Voting system

Question 1

What is First Past the Post?

Answer 1

When the candidate receiving more votes than others

Question 2

Where is First Past the Post used to decide the outcome from an election?

Answer 2

House of Commons

Local elections in England + Wales

Question 3

2 advantages of First Past the Post

Answer 3

Clear Winner

Easier to get new laws passed

Question 4

2 disadvantages of First Past the Post?

Answer 4

• Party with most votes might not win the most seats and therefore does not go into power
• Smaller parties can be ignored and therefore not get much say in Parliament
• All losing votes are wasted

Question 5

Alternative Voting

Answer 5

Voter has the chance to rank the candidates in order of reference

Question 6

Where is the Alternative Vote is used to decide the outcome from an election?

Answer 6

Chairs of select committees in the House of Commons
Lord Speaker
By-election for hereditary peers

Question 7

2 advantages of Alternative Voting

Answer 7

Prevents MPs being elected on a minority
Increase the feeling that every vote counts
It keeps a link between the MP and his or her constituency

Question 8

2 disadvantages of Alternative Voting

Answer 8

• Does not give results that provide a wide range of views in parliament
• Does not give voters more power than First Past the Post
• More complicated and therefore takes longer to count

Question 9

Proportional Representation

Answer 9

An electoral system in which the distribution of seats corresponds closely with the proportion o the total votes cast

Question 10

Where is Proportional Representation used to decide the outcome from an election

Answer 10

Austrlia
Germany
Scottish Parliament
Welsh Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
European Pareliament

Question 11

2 advantages of Proportional Representation

Answer 11

• Every vote count in the final make up of Parliament
• Still gives the two major parties the majority of MPs but they would also give the smaller parties considerably more seats
• More people may turnout to vote as they will feel that their vote counts

Question 12

2 disadvantages of Proportional Representation

Answer 12

• Neither of the tow largest parties would have an overall majority
• If the opposition parties all decided to vote together they could always defeat the Government
• To form a strong Government, parties may be forced to form a Coalition.

Question 13

Voter apathy

Answer 13

1) People think that their vote doesn’t count
2) People have lost trust in politicians
3) People do not think that there is a great deal of difference between the parties or are dissatisfied with policies

Question 14

How could you encourage more people to vote

Answer 14

• Change voting system
• Electronic voting
• Change the day
• Propaganda about the advantage of voting

Question 15

2 reasons why voting should be compulsory

Answer 15

• It is a responsibility for everyone in a democracy to vote
• Voting is a human right and you should not ignore your human rights

Question 16

2 reasons why voting should not be compulsory

Answer 16

• Make a mess of the voting paper causing more administration
• If you ‘compel’ to vote, they will ‘ just make it up’, and easily influenced by media
• Freedom, free to choose whether to vote or not

Question 17

2 reasons why the voting age should be lowered 16

Answer 17

• Other countries e.g Brazil can vote at 16
• Unfair for people that’s 18, but have to wait till 23 to vote
• Young people have lots of opinion on political issues, such as racism, education and employment
• Around 1/5 of the population being left out

Question 18

2 reasons why the voting age should not be lowered 16

Answer 18

• Too young to know what they are voting for
• Young people do not pay tax
• Young people are not educated enough to know about political issues , they would probably be influenced by their parents

Question 19

Name 3 things that influence the way people vote

Answer 19

1. Party leaders
2. Party policies
3. Media Coverage- newspaper loyalty/ party political broadcasts