritarian system
  • allows the voter to vote for two preferences
  • if the strongest candidate gets over 50%, there is no need to count second preferences
  • if no candidate has 50%, all it the top two are eliminated and second preference votes are added
18
Q

SV evaluation strengths

A
  • more choice
  • encouraged moderate campaigning that is aimed at all people
  • simple
  • ensure broad support for the winner- Sadiq Khan elected in 2016 has the largest personal mandate (56.8%)
  • strong MP- constituency events
19
Q

SV evaluation weaknesses

A
  • labour intensive
  • voters still need to vote tactically and determine the top two likely parties
20
Q

features of additional member system and how it works

A
  • used in scottish parliament, welsh assembly and greater london assembly
  • FPTP is used to elect most politicians which is the constituency representative
  • the. the second vote is for the party and uses multi member regional constituencies, known as top up members
  • the party create a list of candidates to choose from
21
Q

evaluation of AMS strengths

A
  • allows smaller parties to have more power- 2021 greens was elected to 8 top up seats
  • most proportional
  • FPTP part maintains strong member and constituency link
  • have wider choice and can split their vote if they appeal to more than one party
22
Q

evaluation of AMS weaknesses

A
  • boost extremist parties like in 2009, 2 BNP candidates were elected to EU Parliament
  • closed system is used meaning the party leadership ranks their preferred candidates and choose who they want
  • smaller parties achieve less representation than under PR, like SNO dominating Scotland- 2021 getting 62 constituency seats
23
Q

why the need for electoral reform

A
  • experiment in politics as there is disillusion
  • feeling that political system is unfair with a duopoly
  • allow for a more mature political system which includes coalitions
  • need to win over minor parties
  • offering as an incentive in a general election- 2010 coalition and Blair in 1997
  • give more parties experiment in governing
24
Q

why has FPTP survived in Westminster

A
  • outcomes suit the largest two parties
  • Labour promised referendum on electoral reform in 1997 but didn’t deliver
  • coalition gave referendum on AV but public chose to stick with FPTP
  • voters accept because it is familiar and easy to use
25
Q

why AMS in Scotland, Wales and Greater London

A
  • FPTP wouldn’t be popular for devolved assemblies as minor parties would feel betrayed, with Labour winning landslides
  • AMS was a compromise as it wasn’t as radical change as STV
  • elements of proportionality whilst also retaining local representation
26
Q

why STV in Northern Ireland

A
  • after 1998 Good Friday agreement
  • proportional and promote power sharing between nationalist and unionist communities
  • preventing Unionist dominance under FPTP
  • STV already being used in Republic of Ireland
27
Q

why SV in mayoral elections

A
  • SV over AV as it was simpler and gave preferred top two candidates, which gave them a clear mandate and greater legitimacy
28
Q

arguments for FPTP and against PR

A
  • extremist parties would be allowed in
  • can have a government and coalition that no one voted for
  • fragmentation and more difficult to make and pass laws
  • FPTP brings strong governments- thatcher and blair
  • AV referendum shows electorate have no appetite for electoral reform- 67.9% against
  • PR too bureaucratic and slow
  • provides coherent opposition
  • strong constituency link
  • quick and easy
  • new system may lead to gerrymandering- boundary lines changed to suit a particular party
29
Q

arguments for PR and against FPTP

A
  • most MPs are unpopular to most of their constituents
  • better representation
  • FPTP not democratic or gives equal votes
  • PR is already used in european parliament
  • already had a coalition government
  • fair- 80% didn’t vote labour in 2005
  • duopoly
  • turnout is lower as over 70% of seats are wasted in safe seats
  • all voices heard
  • PR will lead to positive campaigning as parties need to work together
  • limits voters choice
30
Q

impact of electoral system on coalitions and new voting systems

A
  • coalitions and minority governments much more common in devolved assemblies- single party majority only achieved by SNP in scotland (2011-16) and labour in wales (2003-2007)
  • west minister continues to see single party rule- apart from 2010 coalition and 2017
  • most coalitions and minority governments have to be stable
31
Q

impact of electoral system on the politics of compromise

A

-consensual politics is more common in devolved areas where parties have to work together
- SNP in 2011 needed support from other parties to pass budget and made concessions to conservatives and lib dems like increase in college bursaries
- in NI, good friday agreements means unionist and nationalist must work together and be represented in administration

32
Q

impact of electoral system in policy making in devolved governments

A
  • labour and lib dems in scotland decided free university fees and elderly people would receive free nursing care
  • scotland and wales abolished prescription charges
33
Q

impact of electoral system on party representation

A
  • smaller parties have more of a chance in proportional systems
  • less affected by geographical concentration
34
Q

impact of electoral system on voter choice

A
  • AMS allows for two votes- constituency and list
  • STV allows for more choice with preference rank
  • SV allows first and second preference

Politics (14 decks)

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