Electoral Systems

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What is the FPTP 'simple plurality' system and how is it different to winning a 'majority' of votes?
Its an electoral system used in constituencies where the winner is the person with the most votes (plurality), so they just need 1 more vote than second place. Whereas, for a majority an MP needs over a certain % to win.
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Why is FPTP said to deliver a disproportional result?
The % of seats that the party win does not match the % of national vote. i.e. Con in 2015 win 50.8% of seats with only 37% of the vote. Whereas UKIP won one seat for 3.8 million votes.
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What are wasted votes? How might they affect the government's mandate+ legitimacy?
Votes for losing candidates are wasted because they do not help the party. Votes for winning candidates that they didn't need to win are also wasted as they do not help the party to win any more seats. i.e. in GE 2012 over half the vote cast wasted.
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What are marginal seats and safe seats?
Marginal seats is a constituency held with a small majority whereas safe seats hold a large majority + are guaranteed to normally always win that constituency.
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Why do parties campaign differently in marginal and safe seats?
More resources/campaigning is invested in marginal seats as there is a greater chance of winning, therefore some constituencies have louder voices than others. EG= Luton South (marginal) spend the most with 129,687 pounds.
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What is tactical voting and why is it encouraged by FPTP?
Where a constituent votes for one of the two candidates that is likely to win, rather than the candidate you actually prefer. It is a two-party system so vote for one of the largest parties. EG= Voting Con to keep Lab out (but they support UKIP).
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What was the Jenkins Commission and what were they looking for?
Labour Party of 1997 established it to investigate alternatives to FPTP. Wanted to find a system that: had a broadly proportional vote, produces stable govt, gives greater voter choice, link between MP+constituents.
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What are majoritarian electoral systems?
A system in which the winning candidate must secure an absolute majority of the vote (more than 50%). i.e. in Parliament a party needs 326 seats to gain a majority otherwise becomes a minority or coalition govt.
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What is the point of elections?
A way in which votes are converted into representation, and grants a mandate to a government, giving it the authority to implement its manifesto.
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How do elections enhance democracy?
Grant legitimacy, Clear mandate to govern, Means of calling govt+MP's to account (Tulip Siddiq resigned from front shadow bench 2015 as she couldn't support Brexit+her contit voted remain), People democratic choice (Vince Cable Lib Dem Uni Fees).
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How do elections not enhance democracy?
Exclude small parties (UKIP had 3.8 mil votes but 1 seat, SNP won 56 seats but 1 mil votes), May help those with most financial resources (1997 Lab funded by Bernie Ecclestone F1 Manager), Disadvantages parties(1997 Con 18% vote in Scot but no seat).
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What are the differences between elections and referendums?
Elections- Deal with a wide range of issues, elect representatives, are held at regular intervals, concern political parties+give a complex range of answers. Ref- Don't elect anyone, concerned with a single issue, simple y or n answer.
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How does FPTP operate in Westminster?
The country is divided into 650 constituencies. Each constituency elects an MP, voters choose from a list of candidates, nearly all of whom have been nominated by a political party. The candidate who wins a plurality (not a majority) becomes elected.
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How does AV work? How is it different from FPTP?
Each voter has 1 vote, but rather than 'X' they put a '1' by their 1st choice a 2 by their 2nd choice, and so on, until they no long wish to. Candidates elected=gain more than half the votes as first preferences. Some are eliminated+votes distrubuted
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Where is AV used?
Labour leadership elections, Lib Dem leadership elections, by-elections for HoL.
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Is AV proportionally representative and is it disproportionate?
AV is NOT proportional representation+in certain electoral conditions, such as 2015 GE, can produce more disproportional result than FPTP.
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What are the advantages of AV?
MP's must win a majority, rather than just a simple plurality. They have to campaign more broadly+appeal to more voters. Retains existing constituency boundaries. Might reduce no of safe seats+need for tactical voting.
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What are the disadvantages of AV?
Not a proportional system. Might elect the least unpopular rather than most. Might lead to more coalitions as 3rd parties can win more seats. Unequal votes=supports of unpop candid who are eliminated first can have their votes counted more than once.
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How does the Supplementary Vote work? (SV)
You pick a first and second preference of candidates. If there is no won majority all candidates but the top 2 are eliminated and all the votes are redistributed all at once.
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Where is the Supplementary Vote already being used?
For the London Mayor, and Police + Crime Commissioner.
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What are the advantages of SV?
MP's need broader support to achieve their majority. Keep existing boundaries+need to campaign more like AV. Keeps the clear link between MP+constituents.
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What are the disadvantages of SV?
Not a proportional system. Doesn't ensure that the winner has a majority of over 50%. Voters have to guess who the top 2 candid will be which influences tactical voting.
