Year 1 - Elections and Electoral Systems

Question 1

Roles of elections

Answer 1

• Confer legitimacy of gov. and politicians
• Device for ensuring the will of the maj. is made clear
• Provide rep. through MP and gov. accountability
• Means by which citizens can actively participate

Question 2

FPTP Explained

Answer 2

• UK divided into 650 single-member constituencies
• Each voter has one vote for a chosen candidate
• Winner only needs a plurality (+1) of votes, can get less than 50% of votes cast to win
• For a maj. 326/650 MPs need to be elected

Question 3

FPTP Advantages

Answer 3

• Quick to produce a result, for example in 2017 Newcastle Central were able to declare a winner an hour after polls closed
• Keeps small,extremist parties out of Westminster
• Creates stable and strong governments

Question 4

FPTP Disadvantages

Answer 4

• Unrepresentative, as it discriminates in favour of the main 2 parties
• Votes are ‘wasted’ on losing candidates or safe seat constituencies, for example in 2019 49% of votes were wasted in Bournemouth East
• Discriminates against small parties with leg. causes e.g Green, Lib Dem, UKIP

Question 5

FPTP OUTCOMES

Answer 5

• FPTP often results in a strong government and a two-party system in Westminster, with reps. being able to be elected in on less than half of the constituents’ votes, as they only need a plurality.
• Safe seats
• Marginal seats

Question 6

Safe seat

Answer 6

Seat in parliament regarded as secure by a party. There is little change of change in party in the constituency. E.G Liverpool Walton - 85.7% of LAB vote in 2017 GE

Question 7

Marginal seat

Answer 7

Only require a small amount of votes to change hands for the seat to be won/lost. E.G SNP won North East Fife by only 2 votes in 2017 GE