Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Politics > Electoral Systems > Flashcards

Electoral Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Constituency

A

A geographical area that elects a representative. This applies to Westminster constituencies for MPs and for other elections; though unequal in geographical size, the aim is each constituency contains a similar number of people.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Changes to constituencies

A

-In 2001 Scottish constituencies were reduced from 72 to 59
-In 2015 there were plans to reduce the no. of parliamentary seats from 650 to 600 but disagreements in the coalition gov blocked this
-Planned changes include the splitting the Isle of Wight into two separate constituencies (110,000 voters)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Theresa May’s constituency?

A

Is a safe seat in Maidenhead. In 2017 she won 66% of the vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Problems caused by using constituencies

A

-In safe seats voters who do not vote for the dominant party make no difference and so as a result their votes have an unequal value
-Parties tend to put most of their attention into marginal seats at elections instead of safe seats
-When governments make decisions with local considerations, they will look at marginal seats, more favourably, safe seats get less favourable treatment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Proportional representation

A

The generic term for a range of electoral systems that aim to provide or match a fair share of the seats in relation (proportion) to the votes cast.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Trustee

A

A person who can act with autonomy to act in the interests of others and think independently as events arise and circumstances may change. Electors place their ‘trust’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Winner’s bonus

A

Under first-past-the-post, the winning party always enjoys a share of the seats well in excess of the share of the vote it receives.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

By-election

A

An election that takes place in an individual constituency when a vacancy arises between general elections, if an MP or councillor dies or resigns.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Safe seats

A

A seat in which the incumbent has a considerable majority over the closest rival and which is largely immune from swings in voting choice. The same political party retains the seat from election to election. A majority of seats in UK Westminster constituencies are safe seats.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Marginal seat

A

A seat held by the incumbent with a small majority. There is no precise percentage or winning margin to which this aligns but a 10% margin would need only a swing of 5% to the rival party to take it. Marginal seats are important as they are where the outcomes of elections are decided. Only a minority of seats in UK Westminster constituencies are marginal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Minority government

A

A government that enters office but which does not have a majority of seats in the legislature (Parliament). This makes passing legislation very difficult.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Coalition government

A

A government that is formed of more than one political party. It is normally accompanied by an agreement over policy options and office of state, as was the Conservative-Liberal-Democrat coalition from 2010-2015

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

FPTP full name

A

First Past The Post

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

FPTP type of system

A

Simple Plurality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

FPTP use

A

General elections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How FPTP works

A

Voters cast a single vote for who they want to represent them. Winner of the constituency seat is the person with the largest number of votes. Party with the most seats forms governement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Advantages of FPTP

A

Simple, quick and easy - results are known quickly

Strong and stable governments formed - avoid coalitions and promote a 2 party system

Strong links between MPs and constituents - small constituencies and a single MP is responsible for all of them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP

A

Lack of proportionality - doesn’t translate number of votes to number of seats - Green Party have 2.61% of the vote but only 0.2% of the Commons

Limited voter choice - each party only has one candidate per constituency

National Level - produces a government elected on a minority of the popular vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

AMS full name

A

Alternative member system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

AMS uses

A

Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How AMS works

A

Split Ballot - each member gets 2 votes

One vote is cast via FPTP and the other is Regional Party

FPTP gets 2/3 of the seats and Regional Party gets 1/3

The D’Hondt Formula is used to put the party list of candidates in as a ‘top up’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Advantages of AMS

A

The ‘top up’ acts as a corrective to the FPTP

FPTP keeps the links between MPs and constituents

Electors have a wider choice than just FPTP - can choose an individual and party that are different

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Disadvantages of AMS

A

Creates 2 types of member - some have constituency responsibility and some don’t

Closed list system means that the party leadership ranks the order of the lists - limit the chances dissident members of the party being elected

Smaller parties achieve less representation than under a fully proportional system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

