elections and referendums

Question 1

what is FPTP

Answer 1

a simple plurality system where the candidate with the most votes wins the election without having to win a majority

Question 2

advantages of FPTP

Answer 2

-often leads to strong government with clear mandate
-gives voters clear choice and is simple
-provides strong representation of small constituencies

Question 3

disadvantages of FPTP

Answer 3

-not porportional as votes do not translate into seats e.g UKIP 3.8 million votes translated into 1 seat
-benefits parties with concentrated support
-limits choice and safe seats
-people may feel their vote is wasted if they dont win

Question 4

what is STV

Answer 4

-divided the country into multi member constituencies
-voters number candidates in order of preference
-votes are redistributed if candidates do not meet the quota

Question 5

advantages of STV

Answer 5

-offers a large choice of votes
-encourages positive campaigning because candiates wish to gain votes from other candidates
-seats are highly proportional
-parties with a thinly distributed vote could still win unlikr FPTP

Question 6

disadvantages of STV

Answer 6

-link between member and voter weaker as their are multiple
-much more complicated than FPTP and takes longer
-donkey voting

Question 7

what is the AMS

Answer 7

the additional member system is where voters have 2 votes: one for a constituency representative and one for a party lost to add an aditional representative

Question 8

additional members AMS

Answer 8

additional members are added proportionally by number of votes

Question 9

advantages of AMS

Answer 9

ensures strong link between MP and voters
very proportional
more choices than FPTP

Question 10

disadvantages of AMS

Answer 10

small parties are less well represented
party lists candidates have less legitamacy than constituency represenetatives
lackks democratic trasnparency because the party decides who is on the party list

Question 11

which election uses AMS

Answer 11

scottish parliament

Question 12

what is SV

Answer 12

the supplementary vote is where voters have a first vote choice and a second preferene vote

Question 13

advantages of SV

Answer 13

very simple system
stops candidates winning from having small support as require 50%

Question 14

disadvantages of SV

Answer 14

votes can be wasted because voters only choose two candidates meaning some may have both choices excluded if they dont get 50%

Question 15

AV referendum 2011

Answer 15

voted against changing the voting system shows little support to move away from FPTP

Question 16

where is STV used

Answer 16

Northern Ireland

Question 17

why is STV important for NI

Answer 17

prevents one party dominating NI

important due to previous conflicts between nationalist and unionist communities

Question 18

Where is AMS used

Answer 18

Scottish parliament, welsh assembly, london assembly

Question 19

Which voting systems lead to more power sharing systems

Answer 19

AMS and STV

Question 20

reasons for referendums

Answer 20

-education and engagement (increase political awareness)
-clear outcome
-direct voter power (hold govt account)

Question 21

reasons against referendums

Answer 21

-parliamentary sovereightny (elected officials should be making decisions on complex political conflicts)
-can be manipulated (words and phrasing)
-low voter turnout

Question 22

functions of referendums

Answer 22

-settle divisions in parliament and parties e.g BREXIT
-avoid committing to policy changes
-enthuse and educate the public

Question 23

impacts of referendums

Answer 23

-influence the outcome of elections
-create conventions e.g scotland act 2016 devolution cannot be removed without referendum

Question 24

how do referendums increase democracy

Answer 24

-increased participation e.g 86% turnout of scottish referendum compared to 64% in 2015 general election
-educate the electorate e.g AV referendum gave a greater understanding of FPTP
-

Question 25

Who won the 1979 election

Answer 25

Margret Thatcher, conservatives

Question 26

What did thatcher change about labour

Answer 26

Labour or New Labour were no longer the party of nationalisation or trade unions

Question 27

What increased thatchers chances of winning

Answer 27

Callaghans weak out of control leadership of Labour

Question 28

What ideology did thatcher divide

Answer 28

One nation conservatives

Question 29

Number of conservative seats (1979)

Answer 29

339

Question 30

Turnout in 1979

Answer 30

76%

Question 31

Labour loss of seats in 1979

Answer 31

50

Question 32

How do the party policy/manifesto of conservatives in 1979 explain the result

Answer 32

-high focus on bringing down inflation
-little indication of moving the party far right
-returning nationalised industries to private hands
-

Question 33

1979 conservative use of media

Answer 33

-Publicity specialists Tim bell and Gordon Reece
-thatcher took photo opportunities
-turned down television debate as this would’ve highlighted tensions and divisions

Question 34

Impact of the wider political context (weakness of labour)

Answer 34

-winter of discontent (limit of 5% on pay led to strikes)
-sense of national paralysis
-despot popularity of Callaghan, he assumed cons would win
-withdrawal of support of nationalist parties

Question 35

Impacts of wider political context pt.2

Answer 35

Callaghan unable to control militant strikes
Media represented miserable Britain strikes
Callaghan dismissed personal questions

Question 36

1997 result

Answer 36

labour landslide victory 418 seats and remained in power until 2010
179 seat majority

Question 37

1997 politic context

Answer 37

unpopular conservatives due to majors failings only receiving 30% support
cons viewed as weak economic policy due to black Wednesday of 1992
sexual and financial scandals

Question 38

1997 campaign

Answer 38

expert public relations experts to handle the media and used focus groups to undertsand the opinions of the public
targeted marginal seats which only required small swing vote

Question 39

new labour v traditional labour

Answer 39

new labour moved away from traditional labour policies of increasing taxes and strengthening trade unions and nationalisation

Question 40

1997 policies

Answer 40

tough on law and order and Blair linked this to business
label itself as a moderate party that appealed to middle england
constituential reform policy appealed to Lib Dem supporters