Unit 7: Elections and Referendums Flashcards
Name the 4 voting systems used in the UK
FPTP
Supplementary
AMS
Single transferable vote
Name 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of FPTP
Adv: easy to understand, excludes extremists
disadv: Reduce choice, not always single party maj
Name 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of SV
Adv: More choice, smaller parties more representation
Disadv: 2nd placed candidate can win, still many ‘wasted’ votes
Name 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of STV
Adv: more choice, proportional outcome
Disadv: No MP-condtiuency link, weak multi-party government
Name 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of AMS
Adv: Choice, reduces winner’s bonus from FPTP
Disadv: Most voters vote same way, low levels of additional members means representation weakened
Explain the Supplementary Vote (SV) system
Two votes for first and second choice. If a candidate doesn’t get over 50%, second choice votes redistributed to top 2 candidates
Explain the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system
Rank parties , then once a candidate passes a quota, lowest votes are eliminated and their votes are redistributed until all seats are filled
Explain the Additional Member System (AMS)
One vote for candidate using FPTP and one far party using Closed Party List
Name 3 common characteristics of FPTP in the UK
Winner’s bonus
Tactical voting
Two-party system
Name 3 long term impacts on vote behaviour
Age
Location
Gender
Name 3 short term impacts on voter behaviour
Manifesto
Key issues
Media and party image
Define rational choice theory theory of voter choice
assumes voters are completely logical and choose the party that benefits them most overall
Define issue voting theory of voter choice
voters prioritise one issue and vote solely based on this
Define valence issues theory of voter choice
vpters choose a party based on how well they will perform on ‘valence issues’ such as economy or healthcare
Name 2 ways referendums benefit democracy
Public has direct say and cannot be misinterpreted by MPs
High turnout
