TOPIC 4 - PLURALITY SYSTEMS Flashcards
WHAT IS A PLURALITY SYSTEM?
ELECTORAL SYSTEM WHERE THE WINNING CANDIDATE DOES NOT REQUIRE AN OVERALL MAJORITY BUT MERELY NEEDS TO WIN MORE VOTES THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE.
WHERE IS FPTP USED IN THE UK?
- UK GENERAL ELECTIONS
- LONDON MAYOR ELECTIONS
- LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
- LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN ENGLAND
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SAFE SEAT CONSTIUENCY?
DULWICH AND WEST NORWOOD AND WINNER WAS HELEN HAYES OF LABOUR WHO HAD A 60.3% VOTE SHARE. CLOSEST PARTY WAS GREEN WITH 18.9% VOTE SHARE.
VOTER TURNOUT WAS 61% WHICH WAS -9.1% FROM 2019
WHAT IS A 2 PARTY MARGINAL CONSTIUENCY EXAMPLE?
CROYDON SOUTH AND WINNER WAS CHRIS PHILP OF THE TORIES WHO WON A 52.2% VOTE SHARE. CLOSEST RIVAL WAS LABOUR WITH 31.4%. TURNOUT WAS 70.7%
WHAT IS A 3 PARTY MARGINAL EXAMPLE CONSTIUENCY?
DUDLEY AND WINNER WAS SONIA KUMAR FROM LABOUR WHO WON 34.1%. TORIES WON 28.8% AND REFORM WON 26.4%. TURNOUT WAS 51.4%
WHAT WAS THE TURNOUT PERCENTAGE?
60%
WHAT WAS THE MOST RECENT GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS? (PARTY PERCENTAGES)
- LABOUR WON 33.7% AND 411 SEATS(63.2%)
- TORIES WON 23.7% AND 121 SEATS(18.6%)
3.REFORM WON 14.3% AND 5 SEATS(0.8%) - SNP WON 2.5% AND 9 SEATS(1.4%)
WHAT WAS THE MOST MARGINAL SEAT?
HENDON WITH 15 VOTE MAJORITY BY LABOUR
WHAT WAS THE SAFEST SEAT?
CHORLEY WITH 20,575 SEAT MAJORITY BY THE SPEAKER.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF FPTP?
- STRONG AND STABLE GOVERNMENTS
- EXCLUDING EXTREMIST PARTIES
- STRONG CONSTIUENCY LINK
HOW DOES FPTP LEAD TO A STRONG AND STABLE GOVERNMENT?
FPTP PROMOTES A 2 WAY PARTY SYSTEM SO PARTY MAY RECEIVE A MAJORITY. THEY THEN HAVE A MANDATE TO CARRY OUT ITS PROGRAMME AND GOVT CAN BE REMOVED AT NEXT ELECTION IF VOTERS DISAPPROVE OF ITS RECORD. ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO POLITICAL STABILITY AS 1 PARTY CAN NORMALLY GAIN ENOUGH SEATS TO FORM A GOVT WITHOUR COALITIONS.
HOW DOES FPTP EXCLUDE EXTREMIST PARTIES?
PARTIES THAT MAY FEED ON RACISM AND OTHER EXTREMIST VIEWS ARE UNLIKELY TO SECURE REPRESENTATION. LARGER PARTIES TEND TO ADOPT MORE MODERATE POSITIONS TO APPEAL TO MAX NUMBER OF VOTERS WHICH HELPS PREVENT POLARISATION.
HOW DOES FPTP PROVIDE A STRONG CONSTIUENCY LINK?
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE IS HELP DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE SO VOTERS KNOW WHO REPRESENTS THEM IN PARLIAMENT. ENCOURAGES MPS TO FOCUS ON SPECIFIC NEEDS OF CONSTIUENCIES AS IF VOTERS ARE DISATTISFIED THEY WILL VOTE THEM OUT IN THE NEXT ELECTION. DIRECT MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF FPTP?
- NOT PROPORTIONAL
- LIMITED CHOICE
- TACTICAL VOTING
- SAFE SEATS.
HOW IS FPTP NOT PROPORTIONAL?
LEADS TO MISMATCH BETWEEN %OF VOTERS AND % OF SEATS. SYSTEM FAVOURS PARTIES THAT HAVE GEOGRAPHICALLY CONCENTRATED SUPPORT RATHER THAN THOSE WHOSE SUPPORT IS SPREAD OUT.
