electoral systems

Question 1

what factors do we look at in an electoral system Q

x3

Answer 1

• voter choice
• party representation
• impact on type of government

Question 2

what is AMS

Answer 2

Additional member system
combination of ideas:
FPTP used for local constituency vote
Regional candidate (you choose a party) is proportional

Question 3

formula used for regional candidates in AMS system

Answer 3

d’Hondt formula

Question 4

where is AMS used

Answer 4

Scottish Parliament
Welsh Assembly
Greater London assembly

Question 5

what is STV

Answer 5

single transferrable vote
rank candidates in preferences
completely proportional

Question 6

where is STV used

Answer 6

Northern Irish assembly

Question 7

what is SV

Answer 7

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,

Question 8

where is SV used

Answer 8

London Mayoral elections

Question 9

FPTP turnout

x2

Answer 9

2017- 69%

2019- 67%

Question 10

STV turnout

Answer 10

better than other devolved bodies

2017- 65%

Question 11

AMS turnout

Answer 11

Wales and Scotland in 2003: 38%

Question 12

wasted votes in 2017 general election

Answer 12

over 22 million

Question 13

how many wasted votes in 2017 general election in the safest seats

Answer 13

3.5 million in 35 safest seats

Question 14

tactical voting in 2017 general election

Answer 14

6.5 million

20% said they voted to beat someone they disliked

Question 15

how many votes in 2017 would have made a tory majority

Answer 15

533 extra votes in 9 most marginal constituencies

Question 16

issue with voter choice in STV

Answer 16

Donkey voting: numbering candidates in the order they appear (especially for members of the same party)

Question 17

eg of how FPTP favours regional voting

x2

Answer 17

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

Question 18

eg of a small party being fucked by FPTP

Answer 18

green got 2.7% of the vote but only one seat

Question 19

STV proportional representation example

Answer 19

2016 Northern Irish assembly: green gets 2.7% of the vote and two seats

Question 20

how many seats does the Northern Irish Assembly have

Answer 20

108

Question 21

parties in power in Welsh assembly

Answer 21

Labour since 1999

Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru come in coalitions

Question 22

parties in power in Scottish Parliament

Answer 22

SNP since 2007 (but not exclusively)

Question 23

eg. of AMS representing a smaller party

Answer 23

2016: Greens got O constituency MSPs but received 6 regional top-ups (6.6% of the regional vote)

Question 24

how many seats does Scottish Parliament have?

Answer 24

129

Question 25

egs of FPTP not producing a strong and stable government

Answer 25

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

Question 26

eg of FPTP producing a strong majority government

Answer 26

2019: Johnson has 80 seat majority

Question 27

coalition in NI assembly

Answer 27

first ministers and deputy ministers always of differing parties

Question 28

types of government in wales from 2007

Answer 28

either coalition or minority

Question 29

eg of majority government in wales

Answer 29

2003-2007

Question 30

types of government in Scottish assembly

Answer 30

majority SNP since 2011 but minorities and coalition before that

Question 31

eg of minority coalition for AMS

Answer 31

2007: SNP and Green joined forces to create a minority government