EXTRA-Proportional and hybrid UK systems Flashcards Preview

Politics UNIT 1- Electoral Systems > EXTRA-Proportional and hybrid UK systems > Flashcards

Flashcards in EXTRA-Proportional and hybrid UK systems Deck (50)
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1
Q

What was Labour’s plant report 1993?

A

the plant report was the outcome of an enquiry set up to consider the most appropriate electoral systems for Labour’s proposed Scottish Parliament, regional assemblies and reformed HOL.

2
Q

What system of voting did the Plant Report 1993 recommend?

A

the supplementary vote (SV)

3
Q

What is the supplementary vote?

A

this is a simple variation of Alternative Vote, used to elect London’s Mayor. If no candidate wins outright in the single-member constituency contest, the second preference votes of all other candidates are distributed between the top two, so that one of them ultimately has a majority

4
Q

What is the supplementary vote a cross between?

A

the alternative vote and the French double ballot

5
Q

What are the 3 advantages of the supplementary vote?

A
  • likely to lead to majority governments
  • retains a single member constituency links
  • avoids counting of ‘weak’ preferences as only first and second choice is recorded in the ballot box
6
Q

What are the 2 main disadvantages of the supplementary vote?

A
  • It is not proportional and would not therefore complete arithmetical justice
  • Like FPTP it would also tend to reward parties that have concentrated areas of support
7
Q

What is the most common method of achieving the goal of proportionality?

A

the list system

8
Q

What is the list system which is the most common method of achieving the goal of proportionality?

A

An elector votes for several party candidates rather than just a single candidate. The number of votes won by the party determines how many candidates are elected from that parties list

9
Q

What is an open list system?

A

This is where there is a degree of voter choice so that the voters have some say in deciding which candidates are elected.

10
Q

Which countries use an open list system? (3)

A
  • Austria
  • Finland
  • Sweden
11
Q

Which countries use a closed list system? (3)

A
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • UK in the European elections 1999
12
Q

What is a closed list system?

A

In a closed list system the voter chooses one party and has no control over which of its candidates are successful.

13
Q

What would lead to a more proportional result in both the open list system and the closed?

A

larger constituencies

14
Q

What electoral system does Israel have which leads to even very small parties becoming likely to win seats?

A

they treat the whole country as one giant multi membered constituency allowing a very ‘fair’ outcome

15
Q

For the British European Elections what is the country divided into?

A

75 multi-member constituencies

16
Q

How are seats divided in the British European Elections?

A

seats are divided between parties according to the share of the vote that each has gained

17
Q

How many MEPs did UKIP win in the European elections 2014?

A

24

18
Q

What are the 4 advantages of the closed list system?

A
  • there is a strong connection between votes won and seats obtained
  • it is fairer to small parties
  • likely to produce coalitions
  • good at securing the representation of more women and minority groups in the legislature
19
Q

What are the 4 disadvantages of a closed list system?

A
  • they place power in the hands of party mangers who can reduce the chance of troublesome candidates from winning
  • they deny voters a choice of candidates
  • make coalitions more likely
  • there is no clear link between MP and their constituency
20
Q

What is an Alternative Vote?

A

the voter simply marks the candidate in order of preference. If a candidate gets an overall majority he/she is elected. If no one does, the bottom candidate is eliminated and the votes of his/her supporters are redistributed to the others based on the second choice. The process continues until one person emerges with a majority.

21
Q

What is a double ballot which is used in France?

A

under this run-off system, the polling is split into two parts, with perhaps a fortnight between the two election days. If one candidate achieves a majority in the first ballot then they are elected, if not, all but the top two withdraw for the second round. The person is then a majority choice.

22
Q

Within the UK what is the Single Transferable Vote used for?

A

for local, devolved and European elections in Northern Ireland

23
Q

What type of voting system is favoured by the Electoral Reform Society and the Liberal Democrats?

A

the STV

24
Q

To be elected under the STV system, what does a candidate need to obtain?

A

a quota, determined by a mathematical formula

25
Q

What is a quota?

