party systems

Question 1

what sort of party system does the UK have

Answer 1

Multiparty system = would have been 2 party system 50 years ago
- 1955, the two major parties won 96% of the votes
- 2015, the two major parties won 67% of the votes and 11 parties represented in the House of Commons.

Question 2

how many new parties where there in the House of commons in 2015 and how many of them were nationalist parties

Answer 2

8 parties - 6 nationalist

Question 3

what part of the UK party system is still a two party system

Answer 3

executive branch

Question 4

what are two examples of when parties had to aid a prominent party to keep leading

Answer 4

• Theresa May and the DUP
• David Cameron and Nick Clegg

Question 5

what are the arguments as to how a multiparty system is seen in the UK and outside

Answer 5

• UKIP and their prominent position in the EU elections
• metromayors / council elections = all forms of proportional representation (and different parties)

Question 6

what sort of party system is the US

Answer 6

always has been always will be a two party system

Question 7

what is an electoral system which ensures that it will only ever be Rep or Dem

Answer 7

FPTP and ‘winner-takes-all’ system used in 48 states

Question 8

what percentage of people voted for third party candidates in the 2024 US election

Answer 8

2% (they take away the votes from the other legitimate presidential candidates)

Question 9

how many independents are there in congress

Answer 9

2

Question 10

STRUCTURAL UK

Answer 10

• FPTP creates a two-party dominance, despite a multi-party system.
• Third parties struggle to gain power due to concentrated support areas.

Question 11

STRUCTURAL US

Answer 11

• Electoral College favors a two-party system, needing 270 ECVs to win.
• Primaries/caucuses encourage the dominance of major parties.
• Safe states vs swing states shape party strategies.

Question 12

CULTURAL UK

Answer 12

• Historical divide: upper class supports Conservatives, lower class supports Labour.
• Brexit split: sovereignty vs EU integration.
• Devolution has encouraged nationalist parties in devolved regions

Question 13

CULTURAL US

Answer 13

• After the War of Independence, Democrats and Republicans split ideologically.
• Christianity and nationalism contribute to polarisation.
• Nationalism is embedded in US culture, reducing the need for additional parties

Question 14

RATIONAL UK

Answer 14

• Labour and Conservative parties benefit from FPTP and resist change to maintain power.
• Coalitions are needed, reducing support for radical parties.
• Third parties are less likely to succeed, as major parties dominate.

Question 15

RATIONAL US

Answer 15

• Two-party system gives clear winner and strong mandate.
• Broad coalitions are needed for presidential office, limiting radical parties.
• Polarisation remains limited due to the need for a wide voter coalition