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Politics > Elections and Referendums > Flashcards

Elections and Referendums Flashcards

1
Q

What voting system does Westminster use?

A

FPTP

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2
Q

Which devolved government bodies use AMS?

A
  • Scottish Parliament
  • Welsh Senedd
  • Greater London Assembly
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3
Q

Which devolved governing bodies use STV?

A

Norther Irish Assembly

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4
Q

What voting systems do councils use?

A

FPTP (STV in Scotland)

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5
Q

What systems use simple plurality?

A

FPTP

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6
Q

What systems are majoritarian?

A
  • Supplementary vote (SV)
  • Alternative vote (AV)
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7
Q

What systems use proportional representation?

A

Closed Party List

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8
Q

What system is a hybrid system?

A

Additional member system

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9
Q

What are the small, single member constituencies?

A

FPTP, SV, AV

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10
Q

Which voting systems have larger, multi-member constituencies?

A

Closed Party List

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11
Q

FPTP - How does a candidate win a constituency?

A

Needs to win the most votes

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12
Q

How does a party win an election?

A

Needs to win the most constituencies

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13
Q

List criticisms for FPTP (5)

A
  • MPs and govt usually elected with less than 50% of the vote.
  • Unrepresentative at both national and constituency levels.
  • Periods of elective dictatorship
  • Wasted/unequal votes
  • Limits voter choice/tactical voting
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14
Q

FPTP: MPs and govt. usually elected with less than 50% of vote. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • Constituency level: 2/3 of candidates are minority candidates
  • National level: most govts have less than 50% of vote
  • Govt’s mandate questionable
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15
Q

FPTP: Unrepresentative at both national and constituency levels. Elaborate. (4 points)

A
  • 3rd and 4th parties are underrepresented -> electoral desert created
  • Spread out votes -> no seats
  • Condensed votes -> more chance of a seat
  • Creates a 2 party system
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16
Q

FPTP: Periods of elective dictatorship. Elaborate. (2 points)

A
  • Landslide affect can create huge majorities.
  • If combined with strong party discipline, government will dominate parliament and be able to steamroll legislation, e.g. COVID.
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17
Q

FPTP: Wasted/unequal votes. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • Huge number of votes make no difference to national outcome.
  • If a candidate wins by a large majority, surplus votes don’t carry over nationally.
  • If a vote is spread out, an electoral desert created. E.g., UKIP 4th biggest party in 2015 but only one seat.
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18
Q

FPTP: Limits voter choice/tactical voting. Elaborate. (2 points)

A
  • Something felt necessary by people of all ages and backgrounds.
  • Voting for one party simply to get one out of govt.
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19
Q

List strengths of FPTP (7)

A
  • Usually provides strong, stable government.
  • Creates strong link and constituency representation.
  • Speed and simplicity.
  • It works.
  • Not in favour of change.
  • Single party govt. so clear who is responsible.
  • Excludes extremist parties
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20
Q

FPTP: Usually provides stable, single party govt. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • Landslide effect allows working majority to carry out mandate.
  • Avoids unstable coalitions or ineffective minority govts
  • Alternative PR systems often give instability. E.g. Italy had 40 govts in 34 years.
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21
Q

FPTP: Creates strong link and constituency representation. Elaborate. (2 points)

A
  • Single MP, in small constituency, creates close relationship, so citizens know who to approach.
  • Avoids confusion and blurring of responsibilities that PR may have.
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22
Q

FPTP: Speed and simplicity. Elaborate. (2 points)

A
  • Easy to understand. Only an ‘x’ required in a box.
  • Result is easy to calculate compared to STV.
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23
Q

FPTP: It works. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • Little point in replacing one flawed system with another.
  • Successful for hundreds of years.
  • Turnout lower in other UK elections which don’t use FPTP.
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24
Q

FPTP: Public not in favour of change. Elaborate. (2 points)

A
  • Support for change from Electoral Reform Society, Unlock Democracy and Lib Dems -> doesn’t constitute as majority of population.
  • AV referendum (2011) 67.9% voted no, with 40% turnout.
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25
Q

FPTP: Single party government so clear who is responsible. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • Easier for public to judge party’s performance.
  • No need for post-election deals, away from public attention to form coalitions.
  • Allows government to be voted out.
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26
Q

FPTP: Excludes extremist parties. Elaborate. (1 point)

A

Parties such as BNP are unable to get representation in parliament which could give them power disproportionate to their size.

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27
Q

Where is SV used?

A

Mayoral elections

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28
Q

How does SV work? (4 points)

A
  • 2 preference votes
  • Candidate with more than 50% of first choice is elected.
  • If not candidate wins majority in first round, all except for top 2 eliminated
  • Second preferences redistributed
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29
Q

List the strengths of SV. (3 points)

A
  • Winning candidate must achieve broad support -> greater legitimacy.
  • Supporters of smaller parties can use 1st preference for favourite party and 2nd tactically.
  • Votes of people who use 1st and 2nd preferences to support small minor parties don’t influence election outcome.
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30
Q

List weaknesses of SV. (3 points)

A
  • Winning candidate may be elected without a majority.
  • Voters need to vote for 2 major parties to see major outcomes
  • Not proportional for GEs.
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31
Q

Describe the process of Closed Party List. (3 points)

A
  • Ballot paper has list of parties and voters mark ‘x’ for party they support.
  • Each party publishes ordered list of candidates for each area. Voters can see candidates but not vote for one.
  • Du H’ondt formula calculates results.
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32
Q

List advantages of CPL. (3 points)

A
  • Very representative - most accurate
  • As simple as FPTP
  • Can be useful to enforce positive discrimination to transform bodies.
33
Q

List disadvantages of CPL. (4 points)

A
  • Party has more control over selection of candidates (e.g. parachuting w/ Blair and Wales).
  • Voters cannot avoid candidates they dislike.
  • Cannot allow extremist parties to win seats.
  • Discourages independents -> rigid partisan politics.
34
Q

Describe the process of STV. (6 points)

A
  • Voter puts choices in order of preference.
  • To get elected, a candidate needs a set amount of votes, known as the quota.
  • If any candidate reaches quota on 1st preferences then candidate is elected.
  • If no one reaches the quota, then the people counting the vote remove the least popular candidate.
  • People who voted for them have their votes moved to their second favourite candidate.
  • This process continues until every vacancy is filled.
35
Q

List strengths of STV. (3 points)

A
  • Delivers proportional outcomes.
  • Government has more legitimacy.
  • Voters choose between a range of candidates, including different candidates from the same party.
36
Q

List disadvantages of STV. (4 points)

A
  • Less accurate is translating votes to seats
  • Weakens MP-constituency link
  • Likely to produce coalition govt -> unstable and may give disproportional power to minority parties.
  • The counting process is lengthy and complex.
37
Q

Describe the purpose of AMS.

A

Retain best features of FPTP with the elements of proportionality of CPL.

38
Q

Describe the process of AMS. (3 points)

A
  • Voter has 2 votes -> FTPT small constituency and CPL large region
  • Percentage of votes obtained by parties in regional party list determines overall number of reps.
  • Number of FPTP seats compared with % of CPL result. If there is a shortfall, Du H’ondt formula is used to top-up.
39
Q

List the strengths of AMS. (5 points)

A
  • Top-up means broadly proportional representation.
  • Choice by split-ticket voting, meaning at least one effective vote.
  • Zipping -> positive discrimination.
  • Retains strong constituency/MP link.
  • Produces strong and stable government.
40
Q

List weaknesses of AMS. (5 points)

A
  • Often results in coalitions.
  • Gives party leadership control over regional candidates
  • Removes choices from voters on CPL
  • Still excludes minority parties and independents
  • Creates 2 types of MPS
41
Q

Define a one-party system. (3 points)

A
  • Only one party can win/stand in the election.
  • Usually a dictatorship.
  • The lack of voting or extremely limited voting rights creates a one-party system.
42
Q

Give two examples of a one-party system in practice.

