electoral systems

Question 1

how does FPTP work at constituency level

Answer 1

• UK divided into 650 constituencies
• each constituency represented by 1 seat in the HOC
• each party selects a candidate to run for election within the constituency
• the people in the constituency vote for a candidate
• candidate with most votes wins

Question 2

what are the advantages of fptp

Answer 2

• simplicity
• strong government
• MP constituency link
• centrist politics

Question 3

what are the disadvantages of fptp

Answer 3

• winners bonus over rewarding the winning party with seats compared to votes
• high amount of wasted votes
• low minority can win
• 2 party dominance
• encourages tactical voting

Question 4

what is AMS

Answer 4

• not only a PR system
• hybrid system
• voters have 1 vote for a party and 1 for a candidate
• each constituency elects one candidate
• parties who fair poorly under fptp are topped up

Question 5

advantages of AMS

Answer 5

• proportional result
• split ticket voting encourages more parties to run
• provides a govt with broad popularity
• greater representation
• MP constituency link

Question 6

disadvantages of AMS

Answer 6

• more complicated for every day person
• unlikely single party govt
• fptp used for first round
• different types of representatives causing tension and confusion
• party controls the order of its order of candidates

Question 7

what is SV

Answer 7

• each voter gets 2 votes, 1st & 2nd pref
• 2 rounds of counting
• if no candidate gets 50% of first pref votes the 2nd round begins
• 2nd pref are counted from everyone for the top 2 of first pref

Question 8

advantages of SV

Answer 8

• usually provides a majority
• ensures that the least hated person gets elected
• fewer votes are wasted than fptp

Question 9

disadvantages of SV

Answer 9

• two party dominance
• false majority
• high wasted votes
• encourages tactical voting

Question 10

what is STV

Answer 10

• most complex system
• voters are represented by more than one representative “multi member constituencies”
• voters rank in order of preference
• when a winning candidate reaches the quota there second and subsequent preferences are redistributed to the rest
• process repeats itself until the seats are filled

Question 11

advantages of STV

Answer 11

• proportional result
• voter choice increased
• greater representation

Question 12

disadvantages of STV

Answer 12

• more complicated which reduces turnout
• unlikely single party govt
• constituency link is not there as no elected representatives

Question 13

example of where FPTP is used in the UK

Answer 13

• local elections
• london mayor
• london assembly

Question 14

example of where SV is used in the UK

Answer 14

• police and crime commisioner every 4
• used to be london mayor

Question 15

example of where STV is used in the UK

Answer 15

• used in northern ireland

Question 16

example of where AMS is used in the UK

Answer 16

• scottish parliament every 5 yrs
• london assembly every 4 years
• welsh assembly every 5 years