Electoral Systems

Question 1

What are the 4 types of elections in the UK?

Answer 1

1. General elections
2. Devolved assembly elections
3. Mayoral elections
4. By-elections

Question 2

How many constituencies are in the UK?

Answer 2

650

Question 3

What are 3 implications of FPTP?

Answer 3

1. Tactical voting
2. Not proportional
3. 2-party system

Question 4

What are 2 impacts of proportional systems?

Answer 4

1. Proportional representation
2. Multi-party system

Question 5

When was the Alternative Vote referendum held?

Answer 5

2011

Question 6

What are 5 features of the Single Transferrable Vote system (STV)?

Answer 6

1. Used for the Northern Ireland Assembly and local government in Northern Ireland and Scotland
2. Multi-member constituencies
3. Candidates are ranked in order of preference
4. Candidates are elected if they receive a certain quota of votes: (total votes cast / (seats available + 1)) + 1
5. Counting takes place in several rounds, with the bottom choice being eliminated and votes for that candidate being transferred to second/third preferences

Question 7

What are 2 advantages of STV?

Answer 7

1. Can be highly proportional
2. Multiple representatives for everyone

Question 8

What are 2 drawbacks of STV?

Answer 8

1. Varied degree of proportionality
2. Strong government very unlikely

Question 9

What are 3 features of Alternative Vote (AV)?

Answer 9

1. Used for local government by-elections in Scotland
2. Ranked voting
3. Counting by preference order (with last being eliminated and having votes transferred each time) until one candidate gets 50%

Question 10

What are 2 advantages of AV?

Answer 10

1. Fewer wasted votes than FPTP
2. Broad range of views considered

Question 11

What are 2 drawbacks of AV?

Answer 11

1. Winning candidates may be “least unpopular”
2. Varied degree of proportionality

Question 12

What are 3 features of the Alternative Member System (AMS)?

Answer 12

1. Used in Scottish and Welsh devolved governments
2. Electors have 2 votes: one for a representative (constituency) and one for a party (region)
3. Mixed system - partly pluralist (like FPTP) but partly proportional

Question 13

What are 3 advantages of AMS?

Answer 13

1. Balances constituency representation against electoral fairness
2. Possibility of strong government
3. Voter choice

Question 14

What are 3 drawbacks of AMS?

Answer 14

1. Lacks proportionality
2. Confusing
3. Less effective representation due to large constituencies