Elections

Question 1

Why FPTP rarely results in coalitions.

Answer 1

Tactical voting.
Discourages safe seats.
Designed for a two party state.

Question 2

For FPTP:

Answer 2

Quick- Greece 3 months 
UK- 4 days average
Less coalitions- 20/25 since 1922
Someone to hold to account- Jackie Smith lost seat 
AV vote referendum

Question 3

Against FPTP:

Answer 3

Designed for a two party system-
1974- Harold Wilson 
Tactical voting- disadvantage to smaller parties 
Discourages voting in safe seats 
Less coalitions 
Not proportional 
Not majoritarian- legitimacy

Question 4

Evidence for FPTP as unproportional

Answer 4

In 2010 lib dem got 6% less vote than labour but 201 less seats

Question 5

What happened in 1974 to Wilson?

Answer 5

The winning party polled less votes than the runner up- Harold Wilson

Question 6

STV ads

Answer 6

Maintains constituency link
More coalitions
Majoritarian
Proportional

Question 7

Explain French double ballot?

Answer 7

2 rounds
Top 2 remain
Majoritarian

Question 8

Disads of French double ballot?

Answer 8

Electoral fatigue
Expensive
Longer to work out

Question 9

Things to look at for a good electoral system?

Answer 9

Constituency link
Proportionality 
Coalitions 
Smaller parties- tactical voting 
Difficulty at ballot box 
Majoritarian or plurality

Question 10

Why are elections important?

Answer 10

“The cogs which keep the wheel of democracy turning” Farell
Gives govt legitimacy
Sign of political wind

Question 11

Advantages of French double ballot?

Answer 11

Majoritarian

More democratic

Question 12

How does supplementary vote work?

Answer 12

1st and 2nd preference 
If any get majority- winner 
All but top 2 knocked out 
Second preference considered 
Used for directly elected mayors

Question 13

Advantages of SV?

Answer 13

Majoritarian
Constituency link maintained
No donkey voting
Reduced tactical voting

Question 14

Disadvantages of SV?

Answer 14

Not proportional
Concentrated areas of support required
Gerrymandering

Question 15

How does STV work?

Answer 15

Multi- member constituency
Quota is worked out by dividing the seats available by 100.
Ranked preferences on the ballot.
To reach quota surplus votes are distributed and last place eliminated.

Question 16

Advantages of STV?

Answer 16

Weak proportionality
Fairer to smaller parties 
More than one person to speak to 
More coalitions 
Gerrymandering is less of an issue

Question 17

Disadvantages of STV?

Answer 17

Complex to work out
More coalitions
Reduced link with MP

Question 18

Which systems maintain a constituency link?

Answer 18

FPTP- strong
List systems- no link
AMS- piggy back MP’s
STV- multi member constituency

Question 19

Electoral systems and majoritarian?

Answer 19

SV- best majoritarian
FPTP- most votes wins- can govern with as low as 36.9%
STV- only requires a quota

Question 20

Which results in more or less coalitions?

Answer 20

FPTP- rare coalitions- 20/25 since 1922

STV and list system- more coalitions - consensus politics

Question 21

Proportional systems?

Answer 21

List systems and STV are most proportional.
List exact proportion
STV- minimal wasted votes
FPTP- unproportional

Question 22

Which systems are fairer to smaller parties?

Answer 22

SV and AV- preference order

AMS- 2 votes

Question 23

Compare UKIP to SNP in 2015?

Answer 23

UKIP - 12.6% - 1 seat

SNP- 4.7% - 56 seats