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Summary Electoral Systems
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Component 1 : Part 1 UK politics - set of comprehensive notes full with case studies , statistics and facts for the AS & A-Level Politics course.
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ELECTORAL SYSTEMSWHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF ELECTIONS?
- Preservation of democracy
- To give the public a voice
- Encourages participation
- Helps us to pick a side
- Creates a strong government
- Electing representatives
- Holding governments to account
Examples:
Choosing the government:
In 2010 Conservatives are 20 seats short of a majority, so they entered the coalition with the
liberal democrats
In 2017 Conservatives were eight seats short. So, they formed a confidence in supply
government with the DUP
In 2019 the Conservatives had a majority government.
Holding government to account:
Following a 2009 expenses scandal, MPs stood down
recall of the MPs 2015 act held by elections. This meant that MPs were held to account.
Participation:
2001 59.4% voter turnout.
2017 68.7 voter turnout.
2019 67.5 voter turnout
2019 election gave the Conservatives a clear mandate for Brexit
A manifesto is a list of policies or party policy made before an election and mandate, if they're
elected, then the manifesto becomes a mandate.
Plurality systems- elects the candidate with the MOST votes (FPTP)
Majority system – elects candidate with OVER 50% (SV)
Hybrid – mix of two types (AMS)
Proportional representation: when the votes and seats directly correlate (STV)
Closed list: Each party publishes a list of candidates. On voting day voters vote for a party and parties
choose the candidates
Open list: voters vote for candidates not a party
, FIRST PAST THE POST:
- In first past the post, voters cast a single vote by placing across, next to their preferred
candidate first past the post is plurality system.
- This means that the person that has the most votes in a constituency is elected.
- They do not have to have more than 50% of the votes (this would be a majority system)
- The party with the largest number of seats, not necessarily the most has the right to form a
government strengthened
FIRST PAST THE POST STRENGTHS:
Create strong representation
Create strong government
More likely to have a majority government
Makes governing easier
Is fast and simple & easy to use. System and the result are known within two days, Belgium,
however, use proportional representation, took 18 months to form a government
FIRST PAST THE POST WEAKNESSES:
Tony Blair was elected prime minister with only 35% of his constituencies vote – low
legitimacy
Lack of proportionality – UKIP had 3.9 million votes but only one seat
The winner’s bonus (winners gain extra seats. If there are marginal seats, the winning party
benefits from this bonus)
In 1951 and February 1974, the part forming the government had fewer votes than the
opposition party
MPs can be elected on less than 50% of the vote. They do not need a command majority
within their constituency. And they do not necessarily represent their constituents and their
beliefs.
o For
example,
Alasdair
McDonnell of SDLP in South Belfast gained his seat with only 24.5% of the vote, and
considering 60% voter turnout, only 14.5% of people voted for him.
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