What are the disadvantages of First Past the Post ? Flashcards
What is one major disadvantage of the First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system?
It can lead to a lack of proportional representation.
True or False: FPTP often results in wasted votes.
True
Fill in the blank: In FPTP, a candidate can win without receiving more than _____ of the votes.
50%
What is a common outcome of FPTP in multi-party systems?
It can result in a ‘winner takes all’ scenario.
How does FPTP affect smaller political parties?
It tends to marginalize them, making it hard for them to gain seats.
What is one reason why FPTP may discourage voter turnout?
Voters may feel their votes do not matter in safe seats.
Which electoral system is often compared to FPTP for its proportionality?
Proportional representation.
True or False: FPTP can lead to significant discrepancies between the percentage of votes received and the percentage of seats won.
True
What term describes the phenomenon where a party wins a majority of seats without a majority of votes in FPTP?
Majority distortion.
In FPTP, what is the effect of tactical voting?
Voters may vote for a less preferred candidate to prevent an undesirable candidate from winning.
What is one criticism regarding voter representation in FPTP?
It can lead to underrepresentation of certain demographic groups.
Fill in the blank: FPTP is often criticized for producing _____ governments.
unrepresentative
What is one potential impact of FPTP on political parties?
It may encourage a two-party system.
True or False: FPTP guarantees that the winning party has the majority of public support.
False
What is a likely consequence of FPTP on election campaigns?
It may lead to negative campaigning among frontrunners.