STV full name

A

Single Transferable Vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
STV type of system
Form of proportional representation
26
STV use
Northern Irish Assembly
27
How STV works
Multi-member constituencies - voters number their choices preferentially Each candidate has to reach a quote - Droop Formula
28
Advantages of STV
Close correlation between votes and seats Voter choice is high - choose between candidates standing for the same party and candidates from different parties In NI it has created a power-sharing government that ended 30 years of violence
29
Disadvantages of STV
Not fully proportional In large multi-member constituencies the links between MPs and members may be weak Power sharing governments may bring together groups but they are still prone to conflict and can be often suspended
30
SV full name
Supplementary Vote
31
SV type of system
Majoritarian System
32
SV uses
London Mayor, Police and Crime Commissioner in England and Wales
33
How SV works
Each candidate has a first and second preference vote Any candidate who gains more that 50% of the first preference vote is automatically elected If not then all candidates except the top 2 are eliminated Second preference votes for those 2 candidates are added to produce a winner
34
SV advantages
Broader support for the winner Simple and straightforward to use Allowed some individual candidates to win
35
SV disadvantages
Not proportional as one individual is elected to one office Winner does not need a majority of the votes cast Voters need to be able to identify the likely top 2 candidates which isn't always clear
36
Election Results and Turnout 1979
Conservative win 43.9% with 76% turnout
37
Election Results and Turnout 1992
Conservative win 41.9% with 77.7% turnout
38
Election Results and Turnout
Labour win 43.2% with 71.9% turnout
39
Election Results and Turnout 2010
Conservative 36.1% and Lib Dems 23% coalition with 65.1% turnout
40
Election Results and Turnout 2015
Conservative win 36.9% with 66.1% turnout
41
Election Results and Turnout 2017
Conservative win 42.4% with 68.8% turnout
42
Election Results and Turnout 2019
Election Results and Turnout 2019
43
Define Partisan Dealignment
People are not wedded to a specific party anymore, and could explain decreasing turnout
44
Define Coalition
When no party wins a majority, so 2 parties form a joint government. It has a weaker mandate and was only used in war time before 2010.
45
Features of a Good Electoral System - Jenkins Commission 1998
MP-Constituency Link, Choice of Candidates, Votes are of equal value across the country, Strong government that can be held accountable
46
Arguments for the UK being a 2 party system
Westminster government has always been formed by one of 2 parties and votes for other parties are usually wasted due to FPTP. We have one-party dominant eras (Blair 1997-2010 and Thatcher 1979-1990)
47
Argument against the UK being a 2 party system
are much more proportional. We have more than 2 parties running for Westminster elections.
48
When do referendums get held?
Legitimising major government initiative, getting government out of a difficult situation, a result of a deal between political parties, pressure to hold a referendum, a campaign promise
49
Arguments for increased use of referendums
Involves the people directly in decision-making on important issues Easy and clear yes/no answer, check on 'elective dictatorship'
50
Arguments against increased use of referendums
Challenges parliamentary sovereignty, ordinary people lack the expertise to make decisions about complex interests If arguments aren't explained it leads to low turnout (2011 AV) Not enough regulation on referendums (2016 Brexit - Electoral Commission said both sides distorted truth) Government chooses whether or not to hold an election, and often choose based on their own political advancement Low turnout is the norm and can be argued that Brexit and Scottish Independence were exceptions Issues are often too complex to come down to a yes/no vote
51
Differences between elections and referendums
Elections must be held at regular intervals instead of it being a political choice from government
52
1977 Welsh Devolution Referendum Result and Turnout
50.3% yes win with 50% turnout
53
1997 Scottish Devolution Referendum Result and Turnout
74% yes win with 60% turnout
54
2011 Alternative Voting Referendum Result and Turnout
67% no win with 42% turnout
55
2016 Brexit Referendum Result and Turnout
52% yes with 72% turnout
56
2019 General Election age facts
56% 18-24 year olds voted Labour but only 14% of over 70s
57
2019 General Election region/class facts
33/63 constituencies North of the Red Wall went Conservatives. LABOURS REDWALL COLLAPSED
58
Red Wall
Labour's "red wall" across the Midlands and the north of England - the bedrock of the party's support for generations
59
2019 General Election salient issues
Brexit - Conservatives supported leave 74% and 19% remain
60
Explanations for the 1979 Election (5)
Labour weakness Conservatives were trusted to restore the economy after Winter of Discontent Start of Thatcherism seen as fresh faced and had popular policies - e.g. expand home ownership Sun backed the Tories - traditionally Labour paper Labour's core voters abstained
61
Explanations for the 2017 Election
Brexit was a salient issue, the country was greatly divided, causing a minority government May was seen as weak and Corbyn as radical - neither trusted - tactical voting was used to defeat oppositions Many leave voters were working class but voted Tory due to Brexit May focused her campaign on Brexit, but no TV appearances gave her weak impression
62
What happened in Brighton Kemptown in 2017?
About 4000 more people turned out to vote. The area was heavily targeted. Left-wing parties did not present candidates at the ballot box. After BREXIT UKIP was no longer considered relevant and did not present a candidate so they all turned to labour and a percentage of swing voters did not vote for the conservatives this time and so support for labour surged.
63
Example of votes having unequal value to marginal seats
UKIP votes were of less value than conservative votes in 2015

Politics (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions