AMS

Question 1

What is AMS?

Answer 1

1) The country is divided into geographical constituencies and regions
2) Each voter has two votes, one for a local constituency representative and another for a regional representative
3) The constituency rep. is elected via FPTP
4) The regional rep. is elected on a closed party list where voters vote for a party not a person
5) The constituency results are topped up using the regional results to create a more proportional result.

Question 2

Where is AMS used?

Answer 2

• Scottish Parliamentary elections - 73 via FPTP, 56 via regional list
• Welsh Assembly elections - 40 FPTP, 20 via list
• Greater London assembly elections - 14 FPTP, 11 via list

Question 3

Give a positive of AMS with an example

Answer 3

• produces a broadly fair and proportional outcome which is fair to all parties esp. smaller ones
  —> in the Scottish Parliament Conservatives had approx. 25% of vote share and seats —> proportional

Question 4

Give a negative of AMS with an example

Answer 4

• produces two classes of representatives
  —> those elected w/constituency and those via a list
  —> all of Scottish cabinet elected via FPTP

Question 5

Give some other positives and negatives of AMS

Answer 5

• helps smaller parties who struggle to win constituency seats
  BUT
• more complex than FPTP
• can result in election of extremist parties