A

China and Saudi Arabia

43
Q

Define a dominant party system. (3 points)

A
  • Party or parties that have successfully won elections and whose future defeat seems extremely unlikely.
  • Can be the result of limited democracy, state run media or suppression of the opposition.
  • Can, however, just be a cultural thing.
44
Q

Give an example of a dominant party system.

A

Japan’s Lib Dem party has been in power since 1995 with two short exceptions. Can be argued UK has had periods of it (Thatcher and Blair).

45
Q

Define a two party system. (5 points)

A
  • Only two parties have a realistic chance of winning.
  • Both parties tend to be centrist.
  • 3rd and 4th parties rarely have any seats.
  • Usually the product of a winner takes all system like FPTP.
  • As the voting system over-rewards the largest parties, it leads to over dominance of the two parties.
46
Q

Give examples of a 2 party system.

A

UK and USA

47
Q

Define a 2 & 1/2 party system. (3 points)

A
  • 2 parties still dominate.
  • Again a result of the voting system.
  • But 3rd parties have more influence and representation, this can be done through members in the legislative branch or through coalitions.
48
Q

Give examples of 2 & 1/2 party system in use.

A

Arguably the UK due to election results of 2010 and 2017.

49
Q

Define multi-party system. (3 points)

A
  • Multiple parties have a realistic chance of governing (separately or in coalition).
  • Usually caused by a proportional voting system.
  • As outcomes are proportional, there are no safe seats, no over-rewarding of the major party and no minority candidates meaning any party can realistically win.
50
Q

Give examples of a multi-party system in use

A

France, Germany, India, Italy, Ireland, Sweden etc.

51
Q

What is divergers law?

A

A theory of political science

52
Q

What does divergers law state? (3 points)

A
  • Plurality rule elections in small constituencies creates a two party system (E.g. FPTP in UK).
  • Proportional electoral systems in large constituencies create a multiparty system (E.g. STV in NI)
  • Ergo, the greater amount of proportionality in a voting system, the higher the likelihood of a multiparty government.
53
Q

What changes have happened in Scottish leadership?

A

First two governments Lib-Lab coalitions, then consistently SNP (assisted twice, once by cons and once by greens).

54
Q

What changes have happened in Welsh leadership?

A

Labour have always been in power, but never necessarily as a majority.

55
Q

What changes have happened in NI leadership?

A

All govts have been coalitions because STV is used and it is built into the Good Friday Agreement, as a part of the peace process.

56
Q

What is the impact of voting systems on the type of government? (4 points)

A
  • Minority govts and coalitions have become the norm in devolved bodies.
  • Most devolved govts have been coalitions or working partnerships.
  • VS WESTMINSTER - 2 minority govts and 1 coalition since 1945.
  • 2 hung parliaments have been close together -> unprecedented BREXIT
57
Q

What is the impact of voting systems on compromise politics? (5 points)

A
  • Smaller parties have forced issues
  • Gives disproportionate power
  • Wales: Plaid forced law making referendum
  • Scotland: Libs forced free tuition fees
  • UKIPs success at EU and national level -> tighter immigration laws and in/out BREXIT referendum.
58
Q

What is the impact of voting systems on the representation of small parties? (3 points)

A
  • PR voting systems have allowed the development of multiparty politics across the UK.
  • Scotland: AMS allows SNP in power since 2007 and for smaller parties such as Greens -> only 1 seat in Westminster
  • Westminster: effective number of electoral parties in 2015 rose to 4 but fell back to 2.9 by 2017.
59
Q

What is the impact of voting systems on voter choice? (4 points)

A
  • Voters have greater choice under AMS, STV and SV than FPTP.
  • These systems allow for split ticket voting.
  • Thus meaning voting behaviour is now more sophisticated.
  • Smaller parties gain a higher profile and more votes -> votes not wasted.
60
Q

What is a referendum? (three points)

A
  • A vote on a single issue.
  • A way of having direct democracy in a system of representative democracy.
  • Usually takes a yes/no format.
61
Q

What are the differences between elections and referendums? (4 points on each side)

A

Elections:
- Vote on a variety of issues
- Vote to elect a govt
- Regularly occurring
- Legally binding
Referendums:
- Vote on a single issue
- Not compulsory
- Irregular
- Not binding

