electoral systems

Question 1

example of MP losing there seat due to bad behaviour ?

Answer 1

-fiona onoasanya lost her seat due to custodial sentence

Question 2

recall of mp’s act?

Answer 2

-has increased power of voters to remove MP’s who behave poorly

Question 3

advantages of FPTP?

Answer 3

simplicity- produces a quick result Belgium in 2010 took 18 months using PR
strong and stable- parties with extreme votes are less likely to be succesful
strong link- MP’s usally live locally to there constituency further deepening the bond

Question 4

disadvantages of FPTP ?

Answer 4

no majority of the vote-2005 tony blair was re elected on 35.2% of the vote
lack of proportinality- in 2015 ukip won 3.9 million votes but only 1 seat
-Limited choice- safe seats depresses voter turnouts

Question 5

what is the additonal member system ?

Answer 5

-voters make two choices
-vote for a representative and vote for a party list for an additional representative

Question 6

advantages for using additonal member system ?

Answer 6

-party list component introduces a proportinal element correcting FPTP
-FPTP element creates maintains a strong link between members and consticuency
-Voters can split ticket splitting votes between 2 parties

Question 7

disadvantages of using additional member system ?

Answer 7

-creates two different types of members leading to a possible loss of legitimacy
-a closed list system is used which means ranking leadership in order of the list
-smaller parties achieve less representation than under a fully proportional system

Question 8

what is single transferable vote ?

Answer 8

-uses larger areas that elect a team of 4 or 5 representative
-voters number there choice from 1,2,3

Question 9

advantages of single transferable vote ?

Answer 9

-close correlation between votes and seats
-voter choice is high possible to pick between candidates in the same party and from different parties
-In NI creates a power sharing government which enables representation between rival communities

Question 10

disadvantages of single transferable votes ?

Answer 10

-not fully proportinal
-in large constitunces the link between representative and voter may be weak
-power sharing government bring rival groups together but prone to conflict

Question 11

how does supplementary voting work ?

Answer 11

-gives people the option for a first and second preference
-if a candidate gains more than 50% of the first preference then there automatically elected

Question 12

example for supplementary voting ?

Answer 12

-may 2016 sadiq Khan elected as London mayo through supplementary voting

Question 13

advantages of supplementary voting ?

Answer 13

-ensures broad support for the winner
-simple and straightforward
-it has allowed independant candidates to win

Question 14

disadvantages of supplementary voting ?

Answer 14

-SV is not proportinal
-the winner does not need to get an absoulte majority of votes cast
-voters need to be able to identify the likley top 2 candidates in order to have influence over the outcome

Question 15

what are the recent referendums ?

Answer 15

-3 March 2011 Welsh devolution should Wales have more legislative power
-5 may 2011 changing the general election voting system from FPTP to alternative voting
-18 septemeber 2014 Scottish independence
-23 June EU membership

Question 16

what brings about a referendum ?

Answer 16

-response to pressure
-david cameron didn’t want to do the Brexit referendum
-changed mind due to pressure from backbenchers and UKIP

Question 17

another reason for what brings about an election ?

Answer 17

-getting government out of difficult situation
-wilson 1975 EEC

Question 18

for referendums ?

Answer 18

-entrench reform support for Scottish devolution has helped bring stability to new institutions
-settles arguments
-raises political awareness scottish independence made more politically aware voters

Question 19

against referendums ?

Answer 19

-oridnary people may lack the expertise to make decisions on complex questions
-popular participation may be low in 2011 low turnout in electoral reform
challenges parliamentary sovrenity as voters elect representatives on there behalf
-influence outcomes in AV 2011 many voted no as a protest to lib dem

Question 20

impacts of electoral systems on government?

Answer 20

-coaltion governments PR systems create more minority government or coalition
-comprimise PR systems create more consensual politics
-in NI it is guaranteed that two rival communities are elected
-in Scotland and Wales prescription fees were abolished this did not happen in England