electoral systems

Question 1

where is additional member system used

Answer 1

scotland, wales, greater london assembly.

Question 2

how does the additional member system work

Answer 2

voters are given two votes: for constituency and for regional MP (party appoints not member)

Question 3

AMS +

Answer 3

+more choice, voters have more choice when they choose a local representative and allows more flexibility in choosing parties
+fairer to all parties & more proportional eg under FPTP in 1997 the Conservative party won 0 seats in scotland and in 1999 under AMS they won 18

Question 4

AMS -

Answer 4

-2 types of membership, inequality between especially in Scotland
-closed list system is used, party leadership ranks candidates. this is undemocratic as nobody has voted for the member
-more difficult to understand.

Question 5

where is the single transferrable vote used

Answer 5

in the northern irish assembly

Question 6

what type of system is STV

Answer 6

pluralist

Question 7

how does STV work

Answer 7

voters rank 5 candidates and the candidates need to meet a threshold and the remaining votes are redistributed.

Question 8

STV +

Answer 8

+close correlation between votes and seats
+smaller parties can grow
+voters have a lot more choice - 5 instead of 1
+ creates coalition governments which enable representation of 2+ communities which was essential in ending 30 years of NI violence

Question 9

STV -

Answer 9

-in large, multi-member constituencies, MP-constituency link may be weakened
-coalition creation can cause chaos => presumes the two parties can cooperate. 2022 Stormont was placed on a 24 month hiatus during unsuccessful post-brexit negotiations and was left to be run by civil servants
-reduced legitimacy of MPs as there is a 1st winner and a 5th winner - clear disparity in support.
-hard to understand and complex

Question 10

evidence that STV doesnt enhance democracy

Answer 10

in 2022 the power-sharing govt (stormont) collapsed after post-brexit negotiations. the DUP blocked the assembly so it ceased to operate for 24 months. this left unelected civil servants to run NI which hasn’t enhanced democracy.

Question 11

results of STV in 2022

Answer 11

Sinn Fein 29%
DUP 21.3%
Alliance Party 13.5%

Question 12

where is Supplimentary Vote used

Answer 12

london mayor elections and police & crime commissioner elections

Question 13

what is supplimentary vote

Answer 13

each voter is allowed a 1st and 2nd preference and any candidate who gains more than 50% of the 1st preference is automatically elected. if this doesnt happen all candidates but the top 2 are eliminated and 2nd preference votes for these two are counted

Question 14

SV +

Answer 14

+ensures broad support for the winner. Labour Sadiq Khan elected mayor in 2016 had the largest personal mandate: 44% of 1st and 66% of 2nd
+allows independent candidates to win -> 12 out of 40 police and crime commissioners in 2012 were independent
+relatively simple

Question 15

SV -

Answer 15

-not proportional as one individual is allowed into power VS STV where 5 are allowed in
-winner doesnt need an absolute majority. = less legitimacy

Question 16

2021 SV results

Answer 16

Labour Sadiq Khan 55% Conservative Shaun Bailey 44%

Question 17

AMS 2021 scotland elections results

Answer 17

SNP won 64 seats, cons 31, green 8, labour 22, lib dems 4

Question 18

strengths of FPTP

Answer 18

1. majority govt (clear mandate, stable (2022 Ireland), more efficient as less resistance, more consistent)
2. tough decisions can be made as there is more leadership strength and clarity EG covid lockdowns
3. avoids coalition govt (instability, internal conflicts, compromises can water down policies, slower decisions, gridlock)
4. single member constituencies encourage a good relationship (more accountability, and more effective)
5. clear how system works so its up to the party to exploit for gain
6. easy to understand = clarity and reduced complexities when tallying and assigning seats.

Question 19

weaknesses of FPTP

Answer 19

1. majority govt - (limited opposition and diversity of opinion)
2. unfair - 1983 stat, winner takes all, leads to tactical voting = undemocratic, minority can rule
   3.the MP constituency relationship is a myth, they do not truly represent the constituents (number of Conservative MPs from private schools is 53% compared to 6% who go nationally)
3. minor parties are disadvantaged - UKIP 2015 got 3 mil votes but only 1 seat)
4. reinforced division in the UK as it exaggerates regional political differences. a party can concentrate efforts and win many seats within. eg scotland elections 2021 SNP won 62/73 seats.

Question 20

stat from 1983 on why FPTP is unfair

Answer 20

1983 - Labour 27.6% = 209 seats, Lib Dems 35.4% = 23 seats

Question 21

UKIP stat on minor parties being disadvantaged

Answer 21

2015 UKIP 3 million votes but 1 seat.

Question 22

SNP 2021 stat

Answer 22

2021 - won 62/73 seats.