A

this is determined by the outcome of the formula, calculated by dividing the total number of votes cast by the number of seats plus one

26
Q

Using the STV voting system, in which a candidate needs to obtain a quota determined by a mathematical equation, how many votes must then be required in a 5 seat constituency?

A

20 % of the votes

27
Q

How are candidates eliminated under the STV system?

A

there is a step by step elimination of candidates from the bottom up, their votes being transferred to the remaining candidates on the basis of the second preferences, a process that continues until all seats are filled

28
Q

What are the 5 advantages

A
  • good connection between seats and votes
  • fairer to smaller parties
  • allows voters to choose between candidates of the same party
  • likely to produce coalitions
  • good at securing more women and minority groups
29
Q

In regards to the STV system, what type of connection does it have between seats and votes?

A

a good connection

30
Q

What advantages does the closed list system and STV system have in common?

A
  • both likely to produce coalitions
  • strong connection between votes won and seats obtained
  • likely to secure better representation of women and minorities
  • fairer to smaller parties
31
Q

What are the 3 disadvantages of the STV system?

A

It is a more complex system

  • makes coalitions more likely
  • no close link between MP and constituency
32
Q

Are the 2 common disadvantages of the closed list system and STV system?

A
  • makes coalitions more likely

- no close link between MP and constituency

33
Q

Due to the complexity of the STV system, what would most likely happen as a result?

A

there would likely be a delay on the publication of the final result

34
Q

What are hybrid systems designed to do?

A

they are designed to increase proportionality with features of FPTP such as single member constituencies

35
Q

What country has a hybrid system and what is their process?

A

Germany, the voter has two votes; one for the party and one for the candidate in the individual constituency.

36
Q

What are the 2 names under the hybrid system?

A

Additional Member System

Mixed Member Proportional

37
Q

What is an example of 3 newer central Eastern European democracy which has opted for a mixed (hybrid) system?

A

Hungary
Taiwan
New Zealand

38
Q

Using a mixed/hybrid Additional Member System, what does the degree of proportionality depend on?

A

this depends upon the split between the constituency and the top-up list element.

39
Q

What is the split between the constituency and the top up list element for a mixed system in Germany and Italy?

A

Germany - 50:50

Italy 75:25

40
Q

Why has the Additional Member System been more favourably received in Britain?

A

this is because it has some characteristics in common with FPTP

41
Q

What is AMS used for in Britain? (3)

A

elections for Scottish parliament, Welsh Assembly and London Assembly

42
Q

What are Scottish devolved elections based upon?

A

the seven European constituencies

43
Q

In Scottish devolved elections which use an Additional Member System, how does the process work?

A

Voters have two votes, voting for an MSP to represent their single-member constituency and for a party list from which the additional members will be chosen in proportion to the votes cast for each party.
The second vote therefore provides a mechanism to ensure greater justice for parties that would be under-represented by FPTP

44
Q

Why does the SNP dislike the Additional Member System?

A

they favour a more proportional one

45
Q

In the Scottish devolved elections what does the second vote of the AMS provide?

A

the second vote therefore provides a mechanism to ensure greater justice for parties that would be under represented by FPTP

46
Q

What are the 5 advantages of AMS?

A
  • Produces fairly proportional results
  • fairer to smaller parties
  • retains some degree of an MP constituency link
  • makes coalitions more likely
  • good at securing the election more women and minority groups
47
Q

What are the 3 disadvantages of AMS?

A
  • Doubts about the status of top-up members
  • It is not proportional as PR systems such as party lists and STV
  • Makes coalitions more likely
48
Q

Under AMS why are there doubts about the status of top-up members?

A

they may be viewed as second class representatives

49
Q

What are the types of electoral systems used in England for a

  • General/local election
  • European Parliament
  • London Mayoralty
  • London Assembly
A
  • FPTP
  • closed list
  • SV
  • AMS
50
Q

What are the types of electoral systems used in Scotland for

  • General
  • European parliament
  • Devolved
  • Local
A
  • FPTP
  • closed list
  • AMS
  • STV