Year 1 - AMS

Question 1

Where is Additional Member System used?

Answer 1

Devolved regions of Scotland, Wales, and for the London Assembly.

Question 2

What type of system is AMS?

Answer 2

Proportional, hybrid system of FPTP and the List sytem

Question 3

AMS Explained

Answer 3

Using Scottish Parliament as an example

• Voters have 2 seperate votes ( 129 seats in Scotland)
• The 1st is to choose a member for their local constituency (using fptp) (73 MSPs are chosen this way )
• The 2nd is used to select a party. AKA ‘top-up’ members. (56 MSPs are chosen + elected from 8 regions)

Question 4

AMS Advantages

Answer 4

• Proportional thus more democratic
• Gives voters a wider choice, can vote for person + party
• Coalition gov. is likely, however can be a disadvantage

Question 5

AMS Disadvantages

Answer 5

• List members are chosen by the party and are more accountable to the party rather than voters
• Can be complicated
• Smaller parties are less well represented than under a fully proportional system

Question 6

AMS OUTCOMES

Answer 6

• Produces 2 types of rep. : 1 local and 1 regional. The Party/list element is used to top up the constituency and is therefore more proportional
• Coalition Gov. EG SNP/GREEN coalition currently