C3 - Electoral Systems

Question 1

how many constituencies

Answer 1

650 - around 75,000 in each

Question 2

FPTP

Answer 2

plurality system
a candidate has to get more votes than any other, not an absolute majority

Question 3

importance of concentrated support

Answer 3

FPTP favours parties with support concentrated in one area
2017 - conservatives won with 42.4% of the vote and 48.9% seats, as they have concentrated support in South and Central England
smaller parties (Green) with more dispersed voters get less seats

Question 4

what are votes per winning candidate

Answer 4

way of considering impact of FPTP. no. of votes it took for each party to elect a candidate
2017 - C had an average vote per winning candidate of 43,000 wheras lib dems had one of 198,000 and green one of >500,000

Question 5

safe seats

Answer 5

constituents in which its almost certain the same party will win at each election
2015 - electoral reform society estimated 368/650 seats were safe - and around 25 million voters live in safe seats

Question 6

what do safe seats mean for the people in them

Answer 6

• parties pay little attention to them (less info)
• MPs are less accountable for actions
• voters feel their votes are “wasted”
• means votes aren’t of equal value, voters in safe seats have votes worth less then those in contested seats

Question 7

what are marginal seats

Answer 7

seats where election outcome is in great debate (likely to change parties at each election)

Question 8

what do marginal seats mean for the people in them

Answer 8

• parties concentrate campaigns on them
• voters there are more valuable
• may result in tactical voting
• character and policies of candidates important

Question 9

what are by elections

Answer 9

take place when an MP dies or resigns, creating a vacancy. A by-election occurs in their constituency (often produces strange results, and no “safe” seats).

Question 10

functions of elections

Answer 10

representation
choosing a govt. / providing legitimacy
hold govt. to account
participation
influence policy

Question 11

functions of elections - participation meaning and ex.

Answer 11

voting in elections involves people in politics. Party manifestos give people info to make decisions
BUT, info can be misleading:
2001 - Labour said they wouldn’t introduce “top up” fees (for Uni). Went on to increase fees by £1000 per annum

Question 12

Judging - what do elections need

Answer 12

• a fair result that gives everyone equal value votes
• a choice of candidates
• link between candidate and constituency
• a strong govt. - that can pass laws and be held to account.

Question 13

what is a proportional system

Answer 13

when parties get seats in proportion to votes cast (either exact or approx)

Question 14

what is a majority system

Answer 14

• elect a single candidate
• winner gets overall majority of voters

Question 15

what is a hybrid system, ex.

Answer 15

mix of a proportional and majority system (e.g. AMS)

Question 16

where is AMS used

Answer 16

in Scotland and Wales

Question 17

what is AMS

Answer 17

a combination of FPTP and PR
- some seats awarded by FPTP in constituencies, the rest awarded on a regional list system
- every voter has two votes (one for constituency candidate, the other from a choice of party lists)

Question 18

how does AMS work in Scotland and Wales

Answer 18

2/3 of seats by FPTP in constituencies
1/3 on PR system based on several regions of country.
seats awarded from list system adjusted to give more proportional results based on FPTP (Parties that do less well in constituencies have proportion of list votes adjusted up. visa versa)
effect of this top up is to make seats close to proportional to the total votes cast in both systems

Question 19

pros of AMS

Answer 19

• produces a broadly proportional outcome and is fair to all parties
• gives voters 2 votes, so more choice
• combines preserving constituency representation with proportional outcome
• helps small parties who can’t win constituencies

Question 20

cons of AMS

Answer 20

• produces 2 classes of representatives - those with constituencies and those who tend to be more senior (elected though list)
• more complex than FPTP, can confuse some voters
• can result in election of extremists

Question 21

2016 Scottish parliament data

Answer 21

SNP -59 constituency seats, 4 regional list- 49% seats - 42% votes in regional list
Conservative -7 constituency seats, 24 regional list- 24% seats - 23% vote in regional list

Question 22

outcome of 2016 Scottish parliament election

Answer 22

% seats won, close to proportional votes cast in regional list. Election under FPTP sees SNP dominating, AMS led to a more proportional outcome

Question 23

where is STV used

Answer 23

Northern Ireland

Question 24

how does STV work in NI

Answer 24

• six seats per constituency
• parties put up to 6 candidates per constituency forward
• voters rank candidates
• an electoral quota calculated (total no. votes cast / total no. seats) + 1
• all first preferences counted, any candidate with quota are elected
• 2nd and subsequent preferences (from elected people) added to unelected candidates (continues till 6 candidates)

votes preferences are aggregated to make sure 6 most popular overall candidates win

Question 25

what type of system is STV

Answer 25

proportional

Question 26

pros of STV

Answer 26

• broadly proportional outcome
• gives voters a wide range of candidates to choose from
• voters can vote for candidates from different parties and show preference for candidates of same party
• helps small parties and independents

Question 27

cons of STV

Answer 27

• complex, some voters won’t understand
• vote counting complex, takes a while
• help candidates with extremist views
• with 6 representatives per constituency, lines of accountability not clear

