voting

Question 1

FPTP

Answer 1

-electors cast their vote for 1 candidate in single member constituencies
-the winner need only to achieve a plurality of votes
-for a party to win the overall election they need to get at least 326/650 MPs

Question 2

advantages of FPTP

Answer 2

-creates stability + strong governments
-MPs have a close relationship with constituents
-the candidate who most people prefer wins the seat
-simple and easy to operate
-quick to produce a result
-keeps out small, extremist parties

Question 3

disadvantages of FPTP

Answer 3

-discriminates in favour of 2 main parties
-votes are wasted on loosing candidate
-other systems offer constituents good local members to represent them
-most MPs don’t achieve 50%
-electronic voting means it isn’t much quicker
-discriminates against moderate small parties

Question 4

supplementary vote

Answer 4

-voters have 2 preferred votes
-if a candidate wins <50% of the first choice votes, they are elected
-if they don’t, all but the top 2 candidates are eliminated
-the candidate with the most 1st + 2nd choice votes are elected

Question 5

what are the advantages of the supplementary vote

Answer 5

-encourages moderate campaigning
-simple system to understand + use
-could most easily replace FPTP
-all MPs would have majority support
-reduces tactical voting
-ensures good PM-constituency links

Question 6

what are the disadvantages of the supplementary vote

Answer 6

-promotes voting for candidates from the main 3 parties
-2nd choice votes could be wasted, if voters don’t guess who will make the final round
-voters may need to vote tactically
-not all MPs secure the support of the majority because some second choices are eliminated

Question 7

additional member system

Answer 7

-voters have 2 separate votes
-1st is to choose a member for their local constituency
-2nd is used to vote for a political party
-the party list element is used to top up the constituency vote, making the result more proportional

Question 8

what is a closed list

Answer 8

electors have no say in order of candidates

Question 9

what is an open list

Answer 9

voters have some say over the order

Question 10

where is the supplementary vote used

Answer 10

london mayor elections

Question 11

where is AMS used

Answer 11

scotland

Question 12

what are the advantages of AMS

Answer 12

-it is proportional
-each voter has a directly accountable single constituency representative
-it gives voters a wider choice
-a coalition government is more likely

Question 13

what’s are the disadvantages of AMS

Answer 13

-list members are chosen by the party- gives more power
-having 2 types of representatives may create animosity between them
-it can be complicated
-smaller parties are less well represented than under a fully proportional system

Question 14

what are advantages of using referenda

Answer 14

-electorate can decide on big constitutional issues
-can settle long standing disputes
-more educated electorate
-strengthens democracy- public speaks for themselves
-promotes participation

Question 15

what are the disadvantages of using referenda

Answer 15

-undermines the authority of parliament
-may impose a decision on a reluctant government
-referenda can be asked more than once
-can be very decisive in society
-campaigns can be misleading
-place decisions on people who lack specialised knowledge
-simplify+distort issues
-regular use may result in voter disillusion

Question 16

brexit

Answer 16

-issue of huge significance
-undermined the authority of parliament
-risks the break up of the UK
-52%-48% result
-created an issue over the Irish border
-resignation of David Cameron

Question 17

what is the impact of electoral systems on third parties

Answer 17

proportional + hybrid/mixed electoral systems are fairer for 3rd parties eg. AMS

Question 18

what is the impact of electoral systems on how seats reflect votes

Answer 18

-AMS ensure that the number of seats won more closely reflects votes

Question 19

what is the impact of different electoral systems on coalitions

Answer 19

the use of more proportional electoral systems has made majority governments less likely as they produce multi party systems

Question 20

what are the advantages of electoral reform

Answer 20

-majoritarian systems give stronger individual mandates
-electoral reform encourages greater descriptive representation

Question 21

what are the disadvantages of electoral reform

Answer 21

-it doesn’t necessary increase turnout
-it can see an increase in spoilt ballots (eg. people get confused)

Question 22

class trends in voting behaviour

Answer 22

-certain classes have a connection with specific parties, the 1950s were a high point for partisan alignment
-Class alignment= individuals identifying with a certain class
-Partisan alignment= the attachments that exists between individuals and parties

Question 23

regional trends in voting behaviour

Answer 23

Regional voting is closely associated with class

Question 24

age trends in voting behaviour

Answer 24

The older you are the more likely you are to vote

Question 25

gender trends in voting behaviour

Answer 25

Female voters tend to favour the Conservatives

Question 26

ethnic groups trends in voting behaviour

Answer 26

More likely to vote labour, there is an overlap here with class

Question 27

rational choice theory

Answer 27

-voters consider how they would be affected by having different parties in government
-Successful parties are able to adapt their policies to popular ones

Question 28

issue voting

Answer 28

-Voters make decisions based on a range of issues
-Issue voting relies on a high level of political engagement

Question 29

party leaders affect on voting behaviour

Answer 29

The 2010 televised debates reinforced the view that when leaders tried to avoid saying anything controversial, they began to look less human

Question 30

Governing competency effect on voting behaviour

Answer 30

an assessment of how effective a party has been in government eg. Through control of events, policy, unity, and strong leadership

Question 31

economic management effect on voting behaviour

Answer 31

Voters are more likely to support a party if it has managed the economy well whilst in government

Question 32

Valance effect on voting behaviour

Answer 32

-people support the party best able to deliver on issues they care about
-Suggest voters aren’t solely concerned with policies but who will best deliver them