Electoral Systems Flashcards
Give 3 objectives of electoral systems
>inclusivity >minimise wasted votes >satisfy the largest no. of people >proportional representation >maximise voter turnout >stable + effective government: strong mandate
What is FPTP?
First Past The Post
1 vote for 1 candidate in your constituency. Winning candidate becomes MP. Party with most votes to power
What is AMS?
Additional Member System
2 votes: 1 for your constituency
1 for a party list
winning constituency candidate becomes MP. Depending on votes the party will allocate from the party list
What is STV?
Standard Transferable Vote
multiple votes for multiple candidates in an order (1,2,3 etc.). Quota must be reached to become and MP. Candidate with fewest votes has votes redistributed on 2nd choice.
What is SV?
Supplementary Vote
2 votes for 2 candidates. Candidate with most votes becomes MP. If no majority via 1st preferences 2nd preference used.
Give 3 advantages of FPTP
It is simple and familiar, tends to produce strong and stable governments, reduces likelihood of coalition as favours 2 parties (Duverger’s Law), keeps extremist parties out, retains constituency link
Give 3 disadvantages of FPTP
Votes do not equal seats - 2015 Con. 38% vote and majority of seats; UKIP 13% vote and 1 seat, MPs votes in by plurality rather than majority, votes wasted, Duverger’s Law doesn’t allow small parties in: undemocratic, strategic campaigning in ‘swing’ constituencies
How many seats would UKIP have gained under proportional representation in the 2015 election?
82 (as they got 13% of the vote)
What is Duverger’s Law?
When voters vote for the party that is most likely to beat the party they dislike. Fewer people vote for minority parties so fewer people support as less likely to get in. Creates a 2 party system
Give 3 advantages of STV
Proportional result: % votes roughly = % seats, creates coalitions so one party cannot dominate and have to cooperate, more representatives so choice of who to contact, fewer wasted votes as seats awarded proportionally, small parties represented as people are not worried about their vote being wasted with multiple choices, competition for seats as may be more than one candidate from a party, end single party dominance as difficult to gain overall majority
Give 3 disadvantages of STV
Conflict between councillors in wards, creates coalitions which can be inefficient, too many representatives so people may be confused as to who to approach, difficult to understand due to ranking of candidates, extremist parties can get in due to proportionality, conflict within parties due to more than one candidate from each in a ward, weak government as fewer single party majorities - more conflict and less action
Give 3 advantages of AMS
Proportional result: % votes roughly = % seats, creates coalitions due to proportional representation of party list votes, more representatives: regional and constituency, fewer wasted votes as seats awarded proportionally from party list, small parties represented due to allocation of party list members based on votes
Give 3 disadvantages of AMS
Less voter choice as as second vote is for a party rather than candidate, creates coalitions or minority governments which can be inefficient due to party list, conflict between regional and constituency MSPs, confusing due to complex (D’Hondt’s) formula used for allocating seats, extremist parties can get more seats due to party list
Give 3 advantages of SV
Easy to understand, broader base of support as fewer choices: democratic, easy and quick to count
Give 3 disadvantages of SV
Less democratic than STV as fewer choices (only 2), still has wasted votes if not a majority