Question 28

what type of system and where is supplementary vote used

Answer 28

majoritarian system, used to elect city mayors - UK

Question 29

how does supplementary vote work

Answer 29

• voters get 2 choices, a first and second
• if any candidate gets overall majority in first choice round they’re elected
• if no-one does, the top 2 candidates go into the 2nd round
• 2nd choice votes added to first
• so one candidate gets overall majority

Question 30

2016 election for London Mayor data

Answer 30

Sadiq Khan - 1,100,000 votes in 1st round (44%) - 1,300,000 in second round (56%)
Zac Goldsmith - 900,000 (35%) - 1,000,000 (43%)

Question 31

pros of supplementary vote

Answer 31

• winning candidate has overall majority
• simple for voters
• voters 1st and 2nd choices relevant

Question 32

cons of supplementary vote

Answer 32

• winning candidate may not have majority of first choice votes
• winner could win on 2nd choice
• if people choose 2nd choice wrong it won’t be counted (often they vote same party)

Question 33

what type of system and where is FPTP used

Answer 33

plurality system, used in UK general elections, and English and Welsh local govt. elections

Question 34

what type of system and where is AMS used

Answer 34

hybrid system, used in Scottish parliament, Welsh assembly, greater London assembly

Question 35

what type of system and where is STV used

Answer 35

proportional system, used in all NI elections, and local scottish elections

Question 36

what type of system and where is SV used

Answer 36

majoritarian system, used to elect city mayors

Question 37

why was the 2011 ref. suggesting switching to the AV system rejected

Answer 37

• proposal put forward by Lib Dems (v. unpopular at time) and many used ref. o express dissatisfaction for them
• AV is complex, so many voters rejected it as they didn’t understand
• pro-reform campaign was poorly run and anti-reform campaigns were well organised and funded

Question 38

what is a referendum

Answer 38

a vote on a single issue put to public ballot by govt.

Question 39

outcome of 1975 referendum

Answer 39

67% yes, 33% no

Question 40

outcome of 2016 ref.

Answer 40

52% leave, 48% remain

Question 41

pros of elections over referendums (or things that ref. don’t have)

Answer 41

• help create representative democracy
• all votes may not have equal weight/value
• vote may be influenced by several issues as you vote for a person
• may have to vote tactically
• elected candidate may not have majority
• elections are required by law and must take place at a specific time
• determines who holds political office. including who should form a govt.

Question 42

pros of referendum over elections

Answer 42

• form of direct democracy
• all votes have equal weight
• vote on a single issue
• don’t have to vote tactically
• needs a majority to pass
• decision to hold a referendum taken by govt.

Question 43

1973 ref.

Answer 43

Northern Ireland - NI sovereignty ref. on whether NI should remain in the UK (yes to remain)

Question 44

1975 ref.

Answer 44

UK - Membership of the European Community referendum on whether the UK should stay in European community (yes)

Question 45

1979 ref’s.

Answer 45

Scotland - Scottish devolution ref. on if there should be a Scottish assembly. ( 40% of electorate had to vote yes. The vote was short of this 40% threshold required to enact devolution )
Wales - Welsh devolution ref. on whether there should be an assembly (no)

Question 46

1997 ref’s.

Answer 46

Scotland - Scottish devolution ref. on whether there should be a Scottish parliament and whether it should have tax varying powers (both ref. got a yes vote)
Wales - devolution ref. on whether there should be a national assembly for Wales (yes)

Question 47

1998 ref’s.

Answer 47

London - greater London authority ref. on whether there should be a Mayor of London and London assembly (Yes)
NI - NI Belfast agreement ref. on Good Friday agreement (yes)

Question 48

2011 ref’s.

Answer 48

Wales - Welsh devolution ref. on whether the national assembly for Wales should gain the power to legislate on a wider range of matters (yes)
UK - ref. on whether to change the voting system for electing MPs from FPTP to AV (no)

Question 49

2014 ref.

Answer 49

Scotland - ref. on whether Scotland should become an independent country (no)

Question 50

2016 ref.

Answer 50

UK ref. on whether to leave EU (yes, leave)

Question 51

referendums - for

Answer 51

direct democracy - give public direct and unmediated control over decisions
political education - widen opportunities for political participation, and spark debates.
responsive govt. - make govt. more responsible by making them listen to public opinion between elections. also allow public opinion to be expressed
reduced govt. power - provide a check on govt. power, as govt. has less control over outcome.
constitutional changes - appropriate that constitutional changes should be made through ref’s. because these affect the way the country is governed, and more important than ordinary laws.

Question 52

referendums - against

Answer 52

ill informed decisions - general public is ill informed compared to politicians.
weakens parliament - undermines vital principle of parliamentary sovereignty and means decisions aren’t made under careful deliberation
irresponsible govt. - ref. allow govt. to absolve themselves of responsibility
strengthens govt. - govt. decides when to call ref. and what on. they also frame the question (“yes” responses favoured over “no”) and can also dominate publicity campaign. ( These issues now “policed” by electoral commission)
unreliable views - provide a snapshot of public opinion at one point in time.