62
Q

When are referendums used? (6 points)

A
  1. To provide legitimacy for reforms
  2. Where there is division within a government or governing party on an issue
  3. A coalition deal between parties
  4. In response to pressure
  5. When govt is reluctant to take a final decision and thus responsibility for the choice
  6. For local issues
63
Q

What are the arguments for referendums? (5 points)

A
  1. Pure democracy
  2. Participation
  3. Education
  4. To provide “check” on govt
  5. Strengthen and entrench constitution
64
Q

Pros of Referendums: Pure democracy. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • The will of the people is unambiguous.
  • MPs in a representative democracy can act against the publics views in 2 ways:
    1. Distorted by following the Burkean view.
    2. Distorted by following party line
  • Referendums usually ensure that the will of the public is carried out - the essence of democracy
65
Q

Pros of Referendums: Participation. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • It is an antidote to indifference, alienation and the participation crisis.
  • Citizens will be far more likely to participate as the people’s will is clear.
  • High interest = high turnout
66
Q

Pros of Referendums: Education. Elaborate. (2 points)

A
  • Popular votes raise political awareness.
  • If the public can participate between elections, they will take far more notice on of real issues and become more interested in politics.
67
Q

Pros of Referendums: Provide “check” on govt. power. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • Government dominance over parliament (elective dictatorship) is dangerous.
  • The tradition since 1997, that any constitutional changes needs a referendum is an effective “check” to stop radical constitutional change between elections.
  • Prevents arbitrary governments.
68
Q

Pros of Referendums: They strengthen and entrench the constitution. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • They can settle arguments - people more likely to accept result even if they disagree.
  • They effectively “semi-entrench” reforms - protects from arbitrary govts.
  • Governments unlikely to reverse legislation based on a referendum without holding another.
69
Q

What are the arguments against referendums? (6 points)

A
  1. Creates clash between representative and direct democracy
  2. Not appropriate to deal with complex questions
  3. Low turnouts so legitimacy not guaranteed
  4. “Neverendums”
  5. Government have real control over referendums
  6. Ill-informed decisions
70
Q

Negs of Refs: What are the consequences of a clash between direct and representative democracy? (3 points)

A
  • Undermines sovereignty of government
  • Creates an impression of conflict between parliament and the general public - the tabloids and press/media have portrayed MPs as being tyranny of the minority
  • Created a constitutional crisis - Johnson’s prorogation of parliament and Miller vs Sec of State (dragged supreme court into politics twice)
71
Q

Negs of Refs: Refs are not appropriate to deal with complex questions. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • E.g. Brexit -> a complex issue with different forms.
  • Hard Brexit with exit of customs union as well as political bodies
  • Soft Brexit remaining within customs union and single market
72
Q

Negs of Refs: Low turnout means political legitimacy is not guaranteed. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • Majority of refs have had low turnouts
  • AV only 42.2%
  • Welsh Assembly law making only 40%
73
Q

Negs of Refs: “Neverendums”. Elaborate. (2 points)

A
  • They only tell what the public thinks at a particular time and don’t always solve the issue
  • If a government were to be really responsible it would have to hold further referendums on the same topic which would be expensive and impractical.
74
Q

Negs of Refs: Government have real control of referendums. Elaborate. (3 points)

A
  • The government can decide whether or not to hold one
  • The choices given by the referendum may ‘suit’ the government
  • Questions can be worded in a way that influences the outcome
75
Q

Negs of refs: Ill-informed decisions. Elaborate. (4 points)

A
  • Voters may not have the ability to make an informed decision and decisions would be better taken by elected representatives
  • Ignorance/lack of clear information to make judgement
  • Too emotional
  • Influenced by media too easily
76
Q

What does an initiative allow in the US?

A

Allows citizens of many states to place new legislation or to place legislation that has recently been passed by a legislature on a ballot for popular vote.

77
Q

Positive of introducing initiatives in the UK:

A

Put greater power in the people, therefore stronger democracy

78
Q

Negative of initiatives in the UK:

A

Undermine Burkean role

79
Q
A

Politics (7 decks)

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