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What are proportional electoral systems?
Seats are distributed according to those parties share of the vote.
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What is the d'Hondt method? How does it award seats?
Divides the party list votes by the no. of seats already won + 1. Which ever party has the highest resulting total, wins a seat. This seat is then added to their total+process is repeated to allocate remaining seats.
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Where is the single transferable vote used? (STV)
Currently used in NI Assembly, European+local governments. Also used in local elections in Scotland.
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How do candidates win a seat under STV? Why are there so few wasted?
Electorate numbers their preferences. Uses large constituencies to elect more than 1 representative. Voters have a lot of choice as they can pick between candid from diff parties or priorities candid from 1 party. Have to vote a quota (no majority).
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What are the advantages of STV?
Proportional result, voters have greater choice+gives constituents a choice of MP's to contact. Fewer wasted votes. Fairer to smaller parties, eliminates safe seats+need for tactical voting.
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What are the disadvantages of STV?
Complicated system that takes longer to be counted. Ballot papers can be long+confusing. Can lead to Donkey Voting. Ends 'single MP-constituency link'. Increases likelihood of coalitions.
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What are hybrid electoral systems?
Electoral systems that combine elements of plurality+majoritarian systems with proportional systems. Some MP's are elected in single-member constituencies + others are elected in multi-member constituency.
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How does the Additional Members System work?
Its a hybrid system- d'Hondt formula. Voters cast two votes - one for local candidate (FPTP)+one for a party (closed list). i.e. Scotland has 8 separate regions, each having an additional 7 seats.
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Where is the Additional Members System already used in the UK?
Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and the Greater London Assembly.
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What are the advantages of AMS?
Broadly proportional result. Keeps MP-constituency link. Greater voter choice (can select minority party for regional vote without it being wasted). Even if the constituency vote is wasted, the regional vote will count. Small parties do well.
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What are the disadvantages of AMS?
Creates two classes of MPs- some accountable to electorate+some accountable to the party leaders. Selecting an MP through FPTP=tactical voting. Gives party leaders greater influence by deciding priority on the party list. Extremist parties get repre.
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Where is the regional list already used?
In European Parliament.
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How does the Regional List (closed party list system) work?
Country is divided into regions. In each, a party presents a list of candid in a chosen preference order. Voters have 1 vote which they cast for party list (not an individual candid), seats awarded to each party in each region.
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Why has there been so much electoral reform in the UK since 1997?
Labour's manifesto supported reform of FPTP - Jenkins Commission. Devolution occurred (used AMS for S+W Assembly+NI uses STV). Also wanted a directly elected London Mayor through SV+regional list for European Parliament.
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What electoral system do 3rd parties benefit from and where is it used?
3rd UK parties do better in the European Parliament because of the closed party list system. In 2014 UKIP had 24 seats compared to 1 in the Westminster.
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What is split ticket voting?
Where voters split their ticket (vote for different parties at the same election). i.e. regional member + constituency member vote.
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What impact has the electoral reform had on turnout levels?
Led to LOW turnout.
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Which electoral system has lowest and which has highest of rejected ballot papers?
FPTP has lowest % of rejected ballots (0.24%) and STV has the highest (1.8%).
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What electoral system was rejected in a referendum to making it used for General Elections?
Alternative Vote.
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How would STV effect the UK General Election?
Lib Dems+UKIP would do well under STV. Smaller parties like Green Party would win more seats. Nationalists in Wales+Scotland would gain considerable ground. Coalition governments would be inevitable.
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Arguments for retaining FPTP?
Easy to understand+existed for a long time. Retains strong MP-constituency link. Tends to produce a single-party (clear majority). Voter can clearly express a view on which party they support.
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Arguments against the use of FPTP?
Awards seats disproportionality between parties. Produces wasted votes (safe seats+no hope parties). Discriminates against smaller parties. Can lead to a hung parliament with no majority.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Why is FPTP said to deliver a disproportional result?

Back

The % of seats that the party win does not match the % of national vote. i.e. Con in 2015 win 50.8% of seats with only 37% of the vote. Whereas UKIP won one seat for 3.8 million votes.

Card 3

Front

What are wasted votes? How might they affect the government's mandate+ legitimacy?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are marginal seats and safe seats?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why do parties campaign differently in marginal and safe seats?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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