TOPIC 7- ELECTIONS AND PARTY SYSTEMS Flashcards
WHAT IS A PARTY SYSTEM?
REFERS TO THE TYPICAL STRUCTURE OF PARTIES WITHIN A POLITICAL SYSTEM.
WHAT IS DUVERGER’S LAW?
POLITICAL THEORY WHICH POSITS THAT ELECTORAL SYSTEMS WHICH UTILISE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS E.G FPTP WILL ALWAYS SEE 2 PARTY SYSTEMS EMERGE.
WHO WAS THE DIVERGER’S LAW FORMULATED BY?
MAURICE DUVERGER
WHY DOES FPTP LEAD TO 2 PARTY SYSTEMS ACCORDING TO DUVERGER’S LAW?
VOTERS ARE INCENTIVISED TO VOTE STATEGICALLY FOR 1 OF THE 2 LEADING CANDIDATES TO AVOID WASTING THEIR LESS VIABLE 3RD CANDIDATE
WHY WERE THE 2010 ELECTION RESULTS UNUSUAL?
RESULTED IN A HUNG PARLIAMENT AS TORIES LED BY CAMERON WON 306 SEATS BUT FELL SHORT OF 326 NEEDED FOR A MAJORITY. LED TO COALITION BETWEEN TORIES AND LIB DEMS WHICH LEAD TO NICK CLEGG BECOMING DEPUTY PM.
WHY WERE THE 2017 ELECTION RESULTS UNUSUAL?
MAY CALLED A SNAP ELECTON TO STRENGTHEN HER MANDATE FOR BREXIT NEGOTIATIONS BUT TORIES LOST 13 SEATS RESULTING IN A HUNG PARLIAMENT AS THEY ONLY HAD 318 SEATS. MAY MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH DUP WHO HAD 10 SEATS TO REMAIN IN POWER.
WHY HAS FPTP CONTINUED TO BE USED IN WESTMINSTER ELECTIONS?
DUE TO OUTCOME IT PRODUCES WHICH SUITS THE 2 LARGEST PARTIES WHO HAVE MONOPOLISED GOVT SINCE 1945
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE 2 MAJOR PARTIES WANTING TO KEEP FPTP?
LABOUR OFFERED A REFERENDUM ON FPTP B4 1997 ELECTION BUT HAD NO INCENTIVE TO DELIVER AFTER WINNING A LARGE INDEPENDENT MAJORITY UNDER THE EXISTING SYSTEM.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF VOTERS WANTING TO KEEP FPTP?
2011 REFERENDUM DEMONSTRATED LACK OF SUPPORT FOR REPLACING THE FAMILIAR AND EASY TO USE FPTP SYSTEM WITH AN UNTRIED SYSTEM THAT WOULD BRING PROBLEMS OF ITS OWN.
WHAT IS A MULTI PARTY SYSTEM?
POLITICAL SYSTEM IN WHICH MULTIPLE PARTIES HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GAIN CONTROL OF GOVT OFFICES, SEPARATELY OR IN COALITION.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF MULTI PARTY SYSTEMS?
ALLOWS FOR BROADER REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSE INTERESTS AND IDEOLOGIES WITHIN A COUNTRY.
WHY IS STV USED IN NORTHERN IRISH ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS?
CHOSEN AFTER 1998 GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT AS IT’S HIGHLY PROPRTOIONAL AND SO LIKELY TO ENSURE BROADEST REPRESENTATION. IMPORTANT IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO AVOUD SINGLE PARTY DOMINATION AS IT COULD DERAIL FRAGILE PEACE PROCESS BETWEEN UNIONISTS AND NATIONALISTS.
WHY IS AMS USED IN SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS?
ADOPTION OF AMS WAS PART OF BROADER REFORMS FOLLOWING THE DEVOLUTION OF POWERS TO SCOTLAND IN THE 1990s. AMS WAS CHOSEN AS A COMPROMISE AS IT PACFICIED OTHER PARTIES BY PROVIDING AN ELEMENT OF PROPORTIONALITY WHILST ACCEPTABLE TO LABOUR AS IT RETAINED LOCAL REPRSENTATION
WHAT SYSTEM WOULD OTHER PARTIES PREFERRED TO IMPLEMENT IN SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS?
LIB DEMS AND SNP WOULD’VE PREFERRED STV AS THEY EXPECTED LABOUR TO SWEEP THE BOARD UNDER LESS REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEMS.
WHAT IS THE CLOSED PARTY LIST PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM?
SYSTEM WHICH REQUIRES VOTERS TO ONLY SELECT 1 PARTY.
