Electoral Systems (2)

Question 1

What type of system is FPTP and what doe this mean?

Answer 1

A simple plurality system- winner is the person w/ the most votes, don’t need a majority.

-they need a “minority mandate”- elected by just over 50%

Question 2

How many MPs had a minority mandate in 2010 and 2015

Answer 2

66.7% in 2010

49% in 2015

Question 3

How does FPTP function on a national lvl

Answer 3

Parties have to achieve a majority of the 650 seats to form a maj. Gov

Question 4

What is a positive of FPTP and example

Answer 4

It regularly delivers decisive single party, majority gov’s

Only the 1974,2010 and 2017 GE’s failed to deliver a majority for one party

Question 5

Why is this adv sig

Answer 5

Produces a gov. In Westminster with a strong mandate, and the opportunity to carry out major decisions/ reforms. THINGS GET DONE

Question 6

Another adv of FPTP and example

Answer 6

Underpins the important representative and pluralistic elements of our democracy.
Maintains the MP and constituency link, and in doing so, connects community to central politics. This would be lost in a system like AMS (SP) where there are MPs without constituency links

Question 7

Another advantage of FPTP linked to the last one

Answer 7

The strong MP constituency link emboldens MPs to prioritise needs of constituents over party

Zac goldsmith made good on promise to hold a by election and re-stand as an independent if Cons. allowed building of 3rd runway at Heathrow

Question 8

Why is this significant

Answer 8

It demonstrates the elements of accountability created by the FPTP. This would not be achievable in large, multi-member constituencies

Question 9

What is a negative aspect of FPTP

Answer 9

It gives a very disproportionate outcome

• 2015: Cons got 36.9% of vote but got 50.8% of seats. UKIP however, got 12.6% of the vote but 0.2% of the seats.
• 2019: Conservatives won 65% of seats for 45% of the votes

Question 10

What is this called and why does it occur

Answer 10

“Winner’s bonus”

Happens because a party only needs to achieve a simple plurality in their constituency to win. Their national share is irrelevant, so party’s like UKIP who have support spread out thinly across the country are discriminated against. By contrast, the SNP who have support concentrated in a small area are over rep’d (7.6% of GB seats for 4% of the vote) 2019

Question 11

What is another disadv of FPTP and evidence

Answer 11

There’s a lot of wasted votes, since there is no reward for coming 2nd.
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