Electoral Systems

• An electoral system in which the winning candidate must achieve an absolute majority of votes cast (i.e. 50% +1)
• Candidates are usually elected in single member constituencies
• tend to produce single-party governments with working parliamentary majorities
• E.g. the Alternative Vote system is a majoritarian system

• First-past-the-post is a simple plurality system
• winner only needs a plurality of votes cast (i.e. one more than their closest rival)
  they do not need an absolute majority
• They share same characteristics as majoritarian systems as MPs are elected in single-member constituencies
• Not proportional- larger parties tend to get a higher proportion of seats than their vote merits

• An electoral system using multi-member consituencies
• electoral formula is used to match the percentage of seats won by each part to percentage of votes
• Some, e.g. transferable vote, allow electors to vote for as may candidates as they wish in preference order
• tend to produce coalition governments as no single party wins a majority of seats
• Another e.g: regional list system

• a proportion of representatives are elected under a majoritarian/ plurality system in single member constituencies
• others are elected as "additional members" using a proportional system in multi-member constituencies

e.g. Additional Member System

• a consituency that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election

• In a General Election the same party tends to win

• Parties often don't spend time or money on safe seats because they have no chance of winning.

• According to the Electoral Reform Society, approximately 540 seats were safe in 2015

• Safe seats can lead to complacency
  • In 2015, number of people that voted for SNP rose and Labour lost many of their "safe seats"

• High profile, and leading, MPs are often put in safe seats

• a constituency held with a small majority

• sometimes known as "swing seats"

• According to the Electoral Reform Society, approximately 110 seats were marginal in 2015

• Gower majority is 27

• Parties focus their campaigns in marginal seats

• Plurality system- candidate requires a plurality of the vote (i.e. 1 more than second placed candidate)
• cast a single vote on a ballot paper next to favoured candidate
• MPs are elected in single-member constituencies
• To win a GE, a party must win 326 consituencies

Strengths

• produces a clear winner // produces strong majority governments
• strong link between electorate and representative
• makes govt. accountable
• keeps out extreme parties

Weaknesses

• votes do not equal seats
• two-party system precludes small parties
• too many safe seats = wasted votes
• leads to tactical voting

• Majoritarian system- winning candidate must acheive an overall majority
• Candidates elected in single-member constituencies; ranked in order and a candidate achieves over 50% they win.
• If not, lowest candidate eliminated and second votes are located

Strengths

• produces a clear winner
• strong link between voter and representative
• majority to win
• candidate have to effectively campaign
• reduces tactical voting and safe seats

Weaknesses

• not proportional- no. of votes does not equal number of seats
• change for small, third parties to get in
• takes a long time
• more complex

• majoritarian system used in Mayoral Elections e.g. London
• Mark 1st and 2nd preferences; 50% +1 is the winner
• if not, all but top 2 candidates are eliminated and 2nd preference votes are added

Strengths

• produces a clear winner
• strong link between representative and elector
• strong majority government
• easy to understand

Weaknesses

• winning candidates may not need a majority of the votes
• encourages people to votee for the main parties
• votes not counted --> wasted
• would not deliver a proportional outcome

• Proportional system elected in large multi-member constituencies (11 regions for MEPs)
• parties draw up list in order they will be elected and electors cast vote for party
• Closed- cannot choose between candidates, open you can

Strengths

• high degree of proportionality- size of region (district magnitude) matters
• smaller parties are less likely to win in regions electing small number of representatives
• Parties have used their lists to increase number of female and BME candidates

Weaknesses

• closed list- voters cannot choose between candidates from the same party
• parties control which order candidates appear on list
• large multi-member constituencies= weak link between elector and representative

• Mixed system
• proportion of seats elected using FPTP in single member consituencies (72/129 in Scot)
• additional members elected in multi-member constituencies (56 in Scotland)
• cast 2 votes: one for candidate and one for a party
• In London, must pass 5% threshold (not in Scotland)

Strengths

• balances consituency representation with fairness in election outcomes
• results are broadly proportional
• less likely to waste votes
• split-ticket voting --> support a candidate from one party and vote for another party

Weaknesses

• creates two categories of representative- one with constituency duties and one without
• Parties can have significant control over the party lists used to elect additional members
• smaller parties under represented- mutli-member seats elect few representatives

• proportional system- seats distributed according to vote share
• representatives elected in multi-member constituencies (N.Ireland 17 cons. elect 6 MPs each)
• indicate preferences using a number system
• candidate must achieve a quota to be elected- if not then lowest eliminated and 2nd preferences transferred

Strengths

• Good record of delivering proportional outcome and votes are largely of equal value
• party must win more than 50% of popular vote to form a government
• voters can choose between different candidates, even those in the same party

Weaknesses

• Less accurate in translating votes into seats than list or AMS
• large multi-member constituencies weakens link
• likely to produce a coalition government- may be unstable

Only one election to the devikved assemblies has produced a clear winner --> 2011 Scottish Parliament where SNP won majority

Scotland has seen two terms of Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition and one SNP minority government

Evidence that the Additional Member System produces coalitions

1997, Labour set up an Independent Commission on Electoral Reform, headed by Liberal Democrat Peer, Lord Jenkins

Jenkins Report

Criteria against which an electoral system can be assessed:

• proportionality
• stable government
• voter choice
• MP- constituency link

Eventually decided that AV + was the best option but Labour never reformed the system

Why?

