| What is First Past the Post? [FPTP] | -Electoral System that is in the General Elections in Britain.
-The Candidate will win if they get the MOST Votes in a Constituency. This doesn't mean they have to get a Majority [Plurality] |
| Name the Features seen in FPTP? | -UK is Split into Constituencies [650], and each one elects an MP
-Parties can only have 1 Candidate to stand in each Constituency
-Voters have 1 Vote Each, and choose their Candidate via an X
-Winner needs to get the Most Votes, not even a Majority
-System seen for Elections to Westminster |
| What does Plurality mean? | -Term that describes the 'Most Votes'
-If a Candidate has a Plurality, then they've got the Most Votes.
-FPTP Uses this as a Winning Condition |
| What outcomes happen as a result of FPTP? | -Many Safe Seats arise, meaning the same Party will always Win the Seat Every Election, and little chance it'll Flip
-Marginal Seats will be a Minority, which will Flip often
-Winning Party will get enough Seats to Govern Independently [Strong Government] 2010 and 17 saw a Different Event
-More in Favour of Parties that have a Concentrated Vote in an Area allowing the Winning Party to get a Winner's Bonus [Opposite is True]
-Tactical Voting can be Developed
-FPTP is more Linked with a 2 Party System |
| What does a Safe Seat mean? | -This is when a Constituency has One Party Dominating that its highly Unlikely that it will Flip over |
| What is a Marginal Seat? | -When a Constituency has more than 1 Party being able to Win the Seat, and the Election Outcome is Close |
| What is a Winner's Bonus [Context: FPTP] | -FPTP will reward Parties who have Concentrated Support, which wins enough Votes in each Constituency to get Seats
-This means the Largest Party will have a Disproportionate Seat Share comparing to the National Share of the Vote |
| What is Tactical Voting? | -Voters choosing a Candidate which wasn't there 1st Choice, to ensure the Candidate [or Party] they hate most doesn't get In |
| In terms of Effective Government, how well does FPTP do?
(EX) | -FPTP usually will make a Single Clear Winner that makes a Majority Government which will have a Clear Mandate to Govern. Eg the Conservative Party in 2019 got an 80 Seat Majority
-FPTP may not always make though a Clear Winner [and a Clear Mandate] as seen in 2010 and 2017 when FPTP made a Hung Parliament [No Majority] forcing the Conservatives to make a Coalition with the Lib Dems [2010-15] and as a Minority Government [2017-19] |
| In terms of the Bonding and Representation, how well does FPTP do?
(EX) | -FPTP can create a Close Constituency-MP Bond as only 1 is Elected, and so the MP has to Reflect the Views of it. MPs will get an Reputation for Standing up for its Constituency. Jess Phillips stood outside a School in Birmingham Yardley Constituency in 2019 that had Primary Teachers teaching LGBTQ Relationships
-But FPTP can make the Outcome not Proportional - Fair. Parties will win more Seats than their Support, while others have the Opposite. Lib Dems got 12% of the Vote, but only got 2% of Seats in 2019 |
| In terms of Accountability and Usage of Voting, how well does FPTP do?
(EX) | -FPTP will make Accountability clear to the Electors of the MP. Eg Several MPs that represented Constituencies that wanted to Leave the EU had Lost their Seats on 2019 Election as they Campaigned [MPs] for a Second Referendum [Anna Soubry & Broxtowe]
-But FPTP will mean Votes are just Wasted in Safe Seats as the Outcome won't Change. Lots of Seats are the Party Heartland, meaning there is Little change. Electoral Desserts are also Formed when little Party Competition occurs [South West Region of England = Conservative, North East England = Labour] |
| In terms of Party Systems, how Diverse does FPTP make it?
(EX) | -FPTP will not allow Extremists Parties into the System, like the BNP which got a 500K Votes, but 0 Seats
-But FPTP prevents New Parties getting in and makes Political Intertia [Maintaining the Status Quo of the 2 Largest Parties having the only chance of Winning] UKIP got Support across UK in 2015 GE with 4 Million Votes, but only got 1 Seat. |
| In terms of Reflecting and Valuing Votes, how well does FPTP do?
