electoral systems Flashcards
what factors do we look at in an electoral system Q
x3
- voter choice
- party representation
- impact on type of government
what is AMS
Additional member system
combination of ideas:
FPTP used for local constituency vote
Regional candidate (you choose a party) is proportional
formula used for regional candidates in AMS system
d’Hondt formula
where is AMS used
Scottish Parliament
Welsh Assembly
Greater London assembly
what is STV
single transferrable vote
rank candidates in preferences
completely proportional
where is STV used
Northern Irish assembly
what is SV
supplementary vote
majoritarian system: aim is to get 50% of the vote
different rounds with eliminated losing candidates if winner doesn’t have a majority the first time around,
where is SV used
London Mayoral elections
FPTP turnout
x2
2017- 69%
2019- 67%
STV turnout
better than other devolved bodies
2017- 65%
AMS turnout
Wales and Scotland in 2003: 38%
wasted votes in 2017 general election
over 22 million
how many wasted votes in 2017 general election in the safest seats
3.5 million in 35 safest seats
tactical voting in 2017 general election
6.5 million
20% said they voted to beat someone they disliked
how many votes in 2017 would have made a tory majority
533 extra votes in 9 most marginal constituencies
issue with voter choice in STV
Donkey voting: numbering candidates in the order they appear (especially for members of the same party)
eg of how FPTP favours regional voting
x2
SNP hold 48/59 Scottish seats with just 3.9% of the 2019 vote
Sinn Fein got 7 seats with 0.6% of the vote
eg of a small party being fucked by FPTP
green got 2.7% of the vote but only one seat
STV proportional representation example
2016 Northern Irish assembly: green gets 2.7% of the vote and two seats
how many seats does the Northern Irish Assembly have
108
parties in power in Welsh assembly
Labour since 1999
Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru come in coalitions
parties in power in Scottish Parliament
SNP since 2007 (but not exclusively)
eg. of AMS representing a smaller party
2016: Greens got O constituency MSPs but received 6 regional top-ups (6.6% of the regional vote)
how many seats does Scottish Parliament have?
129
egs of FPTP not producing a strong and stable government
2010 coalition with the Lib Dems (Cameron was 20 seats short of a majority)
2015 small Majority of 12 seats
2017 minority: May went into a confidence and supply agreement with the DUP
eg of FPTP producing a strong majority government
2019: Johnson has 80 seat majority
coalition in NI assembly
first ministers and deputy ministers always of differing parties
types of government in wales from 2007
either coalition or minority
eg of majority government in wales
2003-2007
types of government in Scottish assembly
majority SNP since 2011 but minorities and coalition before that
eg of minority coalition for AMS
2007: SNP and Green joined forces to create a minority government
