Election Systems

Question 1

Advantages of FPTP

Answer 1

1. It is simple and voters can understand what they are voting for
2. It creates a close link between representative and constituency
3. It ensures small extremist parties find it difficult to gain representation
4. it tents to produce an outright winner

Question 2

Disadvantages of FPTP

Answer 2

1. Gives an advantage to parties that have a concentrated support e.g SNP
2. It favours the large parties and prevents serious challenge from smaller parties
3. There is a winner bonus where the biggest party tends to win more than its proportional share of the vote e.g 2019, the conservatives won 43% of the vote which was converted to 56% of seats
4. In some recent general elections (2010,2015,2017) the system failed to produce a decisive government majority