Elections and Referendums- Electoral Systems

Question 1

What are the key factors to consider when analyzing election results?

Answer 1

Strong leadership, manifesto pledges, a united party, clear convicting political message

These factors can significantly influence voter perception and decision-making during elections.

Question 2

What types of political competition exist besides general elections?

Answer 2

Elections for local government, devolved assemblies, the European Parliament, referendums

These alternatives play crucial roles in the political landscape and voter engagement.

Question 3

What is proportionality in electoral systems?

Answer 3

The proportion of seats won should reflect the proportion of votes each party receives.

This ensures that the representation in the legislature is aligned with the voters’ preferences.

Question 4

Why is vote value important in electoral systems?

Answer 4

All votes are equally important in determining the outcome of an election. No voter should feel that their vote is pointless.

This principle reinforces the democratic value of each individual vote.

Question 5

What is the goal of promoting participation and turnout in electoral systems?

Answer 5

Electoral systems should incentivise high turnout.

Higher participation rates contribute to the legitimacy and representativeness of the electoral process.

Question 6

What does it mean for a government to be strong and accountable?

Answer 6

The elected government are able to deliver their promises and can be held to account if they fail.

Accountability mechanisms, such as checks and balances, are essential for maintaining government integrity.

Question 7

What is the importance of local links in electoral systems?

Answer 7

MPs have strong links to the local area so constituents can bring grievances directly to them.

This connection ensures that local issues are represented in the legislature.

Question 8

What does the power of the party refer to in electoral systems?

Answer 8

Can voters choose between different candidates of the same party or does the party itself choose who stands.

This affects the level of choice voters have in the electoral process.

Question 9

What is party choice in the context of electoral systems?

Answer 9

The electoral system should encourage a broad range of candidates to stand in elections.

A diverse candidate pool enhances representation and voter choice.

Question 10

What does comprehensibility mean regarding electoral systems?

Answer 10

The system should be easy to understand and produce clear results.

Understanding the electoral process is crucial for voter engagement and trust.

Question 11

Why is transparency important in electoral systems?

Answer 11

The results should be clear and not lead to any backstairs post-election deals.

Transparency helps to build public confidence in the electoral process.

Question 12

What is a limitation of the First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system?

Answer 12

Proportionality suffers under this electoral system as no party has won more than 50% in a general election since 1945.

This indicates a discrepancy between the percentage of votes received and the percentage of seats won.

Question 13

What is the main electoral system debated for reform in the UK?

Answer 13

FPTP (First Past the Post)

FPTP is the current electoral system used for Westminster elections.

Question 14

What cross-party group was formed in 2015 to advocate for electoral reform?

Answer 14

Make Votes Matter

This group includes various political parties and organizations seeking changes to the electoral system.

Question 15

Which parties are notably affected by the FPTP system?

Answer 15

• Greens
• LibDems
• SNP

These parties have limited influence in Westminster due to FPTP.

Question 16

What is a common flaw in proportional electoral systems?

Answer 16

They almost always lead to coalition governments

Coalition governments can result from multiple parties gaining representation.

Question 17

Why do the two main parties in the UK oppose proportional representation?

Answer 17

It denies them the opportunity to form majority governments

This is a significant reason why proportional representation lacks support.

Question 18

How can electoral systems impact voting behavior?

Answer 18

They can lead to tactical voting or voter apathy

Voters may choose the ‘least worst’ candidate or abstain from voting.

Question 19

In which type of elections do Eurosceptic parties like UKIP have a better chance of success?

Answer 19

European elections

These elections can encourage Eurosceptic voters due to the focus on European issues.

Question 20

What might the support for Eurosceptic parties reflect in European elections?

Answer 20

A protest vote

This indicates dissatisfaction with the current political situation.

Question 21

Fill in the blank: The group Make Votes Matter was formed to advocate for _______.

Answer 21

electoral reform

Question 22

What is the electoral system used in general elections and English local elections in the UK?

Answer 22

First-past-the-post

This system awards victory to the candidate with the most votes in a constituency.

Question 23

Which electoral system is employed for European elections in the UK?

Answer 23

List PR

This system allows parties to gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Question 24

What electoral system is used for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments?

Answer 24

Additional member system

This system combines first-past-the-post and proportional representation.

Question 25

What electoral system is used in the Northern Ireland assembly and Scottish local elections?

Answer 25

Single transferable vote ## Footnote This system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

Question 26

Which electoral system is used for the election of parliamentary select committee chairs in the UK?

Answer 26

Alternative Vote ## Footnote This system allows voters to rank candidates and ensures that the elected candidate has majority support.

Question 27

Name one advantage of the First-past-the-post electoral system.

Answer 27

Simplicity ## Footnote Voters select one candidate, making the process straightforward.

Question 28

What is a disadvantage of the Additional member system?

Answer 28

Complexity ## Footnote It combines two systems, which can confuse voters.

Question 29

List two electoral systems used in Scotland.

Answer 29

* Additional member system * Single transferable vote

Question 30

What is the List PR system?

Answer 30

A system where each area is larger, with multiple MPs per constituency instead of one per constituency. ## Footnote In the List PR system, constituencies can have 25 MPs each, unlike the traditional system with 650 constituencies having 1 MP each.

