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AS Politics > Unit 1 - Electoral Systems > Flashcards

Unit 1 - Electoral Systems Flashcards

0
Q

Proportional electoral systems

A

Direct relationship between % of seats and % Of votes

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1
Q

Majoritarian electoral system

A

A system which promotes a single party majority government

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2
Q

Examples of Landslide effect

A

2001 Lab 167 seat majority
1997 Lab 179 seat majority
1983 Cons 144 seat majority under thatcher

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3
Q

Why do MPs in England lack a majority mandate?

A

2/3 have a plurality but not a majority of votes.

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4
Q

Where is the AMS used?

A

Scottish Parliament
Welsh assembly
Greater London assembly

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5
Q

Where is the STV system used?

A

Northern Ireland Assembly and Local Governments

Scottish Local government

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6
Q

Party list system examples

A

EU parliament
Israel
Denmark
Finland

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7
Q

Where is the SV used

A

London mayor elections

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8
Q

WHere is AV used?

A

Australia Lower House

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9
Q

How does SV work?

A

2 preferences.

Majority (50% needed)

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10
Q

How does AV work

A

Rank candidates in order of preference

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11
Q

Advantages of AV/SV

A
  1. Fewer wasted votes
  2. Greater accountability as single party govt is formed
  3. Strong and stable govt
  4. Majority mandate held by MP
  5. More legitimate
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12
Q

Disadvantages of AV/SV

A
  1. Not proportional
  2. Tactical voting
  3. Some votes are counted more than others
  4. Unequal strength of 1st and second preference votes
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13
Q

Explain the AMS in Scotland

A

73 seats selected with FPTP

56 seats selected with party list (as top up)

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14
Q

Droop formula

A

STV

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15
Q

D’Hondt formula

A

Party list

16
Q

Advantages of party list

A
  1. Simple to use and count
  2. Proportional - democratic legitimacy
  3. Very few wasted votes
  4. More diverse candidates/greater pluralism
  5. Party controls list and so could resolve the issue of descriptive representation in the UK
17
Q

Disadvantages of party list

A
  1. Parties have significant power in candidate ranking
  2. No MP-constituency link
  3. Limited choice
  4. Political fragmentation through coalition
18
Q

Advantages of STV

A
  1. Wide voter choice
  2. Proportional
  3. Pluralistic
  4. Fewer wasted votes
  5. Link between voters and constituency remains
  6. Eliminates need for tactical voting
19
Q

Disadvantages of STV

A
  1. Extremely complicated
  2. Takes a lot of time
  3. Could lead to ‘donkey voting’
  4. Doesn’t produce majority governments
  5. Leads to intraparty competition
20
Q

Results of 2010 election

A

Lib Dem 23% of votes 9 % of seats
Labour 29% of votes 39.7 % of seats
Conservatives 36% of vote and 47 % of seats

21
Q

Arguments for FPTP

A
  1. Existed for long time and widely accepted
  2. Easy to understand
  3. Retains strong MP - constituency link
  4. Ensures single party strong governments
  5. Greater accountability
22
Q

Arguments against FPTP

A
  1. Disproportional - public not fully represented
  2. Wasted votes
  3. Votes are not of equal value
  4. Discriminates against smaller parties
  5. Systematic bias towards Labour
  6. Weak mandate as 2/3 of MPs don’t have majority mandate
  7. Elective dictatorship
23
Q

Arguments for a proportional system

A
  1. Fair and proportional
  2. Fewer wasted votes
  3. Turnout may increase
  4. Help smaller parties - improved representation
  5. Reduces possibility of elective dictatorship.
  6. Pluralism
24
Q

Arguments against proportional system

A
  1. Current system works fine
  2. Other systems are too difficult
  3. Prone to extreme parties
  4. Weak and unstable government
  5. Some systems destroy MP - constituency link
  6. Public do not want a proportional system as evident by 2011 AV REFERENDUM
25
Q

Elections stats

A 
1992 - 77.7%
1997 - 71.4%
2001 - 59.4% 
2005 - 61.4%
2010 - 65.1%

AS Politics (8 decks)

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