PR system Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is one central criticism of the First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system?
Its lack of proportionality.
This means that the number of seats won by a party does not accurately reflect its share of the national vote.
What do proportional representation (PR) systems aim to achieve?
They aim to more closely align the number of seats a party wins with its share of the national vote.
Examples include the Single Transferable Vote (STV) and the Additional Member System (AMS).
What percentage of the vote share did the Labour party receive in the 2019 general election while securing a majority of seats?
33.7%
This highlights the disparity in representation under FPTP.
How do PR systems, such as STV, improve representation?
They allow for broader and more accurate representation, ensuring no single party can dominate disproportionately.
This can lead to outcomes that better reflect voter preferences.
What is a key advantage of the FPTP system according to its defenders?
It provides strong and stable single-party governments.
This stability helps governments enact legislative agendas without delays.
What is a potential drawback of FPTP regarding accountability?
While it enhances accountability, it does not guarantee it, as shown by hung parliaments in 2010 and 2017.
Hung parliaments occur when no party achieves an outright majority.
What was the outcome of the 2011 referendum on switching to the Alternative Vote (AV)?
It resulted in a clear rejection of change.
This suggests that the public may not view FPTP as significantly flawed.
How could PR improve representation for smaller parties?
It would likely give smaller parties a more accurate share of seats.
This would contribute to a more pluralistic and ideologically representative democracy.
What issue arises from FPTP that affects voter engagement?
Many votes effectively do not count, particularly in safe seats.
This leads to wasted votes and tactical voting.
What is a valuable feature of FPTP related to MP accountability?
The strong MP-constituency link.
Each constituency has a single MP who is directly accountable to their constituents.
What complexity do PR systems introduce compared to FPTP?
They often involve multi-member constituencies or complex party lists.
This complexity may weaken the connection between voters and their representatives.
What increases democratic responsiveness in FPTP?
The ability to remove a specific MP through a straightforward vote.
This fosters a clear and personal relationship between voters and their representative.
