EXTRA-Elecotral systems and party system

Question 1

When is the main and common advantage associated to Proportional Representation?

Answer 1

it encourages a proliferation of minor parties

Question 2

How many parties in Weimar Germany contested in the 1930 election?

Answer 2

24

Question 3

Why was in difficult in Weimar Germany in 1930 for any one party to gain a majority under PR?

Answer 3

because there was 24 parties contending

Question 4

What happened to the government in Weimar Germany as a result of PR in 1930?

Answer 4

this created weak and unstable coalition governments

Question 5

How did the weakness of PR in Weimar Germany 1930 lead to the people favouring the Nazi Party?

Answer 5

This is because they promised firm leadership in comparison to the weak and unstable coalition governments

Question 6

In which 2 countries have individuals and small parties been able to gain representation which makes it harder to achieve a stable government?

Answer 6

Israel and the Irish Republic

Question 7

What does Duverger in 1962 say regarding FPTP and PR?

Answer 7

that the simple majority, single ballot system favours the two party systems; the simple majority system with second ballot and PR favours multipartyism

Question 8

Who in 1962 said
that the simple majority, single ballot system favours the two party systems; the simple majority system with second ballot and PR favours multipartyism

Answer 8

Duverger

Question 9

What country is an example that a PR system can have a two-party system?

Answer 9

Malta

Question 10

Which country used a considerably less proportional system with its supporters hoping that this would weaken the tendency to multi-partyism but has not happened?

Answer 10

Italy

Question 11

What happened when Italy tried to change to a considerably less proportional system in order to weaken the tendency to multi–partyism?

Answer 11

this has not happened

Question 12

What factors can encourage the existence of several parties? (3)

Answer 12

historical, social and personal factors

Question 13

What are the two arguments that dispute the fact the two party system is not necessarily as a result of FPTP?

Answer 13

• Some examples do not fit the argument (Malta)

- There are other factors besides the electoral systems that shape party systems

Question 14

Which place in Britain has used the STV for local and European elections and now for its devolved one?

Answer 14

Northern Ireland

Question 15

Who had a ‘rainbow parliament’?

Answer 15

Scotland

Question 16

Why do voters see more point in voting for a small party in devolved elections?

Answer 16

as they see their vote as not being a wasted one

Question 17

Which parties in the General election suffers under FPTP?

Answer 17

Greens

UKIP

Question 18

How many seats did the Greens win in the Scottish parliament in 2003?

Answer 18

7

Question 19

In Wales under their AMS system what % of votes did Labour win? in 2016

Answer 19

34%

Question 20

In Wales under their AMS system, what % of votes and seats did Conservatives win? in 2016

Answer 20

21% of votes

11 seats

Question 21

In Wales under their AMS system, what % of votes and seats did Plaid Cymru win?in 2016

Answer 21

20% of votes

12 seats

Question 22

Under AMS which is used for London Assembly Elections, how many seats did the Green Party and UKIP win? in 2016

Answer 22

2 seats

Question 23

Under AMS which is used for London Assembly elections, how many seats out of the 25 were held by the two main parties? in 2016

Answer 23

20

Question 24

Under the closed list for European Parliament elections who was the main party and how many seats did they gain?

Answer 24

UKIP

24 seats

Question 25

Why was there confusion for Scottish voters in May 2007?

Answer 25

They were electing members of their parliament and of local councils

Question 26

Why was it confusing that Scottish voters in May 2007 had to elect members for their parliament and local councils?

Answer 26

This is because the system was FPTP for their parliament however STV for their local councils. therefore the two ballot papers had a different design and different procedures

Question 27

What did many Scottish voters misunderstand in May 2007?

Answer 27

They misunderstood the instructions at the top of the poorly designed paper which indicated have two votes; as a result many thought that they could choose from the regional list

Question 28

What % of votes were discounted as a result of the confusion of the Scottish elections in May 2007?

Answer 28

7% (142,000)

Question 29

What does the STV system in Northern Ireland provide the country with a history of religious strife?

Answer 29

provides PR for both communities to gain representation

Question 30

What can be interpreted from the European elections in 2014?closed list

Answer 30

That UKIP earns far more proportional representation, as in the 2015 general election with 12.9% of the vote they gained only 1 seat. Whereas in EU elections, they acquired 27% of vote and 24 MEPs. Labour and Conservatives still have a degree of dominance earning 20 (lab) and 19 (con) seats. Green party does better, with 3 seats as opposed to one in HOC.

Question 31

How many seats did the SNP win in Scottish Parliament 2016?AMS

Answer 31

63

Question 32

How many seats did Labour win in Scottish Parliament 2016 which was less than Conservative?AMS

Answer 32

24

Question 33

How many seats did the Green Party win in Scottish Parliament 2016? AMS

Answer 33

6

Question 34

What can be interpreted from the Scottish Parliament elections 2016? AMS

Answer 34

That the nationalist party gains far more representation as a dominant party than in HOC with 63 seats. Labour as a traditional strong hold party in Scotland has decreased with less seats than Conservatives with 24. The Green party again has far more representation with 6 seats than in the HOC This has allowed a strong party majority for the SNP

Question 35

Which country in England voted Green in 2015 general election?

Answer 35

Brighton

Question 36

How many seats did Plaid Cymru win in Welsh Assembly elections 2016 under AMS?

Answer 36

12 seats

Question 37

Who gained the majority with 29 seats in the Welsh Assembly elections in 2016 under AMS?

Answer 37

Labour

Question 38

How many seats did the Green party gain in Welsh Assembly elections in 2016 under AMS?

Answer 38

0