Uk Party Systems And Parties Flashcards
What is a multiparty system?
-Where many parties compete for power
-Gov consists of a series of coalitions formed by different combination of parties.
What is short money?
-Funds paid to opposition parties to help them cover their administrative costs
-Available to all opposition parties that win at least 2 seats
Why is short money needed?
Allows opposition to provide proper scrutiny of the government.
What is a two party system?
-Where two fairly equally matched parties compete for power at elections
-Often have little realistic chance of breaking the duo play.
What is a referendum?
-A general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Why are local referendums used?
-Establishing directly elected mayors
-Congestion change
-Council tab increase
-Neighbourhood plans
-Parish polls
Why are national referendums used?
-Constitutional change
-Coalition agreement
-Party management
-Political pressure
What are the referendum regulations?
-Wording
-Campaign participation
-Campaign spending
-Conduct of the campaign
What is district magnitude?
-Number of representatives elected from a particular constituency
What are by-elections?
-Takes please when a sitting MP dies or resigns their seats
-By election takes place in a constituency
-Same electoral system is used as for regular elections
-Can produce strange results and no such seats are ‘safe’
What is the European Parliament election?
-Every 5 years
-Happens in all EU member states
-Voting system is proportional representation
What are local elections?
-Elected for 4 years by local community
-Councillors are elected using STV
-Individual councillors dont have authority to make decision on behalf of entire council
-Normally held on first Thursday in may.
What are AV referendums?
-Choose the method of electing MPs of subsequent general elections
What are the main functions of political parties?
-Representation
-Political engagement and participation
-Political recruitment
-Making policy/scrutiny
-Provide an opposition to gov
-Organise parliament
What is a dominant party system?
-A number of parties exist but only holds gov power
-Some argue that that the UK party system has resembled this AT TIMES
What is a single party system?
-Where one party dominates,bans other parties and exercises total control over candidacy at elections (that’s if elections occur at all)
What are fringe parties?
-pick up fewer than 50k votes but more than 5k votes
-Have a slim chance of a seat
-Campaign on one specific issue
-Aim to influence the behaviour of established parties
What are minor parties?
-Distinctive focus on a limited set of issues that often fall outside of the left-right socioeconomic divide
-Aim to influence the behaviour of established parties
What are single-issue parties?
-Retained their distinctive message as well as broadening their policy programmes
What are national/ regional parties?
-Some minor parties look to nurture a geographical areas culture or language
Examples of single-issue parties?
-Brexit party
-Women’s equality
-Animal welfare party
Example of nationals/ regionals party:
-SNP
-Yorkshire party
-Party for Cornwall
What is a mainstream party?
-A major political party with broad public support and moderate policies
-Often aiming to appeal to a whole range of voters
What is a political party?
-An organised body that seeks to win government power by putting up candidates for election and mobilising popular support