Question 31

How do parties rank their candidates in the List PR system?

Answer 31

Parties rank their candidates in each area, allowing leaders and senior figures to usually get elected. ## Footnote This ranking system ensures that higher-profile candidates have a better chance of being elected.

Question 32

Until what year was the List PR system used for European elections in the UK?

Answer 32

2020. ## Footnote The List PR system was in place until the UK's electoral system was changed.

Question 33

How was the UK divided for European parliamentary elections using List PR?

Answer 33

The country was divided into 11 large regions, each electing between three and ten MEPs based on their share of the vote. ## Footnote Each region's number of MEPs depended on the total votes received.

Question 34

What is the D’Hondt system?

Answer 34

A method used in European parliamentary elections to allocate seats in successive rounds, with one seat allocated per round. ## Footnote The D'Hondt system is designed to achieve proportional representation.

Question 35

How does the D’Hondt system allocate seats?

Answer 35

By dividing the total vote for each party by the number of seats already won, plus one, with the party having the highest total winning the seat. ## Footnote This process continues in rounds until all seats are allocated.

Question 36

What is a strength of the List PR system?

Answer 36

It is relatively proportional and reduces the chance of wasted votes. ## Footnote A wider range of parties can win seats, improving representation.

Question 37

What is a weakness of the List PR system?

Answer 37

Loss of local links due to large constituency sizes and common coalitions as no one party secures a majority. ## Footnote This can lead to less direct representation of local interests.

Question 38

What type of electoral system is used for electing members of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and the London assembly?

Answer 38

A hybrid system of FPTP and List PR ## Footnote FPTP stands for First Past the Post, and PR stands for Proportional Representation.

Question 39

How many ballot papers do voters receive in the additional member system?

Answer 39

Two ballot papers ## Footnote Voters vote for a constituency representative and for a party standing in the region.

Question 40

What is the first ballot paper used for in the additional member system?

Answer 40

A list of candidates standing for constituency representative.

Question 41

What is the second ballot paper used for in the additional member system?

Answer 41

A list of parties standing for election in the region.

Question 42

How many MSPs are selected from the first ballot in Scotland?

Answer 42

73 MSPs.

Question 43

How many MSPs are selected from the regional paper in Scotland?

Answer 43

56 MSPs.

Question 44

On what basis are votes from the first paper counted in the additional member system?

Answer 44

‘Winner takes all’ basis.

Question 45

What does the regional list represent in the additional member system?

Answer 45

It 'tops up' any underrepresentation from the constituency results.

Question 46

What is the overall effect of the additional member system compared to a purely single-member FPTP style?

Answer 46

Creates a more proportional result.

Question 47

What is the Single Transferable Vote (STV)?

Answer 47

The system used for European elections in Northern Ireland and Scottish local elections.

Question 48

How does the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system work?

Answer 48

It works based on multi-membered constituencies, and a quota is worked out based on the number of votes cast and the seats available.

Question 49

What do voters do in the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system?

Answer 49

Voters rank the candidates.

Question 50

What happens if a candidate reaches the quota with first choice votes in STV?

Answer 50

They are elected.

Question 51

What occurs if no candidate reaches the quota in STV?

Answer 51

The lowest scoring candidate is eliminated and the second named candidate receives their votes.

Question 52

What is repeated in the STV process until all seats are filled?

Answer 52

The elimination of the lowest scoring candidate and redistribution of votes.

Question 53

What is one strength of the Single Transferable Vote (STV)?

Answer 53

It’s an accurate and proportional system.

Question 54

What is a consequence of STV being an accurate and proportional system?

Answer 54

Voters do not have to worry about tactical voting.

Question 55

What is the effect of STV on wasted votes?

Answer 55

There are less wasted votes.

Question 56

What was the voter turnout in Northern Ireland compared to the UK due to STV?

Answer 56

45% more than UK turnout.

Question 57

What is one weakness of the Single Transferable Vote (STV)?

Answer 57

It almost always produces coalition governments.

Question 58

How does the ease of understanding STV compare to First Past the Post (FPTP)?

Answer 58

It isn’t as easy to understand as FPTP.

Question 59

What is a drawback related to calculating results in STV?

Answer 59

Calculating results can take more time.

Question 60

How long did it take for results to come out in the Republic of Ireland using STV?

Answer 60

2 days.

Question 61

What is the Alternative Vote used for?

Answer 61

Used only in Parliamentary select committees ## Footnote It was proposed as an alternative to FPTP in a 2011 referendum but was rejected.

Question 62

How does a voter rank candidates in the Alternative Vote system?

Answer 62

The voter adds a ranking number to as many of the candidates as they wish ## Footnote This is similar to STV but still has single-member constituencies.

Question 63

What happens if a candidate receives more than half the votes at the first stage in the Alternative Vote?

Answer 63

They are elected.

Question 64

What occurs if no candidate receives more than half the votes at the first stage in the Alternative Vote?

Answer 64

The candidate coming last is eliminated and their votes are given to the voter’s second option.

Question 65

What does the Alternative Vote ensure about the winning MP?

Answer 65

The winning MP has at least half of the constituencies' support.