DEMOCRACY - voting systems : FPTP

Question 1

first past the post - advantages
easy to undertstand
PEE

Answer 1

• the electoral system used the uk parliament
• majoritarian system that focuses on simplicity and direct representation
• one singular vote
• the party that wins the most constituency is invited to form a government
• simple and easy
• encouraged people to vote
• results can be known quickly
  EG > one constituency in Newcastle declaring the results in 1 hour and 27 minutes

Question 2

first past the post - advantages
easy to understand
REE

Answer 2

• should simplicity be a deciding factor in choosing an electoral voting system?
• just because its easier doesn’t result in it being necessarily more representative or fair
• as well as this , voters are used to the more complex system - AMS
• voting turnout has been increasing
  EG > the total voter turnout in Scotland in 2021 was 63%

Question 3

first past the post - advantages
returns a majority government
PEE

Answer 3

• usually returns a majority government
• stronger and more stable than a coalition or minority party rule
• the con-lab collation in 2010 is the only example of a coalition government in Westminster since 1945
  EG > an institute for government poll in 2011 found that 68% of people thought the current coalition government at the time created a weaker government

Question 4

first past the post - advantages
returns a majority government
REE

Answer 4

• minority and coalition governemtnst are more likely in recent times
• ## 2017 elections returned a minority government for the Conservative Party

Question 5

first past the post - advantages
keeps out extremist parties
PEE

Answer 5

• keeps extreme parties out
• such a right wing groups like BNP and Britain first

Question 6

first past the post - advanatges
keeps out extremist parties
REE

Answer 6

• this line of argument undermines the idea of a democracy where all views should be heard
• if enough people believe in a certain ideology then it should have a place in parliament
• also extends to smaller parties and not such extreme - such as the green party
• fptp only benefits the bigger parties

Question 7

first past the post - disadvantages
two party voting system
PEE

Answer 7

• overwhelmingly favours the con and lab parties
• reflected by the % of the vote won compared to the % of the seats won in parliament
• EG > in 2019 the conservatives won 52% of seats with only 43% of the votes compared to the lib dems who won 11% of the vote but only 1.7% of seats

Question 8

first past the post - disadvantages
two party voting system
REE

Answer 8

• those in favour of fptp would argue the lack of representation is compensated by providing a stable , majority government that will allow for quick and and effective policy making

Question 9

first past the post - disadvantages
underrepresentation of minorities and women
PEE

Answer 9

• as there is not a list system and people are voting for one candidate there may be factors of misogyny,sexism and racism
  this contributes to a lack of diversity
  EG > in 2019, 32% of elected MPs were female , which is the highest number it has ever been

Question 10

first past the post - disadvantages
underrepresentation of minorities and women
REE

Question 11

first past the post - disadvantages
underrepresentation of smaller parties
PEE

Answer 11

• historically called a two horse race
• since 1945 the only time any other party has features in government other than lab or con was the 2010 coalition with the lib dems
  EG > in 2019, the underrepresentation of the green party (2.7% of votes, 0.2% of seats) and Lib Dem (11% of vote and 1.7% of seats) highlighted this continuing trend

Question 12

first past the post - disadvantages
underrepresentation of smaller parties
REE

Answer 12

• other voting systems cannot guarantee a changer from 2 parties dominant politics
• the SNP have dominated the last decade of socttish parliament elections and they are overrepresented in holyrood
• the liberal democrats are also underrepresented
• however some smaller partite are not underrepresented
• the SNP are classed as a small party in west minster but are seen as overrepresented as in the 2019 election the won 7.4% of seats with only 3.9% of votes