(EX) | -FPTP will showcase the Regional Disparities in Voters Preference. SNP is Strong in Scotland, Labour in Inner Cites and Conservative in the Rural Seats
-FPTP also makes Unequal Valued Votes. Voting in a Safe Seat [For a Different Party] is of less Importance than voting in a Marginal Seat. This is because the Marginal Seat can Chance. Electoral Reform Society stated that 75% of Votes in 2015 Election were given to Losing Candidates, or was Surplus to to the Winning Candidate [They already had Enough to Win] |
| In terms of how the Voting is done, how well does FPTP do? | -FPTP is a very Simple and Easy Method. One Vote, One Cross, One Candidate. Simple
-However FPTP will encourage Tactical Voting and so it leads to the Withdrawal of the Party they really want to Win. The Electoral Reform Society [ERS] said that 6.5 Million Voters Tactically Voted in 2017 Election |
| What is a
1. Majority
2. Hung
3. Coalition
4. Minority
Government | 1. One Party is in Power and has a Majority of Seats in House of Commons
2. When no Party has a Majority.
3. 2+ Parties are in Power. No Party still has a Majority, but the Combined Seats from the Parties collaborating gives it the Majority
4. One Party is Government but doesn't have a Majority. This mean its Governs and makes Deal with others Parties for Key Votes. Conservatives did this with the DUP during 2017-19 [Confidence and Supply Arrangements] |
| What is the Supplementary Voting System? [SV] | -Electoral System seen for the London Mayor
-Makes sure the Winning Candidate gets to 50% of the Vote as Possible
-Voters have 2 Votes - First and Second Preference
-Keep in mind that SV is still a Plurality Voting System |
| Name some of the Features found in SV | -Voters have 2 Votes - First and Second Preference
-2 Rounds of Counting
-First Round sees the First Preference Votes counted up. If no Candidate gets 50% of the First Preference then the Second Round begins
-Second Round sees all Candidates, apart from the Leading 2, Gone. The Second Preference Votes [That had its First Preference for the Eliminated Candidate] is transferred to the Candidates still Left |
| 2021 London Mayor Elections. What was the % of Sadiq Khan [Labour] and Shaun Bailey [Conservative] in First and Second Countings? | -Sadiq 1st: 40% and then 2nd: 55%
-Shaun 1st 35% and then 2nd: 45%
-A Labour Victory |
| What Outcomes arise from the usage of SV? | -Less Votes are Wasted when compared to FPTP as the Second Preference Votes can actually Count, even if they First doesn't
-System only cares still for a 2 Party Race, as only the Top 2 Candidates are brought Forward [2 Horse Race]
-Allying with other Parties is Critical - Sadiq got many Green Voters Second from adopting Environmental Policies
-Non Moderate Parties have little chance of Winning
-Second Preference allows Voters to choose a Candidate they 'don't mind' which restricts Extremists
-SV ensures the 'Least Hated' Candidate wins |
| What are the Advantages of using SV? | -Winning Candidate can have a Claim to have a Majority of Support, like Sadiq [55% overall]
-Simple for Voters to Understand
-First and Second Choices for Voters are Important [That's how Sadiq Won - 40% --> 55%] |
| What are the Disadvantages of using SV? | -SV will still promote the 2 Party System that FPTP Hails. Smaller Parties have less of a Chance
-Winning Candidate may win on the Second Preference Votes, meaning More People wanted someone Else Really than the Wining Candidate
-Still Results in Wasted Votes if the Voter doesn't pick a Candidate that doesn't make it to the Second Round |
| What is the Additional Member System? [AMS] | -Electoral System seen in Scottish and Welsh Parliamentary Elections
-AMS uses FPTP Elements and Proportional Representation [Awards Seats based on Proportion to Votes Casted] |
| How does the AMS Work? | -Voter has 2 Votes - For a Candidate and a Party
-Constituency will have 1 Candidate, via FPTP, where Voters get their Candidate in. 67% of Seats done by this way
-33% of Seats done of the Closed Regional List. Voters can Vote to get their Preferred Party in as well. This will Represent the Regions
-Seats are Given via the Party List System are Changed slightly to give a more Proportional Result [D'Hondt Method]
-Parties that do Worse in Constituencies get Boost in Proportionality
-This attempts to make the Result close to the Proportional of the Votes Casted |
| What Outcomes arise from AMS?