• New systems had cost Labour in Scottish Parl, Welsh Assembly and European Parl.
• Estimated that AV + would have reduced Labours 179 majority to 60

• The process by which an individual or individuals act on behalf of a larger group

• People tend to choose a delegate- selected to act on behalf of others on the basis of clear instructions

• They should not depart from these instructions in order to follow their own judgement

• e.g. Trade Union delegates cast votes according to an early decision of union leaders and members

• MPs are not expected t act as delegates

CONSTITUENCY: Geographical territory for which representatives are chosen in an election

• MPs are expected to protect and advance the collective interests of the constituency they represent
• They may lobby the government
• Receive numerous requests for help from constituents by post, e-mail or at surgeries
• Relationship between an MP and their constituents is often seen as important for a healthy democracy

• Citizens are given a direct input into the decision making process
• stems from Ancient Athens
• Referendums are a wider use of direct democracy

• citizens elect individuals to represent them in Parliament and other assemblies
• They represent the interests to the best of their ability until the next election
• Edmund Burke "Your representative owes you not his industry only but his judgement"
• The UK is a representative democracy

• Elected representatives often enjoy lengthy terms in office (up to 5 years in UK). Referendums can make them more directly accountable between elections, thereby enhancing representative democracy

• Many MPs toe the party line and do as whips tell them. Incorporating elements of direct democracy would remind representatives of who they were elected to serve
  • e.g. Kate Hoey campaigned for Leave but 78% of constituency voted REMAIN

• Conventional representative democracy limits opportunity for participation between elections; contributes to political apathy. Wider use of referendums may stimulate participation and public debate; thus reinvigorating representative democracy

• Those elected to office are given a mandate to act on behalf of voters, along the lines set out in their manifesto. Representatives should not feel pressured into going back to the people to seek aproval

• Elected representatives are often better informed than the general public. They have access to relevant research and are able to educate themselves on the merits and demerits of a particular course of action before casting their vote in Parliament.

• Representative democracy allows for "joined-up government" where individual polices are decided not in isolation but with the full consideration of potential knock-on effects for other areas of policy. Wider use of referendums would undermine this

• a vote on a single issue put to a public ballot by the government of the day
• offer a degree of direct democracy
• they are generally framed in the form of a simple "yes/no" question
• EU Referendum 2016
• Clement Attlee "a tool of dictators and demagogues"

• Gauge public opinion on an issue and obtain a clear mandate on a particular issue
  • constitutional issues
  • gain legitimacy for controversial decisions

• Silence dissent within their own party
  • Cameron 2016 EU Referendum --> wanted to silence euro-sceptics such as Iain Duncan Smith and David Davis
  • Harold Wilson 1975 ECC Referendum --> shut up divisions in his party

• Gain legitimacy for controverisal decisions
  • changes to the constitution are significant and permanent
  • they are put to the electorate to make the final decision as it makes it more legitimate
  • reduced accountability

• It wasn't in their manifesto
  • if policy not in a govt. manifesto, it does not have the mandate to implement that policy
  • referendum gives govt. this mandate because the electorate legitimises the policy
  • particularly important if it is a constitutional change

• Binding referendum
  • government have to act on decision of the people

• Advisory
  • the government does not have to fulfil the outcome

• They encourage participation
  • electorate are becoming more apathetic
  • opportunity to directly participate in politics may make voters more engaged
  • government consults with the people more than just at election time
  • e.g. 2015 GE turnout was 66.1% // EU Membership 2016 was 72%
  • e.g. Scottish Independence 2014: 84%

• Gives the government a stronger mandate
  • gives the govt. a stronger mandate to enact public policies
  • benefit at times when government majority is low as electorate legitimises policy
  • integral in coalitions- neither party has a clear mandate to carry out consitutional change
  • e.g. 2011 AV referendum gave power to reform the electoral system

Some decisions need popular endorsement

• consitutional change is so momentous that they must not be decided by MPs
• need the support of the electorate
• provides a clear answer to a specific question --> clear mandate
• e.g. electoral system 2011

• Undermines parliamentary sovereignty
  • MPs are elected as representatives with the notion that they are the supreme law making authority
  • need to be allowed to carry out the functions and duties elected to do
  • Trustee model --> Edmund Burke
  • weaken the mandate of MPs and their authority to make decisions on behalf of electorate 
  • "alien to all our traditions2

• Binds future generation
  • prevents them from evolving (if social or moral issues)
  • not a very good representation of younger generation but bound by small majority
  • e.g. 2016 EU "Leave" won by a majority of 3.78% but 75% of 18-24 year olds voted "Remain"

No clear mandate

• e.g.  35% turnout in Wales for devolving further powers to Welsh Assembly (only 50% in 97)