Farrell
“the cogs which keep the wheels of democracy properly functioning”
Right to Vote
end of 20th cent- millions acquired right to vote
1994 - South Africa - disenfranchised millions - allowed right to vote
Even North Korea - allows narrow range of candidates - belong to same party
Types of Elections in Britain
General Local EU Devolved By-Elections
By-Elections
Fill vacancies that arise when elected rep die/resign during their time of elected office.
Election - held in the individual constituency
2008 Crewe - Conservative victory in previously Labour seat - good barometer of public opinion towards gov
Copeland 2017 - Jamie Reed Labour seat lost to Trudy Harrison Conservative.
Value of Elections
Allow for political ppt
Opportunity to express opinion about those in gov & indicate whether change is wanted
Principal means of British citizens participating in the political process
Ensures gov are ultimately accountable to the electorate
Campaign period - voters are the masters deciding the fate of who rules
Plurality System
Candidate who gets a plurality of the votes is elected
i.e. more votes than anyone else
FPTP , SV
Majority System
Candidates get a majority of the votes is elected
i.e. more than 50%
AV
Proportional System
Multi-member constituencies
No. of seats a party gets in the legislature fairly represents the share of popular vote across the country
Not exactly proportional - tend to offer some modest bonus to largest party
List systems, Hybrid, STV
Jenkins Inquiry
Jack Straw
Examine the most appropriate way of electing MPs
- Observe the requirement for broad proportionality
- Need for a stable gov
- Extension of voter choice
- Maintenance of MP - constituency link
Does choice of electoral system really matter?
To a considerable degree - shapes how the body politic operates
Determines the nature of party systems, fate of individual parties, formation of gov and coalitions
“There can be nothing more fundamental in a democracy than proposals to change an electoral system”
Proportional Representation
“Encourages a proliferation of minor parties”
Success of smaller parties comes at the expense of larger parties, more difficult for one party to gain an overall majority
Coalition more likely - Weimar Germany - 24 parties in 1930 election - weak & unstable
Not all PR = multi-party - Malta uses STV but has 2 party system
Not just PR that encourages small parties - other factors - historical, social & personal - encourage the existence of several parties
PR in the UK
Devolved Elections - Scotland & Wales held under AMS
European Elections - closed party list system
NI - uses STV for local & EU elections
Devolved Elections
First 2 elections in Scotland delivered parliament that was representative of the people
First session - 6 diff parties &2 independents ‘rainbow parliament’
Voters see more point in voting small parties in devolved - vote may not be wasted
Greens who suffer in Westminster gained 6 seats 2016
2016 - 5 parties represented & 2 Independents
Voter Confusion
Scottish Parliament 2007
electing members of their parliament & local elections
AMS - Parliament
STV - local councils
Two diff designs on ballot papers
142,000 votes rejected in counting process
Single-Party (Majority)
Advantages - Pin points political responsibility
Associated w formation of strong, stable & durable administration capable of providing effective leadership
Usually known immediately after election which party will form a gov
Coalitions - clear disadvantage - unstable, weak , incapable of providing strong leadership
Coalition Government
Grand Coalition - gov including representatives of the two main parties - Angela Merkel in Germany since 2005
Multi-party coalition - country that lacks 2 predominant groups - Austria - Italy
Coalition - 1 major & 1 minor
Coalitions - alien to British tradition
Mandate
electoral mandate - claimed by winning party
Claim the right to implement its programme as was set out in the election manifesto
Manifesto - often vague
