Politics & Types Of Elections Flashcards
How does a party win in the First Past The Post System and how do citizens vote?
Each person receives 1 vote and the party wins by getting the most votes!
What are the First Past The Post System problems?
1 Problem = Potential for minority to rule
#2 Problem = Inevadiable + Unavoidable two-party system where only two parties are in power and keep on alternating
#3 Problem = The spoiler effect which is when people vote for a political party that isn’t going to win which takes away votes from a party that has similar interests and a chance at winning
What is the Alternative Vote?
Ranking system - which chooses which parties you like the most and dislikes the most
How does the Alternative Vote work?
Take away the biggest loser and second-place votes go to a different party.
Why is the Alternative Vote system good?
The alternative vote is better since it produces a larger amount of winners that people like.
How does the Single Transferable Vote system work?
STV looks at voting ranges and voting boundaries. A Key change is that ranges send more than one representative. An alternative vote is required for a Single Transferable Vote System. Step one - Make sure someone is over the threshold. Step two - Get rid of the biggest loser. Also, anytime the votes go over the threshold they go to the number 2 choice
Why is the Single Transferable Vote system good?
Allows minorities to have representatives!
What is the Formula used in the Single Transferable Vote system?
Take the total number of votes (100%) divided by the number of Representatives needed = the number of votes required to win!
What is Gerrymandering?
Drawing political boundaries for political parties benefit.
What are the 3 Solutions to Gerrymandering?
Solution #1 - Set up an independent court of officials to decide boundaries
Solution #2 - Let math decide the boundaries where you can mathematically divide an area into equally populous ranges
Solution #3 - Hire back the weasel and embrace gerrymandering but pay him to make the winners most closely match the voters as a whole.
What is the Shortest Split Line Method?
The method is about how to divide voters into districts and you need to draw the shortest line between two groups which requires a map and drawing a line
What is the Formula used in the Shortest Split Line Method?
Total number of people divided by the number of regions wanted = number of people in each section. For odd number of voters, you create a ratio after dividing by 2
What is the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation System?
The MMPR system changes the number of seats on the council by doubling it and citizens get two votes instead of 1. Vote 1 is still First Past The Post. Vote 2 goes to the political party of their choosing. The second vote shows what percentage of the council each party should be.
They keep on adding representatives until the council members represent the voting percentage. Vote 1 is still strategic but vote 2 isn’t.
Why is the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation System good?
No gerrymandering + Prevents minority rule + Allows Political diversity
