FPTP

Question 1

Explain how FPTP works

Answer 1

• each constituency has a number of candidates - one per party
• the candidate with the highest number of votes wins
• the largest party in the HOC is the one with the most representatives —> they form a government and their leader becomes PM

Question 2

Where is FPTP used

Answer 2

• English general elections
• referendums
• to elect MPs

Question 3

What is a strength of FPTP and give an example

Answer 3

• tends to lead to a strong majority government which can efficiently and effectively pass legislature —> Blair gov. passed on average 2.5k laws per year —> he had a majority gov. of 179 in 1997

Question 4

what is a weakness of FPTP and an example

Answer 4

• there is a big winners bonus
  —> the biggest party tends to get an unfair, unrepresentative boost to the number of seats it wins in comparison to their vote share and the vote share of the second largest party

Question 5

what are some other positives and negatives of FPTP

Answer 5

• important for larger parties to maintain a high number of seats
• good MP-Constituent link
• simple + easy to understand
  BUT
• gives an advantage to parties that have concentrated support —> SNP in Scotland

Question 6

how does FPTP affect party representation and the party system

Answer 6

• PR in the UK = multi party system rather than current 2 or 2 and 1/2 party system
  —> it would take away the winners bonus and allocate seats proportionally resulting in smaller parties gaining seats in parliament, one party would be less likely to win and coalitions would become the norm

Question 7

how does FPTP affect government formation

Answer 7

• a rise in a multiparty sysmet would mean that one party would struggle to win an overall majority
• minority governments or coalitions would be more common
• could result in far left and right leaning parties

Question 8

how does FPTP affect voters

Answer 8

• PR would give more choice to voters
• less tactical voting in order to keep someone out