Voting Systems

Question 1

Positives of FPP

Answer 1

1. Easy to understand 2. Creates strong government 3. Clear Links between representative and constitution

Question 2

What does FPP stand for?

Answer 2

First Past the Post

Question 3

Negatives of FPP

Answer 3

1. Votes wasted 2. Not mathematically fair 3. Small parties lose out 4. Tactical voting (for the ‘least worst’)

Question 4

Where is FPP used?

Answer 4

UK general election / USA

Question 5

How does FPP work?

Answer 5

1. Single member constituencies 2. One vote each 3. Simple Plurality ( can only vote for one candidate)

Question 6

What does AMS Stand for?

Answer 6

Additional Member System

Question 7

Where is AMS used?

Answer 7

Scotland / Wales

Question 8

How does AMS work?

Answer 8

1. A number of seats are won by FPP 2. Additional seats are won by the d’Hondt formula: Votes won / (seats won +1)

Question 9

Positives of AMS

Answer 9

1. Decreases tactical voting 2. Broadly Fair

Question 10

Negatives of AMS

Answer 10

1. Hard to understand 2. Still mathematically unfair 3. Not transparent 4. Two tiers of MP’s

Question 11

What does STV stand for?

Answer 11

Single Transferable Vote

Question 12

Where is STV used?

Answer 12

Ireland

Question 13

How does STV work?

Answer 13

1. Multi-Member constituencies 2. Droop quota to be elected 3. [Total votes /(seats +1)] +1 4. Winners votes over this are re-distributed. 5. If no-one is over, the last placed party is redistributed. 6. Repeat until seats are filled

Question 14

Positives of STV

Answer 14

1. Reduces tactical voting 2. Needs a 50% majority to form a government

Question 15

Negatives of STV

Answer 15

1. Hard to understand 2. Not transparent 3. mathematically unfair 4. Coalition often produced