(EX) | -Outcome tends to be Proportional to the Votes Casted
-AMS Blocks Parties to get a Large Majority [which is why SNP had to get a Minority Government in Scotland]
-Smaller Parties can get Seats, even if they can't win in the Constituencies, UKIP got its First Seats in Welsh Assembly 2016
-2 Types of Representation. Constituency and Party List. Party List takes a more Leadership role as they aren't Bothered by the Constituency.
-Minority of Voters will vote for One Party in the Constituency and then vote for a Different Party in the List Party |
| What are the Advantages of AMS?
(EX) | -Makes a Fairly Proportional Outcome and is Fair to all Parties [SNP in 2021 Elections got 48% of Regional Votes, and thus got almost Half of the 129 Seats overall. Scottish Conservatives got 23.5% of the Regional Votes and 31 Seats - Roughly a Quarter]
-Gives the Voters 2 Votes and thus more Choice
-Combines Constituency Bonds with a more Proportional Outcome |
| What are the Disadvantages of AMS? | -Makes 2 Classes of Representation - Those with a Constituency and those via the Lists. Those through the Lists are more Senior [Difference of Interests and of Parliamentary Importance]
-More Complex than FPTP so 2 Votes can confuse the Voters
-Elections can make Extremist Candidates do well
-Minority or Coalition Governments can often form - Weaker Government |
| What is Single Transferable Vote? [STV] | -Proportional Electoral System seen in the Northern Irish Assemblies and Scottish Local Election
-Constituencies are Larger Size than FPTP Sizes, and has Several Representatives being Elected.
-Voters will Rank the Candidates in their preferential Order.
-To be Elected, the Candidate must reach a Number of Votes - a Quota |
| How does STV Work? | -6 Seats are up to Grabs in each Constituency, and Parties can put as many Candidates as there are Seats in the Constituency
-Voters place Candidates in their Preference by Numbering them, and can choose from Different Parties.
-The Quota is Calculated via Votes/Seats +1
-The First Preferences Votes are Counted - any who reach the Quota are Elected. Whoever gets the Least First Preference Votes are Eliminated, and there Second Preference Votes are Transferred. Also the same if a Candidate is Elected.
-Continues until 6 Candidates are Elected |
| What outcomes do STV allow? | -Outcomes is largely Proportional to the First-Preference Voting for each party
-Leads to a Multi Party System
-STV allows Party sharing in Northern Ireland, and the Coalition becomes the Norm. This has divided NI
-STV can therefore lead to Gridlock happening. Sinn Fein and DUP couldn’t agree on a Coalition between 2017 and 2020, and DUP pulled out on 2023 from NI Trade
-STV broke the link between Single Representative and their Constituents.
-Nature of STV has confused Voters - Scottish Voters in 2007 had AMS and STV to deal with. |
| What are the Advantages of STV?
(EX) | -Voters are given a Simple Choice - 1, 2, 3
-Makes a Broadly Proportional Outcome
-Wide range of Choice of Candidates, and all their Preferences are considered in the counting
-6 Representatives allows voter the choice to find one that Represents them, promoting Democracy |
| What are the Disadvantages of STV
(EX) | -Finding out the Result can take a Long Time, and be Complex
-Leads to Minority or Coalition Government that is Unstable
-Candidates with Extreme views may be Elected
-6 Representatives may mean Accountability aren’t that clear. |
