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Politics > Electoral Systems > Flashcards

Electoral Systems Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Referendum ?

A

A vote by the electorate at local, regional or national level to answer a single political question

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2
Q

What is the format of a Referendum ?

A

YES or NO

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3
Q

Examples of Referendums in the UK ?

A

Brexit - 2016
FPTP - 2011
Scottish Independence - 2014
Edinburgh Congestion Charge - 2005
North - East Government Separation - 2004

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4
Q

Strengths of Referendums ?

A

Give the public a chance to voice their opinion directly so demonstrates the purest form of democracy

Promotes unity across the electorate

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5
Q

Weakness of Referendums ?

A

Forgone Conclusion (Government will only call one if they know they are likely to get the desired result)

Tyranny of the Majority

Low turnout means lack of legitimacy

Voters act on short term interest

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6
Q

Functions of Elections ?

A
  • Choosing an elected representative and government
  • Holding to account
  • Legitimising Political power (Won election)
  • Limiting power (Future elections)
  • Development of political policy (Manifesto)
  • Selection of political elite (MPs)
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7
Q

PLURALITY Election ?

A

Focus of number of votes cast (Most = winner)
Eg. FPTP

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8
Q

MAJORITARIAN Election ?

A

Focus of votes but requiring the winner to have a majority in an area

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9
Q

PROPORTIONAL Election ?

A

Focus on distributing seats in proportion where % votes = % seats

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10
Q

HYBRID / MIXED Election ?

A

Attempt to combine Proportional and FPTP with advantages to both

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11
Q

What is a Constituency ?

A

A geographical area where an MP for each party stands for election with each area having around 70,000 - 75,000 voters
(650 Constituencies)

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12
Q

What is a ‘Safe’ Seat ?

A

A seat where one party is dominant and another is unlikely to win

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13
Q

What is a ‘Marginal’ Seat ?

A

Seat where voting results are close and cannot be predicted

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14
Q

How many seats have stayed the same since WW2 ?

A

200

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15
Q

How many seats can be classified as ‘Safe’ ?

A

316

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16
Q

What % of people didn’t vote for their MP in 2024 ?

A

57.8%

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17
Q

Weaknesses of FPTP ?

A
  • Strategic Campaigning (Safe seats ignored)
  • Seats and votes are not proportional
  • Many votes classified as wasted
  • Promotes 2 party system
  • Third parties struggle
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18
Q

AMS ?

A

Voting system where the electorate votes for a constituency MP and a Regional MP

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19
Q

How many votes does each voter get in AMS ?

A

2

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20
Q

In AMS Constituency vote, how many seats are vacant in both Wales and Scotland ?

A

Wales = 40
Scotland = 73

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21
Q

In AMS Constituency vote which system do they use ?

A

FPTP

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22
Q

In AMS Regional Vote, how many seats are vacant in both Scotland and Wales ?

A

Wales = 20
Scotland = 56

23
Q

In AMS regional vote, how many regions are there in both Scotland and Wales?

A

Scotland = 8
Wales = 5

24
Q

In AMS regional vote, how many MPS are per region in both Scotland and Wales?

A

Wales = 4
Scotland = 7

25
Q

In AMS regional vote, the electorate votes for regional or constituency MP ?

A

Regional

26
Q

In AMS regional vote, how were regional MPs selected?

A

Parties create a list of preferred candidates.

27
Q

What formula is used in AMS regional votes?

A

d’Hondt Formula =

Regional Votes ÷ No. constituency seats in region + 1

28
Q

Advantages of AMS ?

A
  • Proportional representation
  • Split ticket voting
  • Government have broad popularity
  • Greater representation
  • MP constituency link
29
Q

Disadvantages of AMS ?

A
  • More complicated
  • Single-party government unlikely (needs coalition)
  • FPTP used - brings its flows
  • Party controls candidate list
  • Different representative types
30
Q

STV ?

A

Voters rank candidates in order of preference and can rank as many or as little as they like, the threshold for winning is calculated and the surplus votes are shared across the other candidates to elect enough members

31
Q

In STV, To calculate the quota what is the formula ?

A

(Total Votes ÷ Seats + 1) + 1

32
Q

In STV, How are surplus votes shared ?

A

The surplus votes are transferred to the second placed candidates on the winning candidates’ ballot paper

33
Q

In Northern Ireland how many constituencies and seats are there ?

A

18 Constituencies each with 5 seats

34
Q

Advantages of STV ?

A
  • Correlation between vote and seats
  • Voter choice is high
  • Constituency link for all (more parties elected)
  • Power - Sharing gov stop conflict
35
Q

Disadvantages of STV ?

A
  • Not fully proportional
  • Constituency link weak in large constituencies
  • Power - Sharing gov may disagree
36
Q

Disadvantages of STV ?

A
  • Not fully proportional
  • Constituency link weak in large constituencies
  • Power - Sharing gov may disagree
37
Q

What Election type is SV ?

A

Majoritarian

38
Q

What are the uses of SV ?

A
  • Mayor of London
  • Police and Crime Commissioner
  • Australia and Sri Lanka Elections
39
Q

How does voting work under SV ?

A
  • 2 preferences
  • Winner must have +50% of votes
  • 2 Rounds of counting
40
Q

Steps of SV ?

A
  • First choice votes counted
  • If candidate gets majority they are immediately elected
  • If not, everyone but top 2 are eliminated
  • Second choice votes counted and if any are for the top 2 they are added to the total
  • Candidate with most votes wins
41
Q

Advantages of SV ?

A
  • Simplicity - Only 1 count required
  • Positive Campaigning - Appeal for 2nd choice
  • 3rd Party Candidates - Tactical voting not needed
42
Q

Disadvantages of SV ?

A
  • Wasted Votes
  • Majority not guaranteed
  • Tactical Guesswork
  • Not proportional
43
Q

Statistic showing AMS is Proportional?

A

SNP (2021) - 64/129 seats and 50% of votes

44
Q

Statistic showing AMS can result in extremist candidates ?

A

In the Regional Vote, Greens (2021) got 8 seats but didn’t win a single Constituency seat

45
Q

Statistic showing AMS is likely to form a minority government ?

A

SNP didn’t get +50% of seats so could be outvoted

46
Q

Statistic showing STV produces a broad outcome ?

A

Sinn Fein (202) - 29% of 1st Choice and 30% of seats (27)

47
Q

Statistic showing STV is complex ?

A

Uses d’Hondt Formula

(Total Votes ÷ Seats + 1) + 1

48
Q

Statistic showing STV is likely to result in coalition government ?

A

Sinn Fein (2022) won but not with majority so they could be outvoted

49
Q

Statistic showing SV is Simple ?

A

Only rank top 2

50
Q

Statistic showing SV can have overall majority ?

A

Sadiq Khan (2021) won 55% of votes

51
Q

Statistic showing SV can produce a winner of minority and second choice support ?

A

Sadiq Khan (2021) won only 40% of 1st choice votes but 70% of 2nd choice votes

52
Q

Statistic showing FPTP is disproportionate ?

A

Reform UK (2024) won 14.3% of votes but only 0.8% of seats (5)

53
Q

Statistic showing FPTP doesn’t need a majority ?

A

James Daly (21,660) beat James Frith (21,555) in Bury North in 2019

Politics (3 decks)

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