Electoral systems examples:

Question 1

What are the different voting systems?

Answer 1

• FPTP.
• AMS
• STV
• SV

Question 2

What is FPTP?

Answer 2

• Pluralist system, need to win the most amount of votes not the majority.
• Most votes in a constituency voted in.
• 650 MP’s
• Average 75,000 people per constituency but vary.
• Safe seats dominated by a party.

Question 3

What is AMS?

Answer 3

• Hybrid electoral system half FPTP half PR.
• 73/129 voted in FPTP.
• 56 regional seats- vote for a party, divided into 8 regions.
• d’hondt formula proportionally decides the remaining spaces.

Question 4

What is SV?

Answer 4

• Aim to get 50% or more of the vote.
• The elected must have over 50.
• If not above 50- every candidate apart from the top two are eliminated.

Question 5

What is STV?

Answer 5

• Each constituency has 6 representatives.
• Each party can put up 6 candidates.
• Voters put candidates in preference order.
• Droop system decides number of votes for a seat.
• Those who gain above a certain amount are elected.

Question 6

What is meant by proportional representation?

Answer 6

An electoral system in which the parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for the,

Question 7

What voting systems are made up of PR?

Answer 7

STV
AMS
SV

Question 8

Advantages of FPTP

Answer 8

• Clear winner, stable and secure government avoiding coalitions
• Close relationship between MP’s and constituencies.
• Excludes extremist parties.

Question 9

Disadvantages of FPTP

Answer 9

• Unrepresentative government
• Other voting systems also have good constituency links.
• Discrimination against small parties.

Question 10

Examples of how extremist parties are kicked out?

Answer 10

1. Winners bonus- small voting shifts lead to dramatic changes in seats. Blairs new labour won 419 seats- 64% of seats- 44% of vote.
2. BNP won 2 seats in 2009 Europe election- uses PR. BNP never close in England.

Question 11

Examples of the simplicity of FPTP?

Answer 11

1. Public acceptance of putting an X in a box- citizens have clarity over how the electoral system works.
2. Quick to get a result- 59 minutes in Newcastle central after the vote finished.

Question 12

Examples of FPTP creating strong and stable government?

Answer 12

1. 365 seat conservative majority in 2019 election means things can actually be effectively passed.
2. Can deliver what the manifesto promises- Boris Johnson and get Brexit done, legislative support.

Question 13

Examples of poor representation from FPTP?

Answer 13

1. Benefits from winners bonus. Main parties.

2. 1951- conservatives won but labour got more votes and opposite in 1974.

Question 14

Examples of how FPTP can discourage participation?

Answer 14

1. Two party politics restricts choice, people tactically voting and not voting 3rd party as it is a ‘waste’
2. 2019 election- 32 million votes did not count toward the result of the general election.

Question 15

Examples of PR having stable governments?

Answer 15

1. Norway, Spain and Sweden. OECED countries have no more frequent elections than Canada.
2. Higher turnout in PR- leading to father stability

Question 16

Examples of how complicated PR is?

Answer 16

1. AMS- Voter must choose a regional and constituency candidate. Half proportional and half FPTP which is confusing for people.
2. STV- each constituency up to 6 representatives- placing them in order. Extremely confusing.

Question 17

Examples of how PR can lead to power struggles?

Answer 17

1. Three year suspension at NI over issues with green deal.
2. Often coalitions in Scotland- right now SNP and green used to be labour and lib dems.
3. DUP threatening to close the northern Irish assembly again.

Question 18

Examples of how PR is representative?

Answer 18

1. Coalitions in Scotland- allow for compromise and representation.

Question 19

Advantages of STV?

Answer 19

• Proportional result.
• Wider choice of parties.
• Small parties representatives

Question 20

Disadvantages of STV?

Answer 20

• Complex.
• 6 representatives can make accountability unclear.
• Extremist parties.
• No Irish Gov between 2017 and 2021.

Question 21

Disadvantages of AMS?

Answer 21

• Regional could be lazy and leave it up to constituency.

- Proportional elements allows more extremist parties to gain seats.

Question 22

Advantages of AMS?

Answer 22

• 2 Votes meaning lots of choice.
• Maintains a strong constituency link.
• Proportionality in results- representing smaller parties.

Question 23

Advantages of SV?

Answer 23

• Ensures winners have over 50% of the vote.

- Easy to operate and understand.

Question 24

Disadvantages of SV?

Answer 24

-Winning candidate may not necessarily be first choice.

Question 25

Police and crime commissioner disadvantage to SV?

Answer 25

-Independent Ron Ball independent won 33.3.% of vote and conservatives 32%. In revote conservatives won.

Question 26

How many seats does the green party have in Westminster and how many does it have in the Scottish parliament?

Answer 26

• 1- Westminster.

- 6 in Scottish parliament.

Question 27

What percentage of the vote did the BREXIT party win and what amount of seats did it get in 2015?

Answer 27

• 12% of the vote.
• 1 seat.
• 7 at welsh assembly

Question 28

Examples of how AMF “proportionalises” the vote?

Answer 28

-2016 welsh assembly- labour 70 of AMS constituency seats. with 35% of vote, afterwards, they were given 48% of seats.

Question 29

Which arguably major party benefits from PR?

Answer 29

-The liberal democrats.

Question 30

What is SV generally used for?

Answer 30

Police and crime commissioner- 2 candidates.

Question 31

Why does STV have fewer wasted votes?

Answer 31

-Choice.

Question 32

In what year were there 5 parties in the Northern Irish assembly?

Answer 32

2017.

Question 33

How many times has the SNP been in government alone in Scotland?

Answer 33

-twice but with a minority.