These A-Level Politics Summary Notes offer a comprehensive and concise overview of the fundamental concepts, theories, and structures that underpin political systems around the world. Tailored to assist A-Level students in their examination preparation, these notes cover a wide range of essential t...
Key Concepts around Electoral systems:
Election- people are given the opportunity to choose their representation who will form a Single Transferable Vote:
representative institution, government. -3 parties -> top 3 votes go to parliament -> 100/number of
-Elections are used for: representatives (candidates must have votes greater than or
- Devolved assemblies equal to the quota)
-Local elections -Voters are told to rank candidates
-EU parliament (used to) -Knock out/ eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes, and
-General election/bi-elections redistribute their votes -> results in two winners
-Referendum -Eliminate the second worst candidate and redistribute their
-Mayoral election votes
First past the post- current British electoral system -Positives of STV:
Single Transferable vote- used in Northern Ireland assembly, Scottish assembly, EU elections - Fewer wasted votes
Additional member system- used in Welsh assembly and Scottish parliament - Forces parties and MPs to compromise and think
more about voter’s needs and make it more appealing to them
- More representation- proportional to votes
- Increases Legitimacy
First Past the Post: -Negative of STV:
-Current electoral system -> delivers a two-party system - Too complicated
-Largest number of seats in the House of Commons - Weakened relationship with MP and constituents
-Positives of FPTP: - Produces weak governments- Coalitions
- Easy to win Used in: NI assembly, EU parliament
-Simple
-Stronger mandate/ Stronger government
-Connection to MP Supplementary vote:
-Legitimacy -First and second votes ar
-Negative of FPTP: -All first choices are count
-If no candidate wins -> th
-Misrepresentation/ Disproportional votes
-Gerrymandering- maximising the effect of support (part of wasting votes) Electoral -Whoever has the majorit
-Positives of SV:
-Tactical voting- Democratic deficiency
-Safe seats- people are less like to vote because the outcome is definite
-Don’t need majority, just need more than the other parties.
systems - Easy to win
-Simple
-Two party system -Connection to MP
-Increases Legitima
-More choice and o
Additional member System: -Negative of SV:
-Would need to Double number of members in the House of Commons-> 650 seats for MP’s, 650 seats for political - Greater political k
parties - Donkey voting is
- People would have two votes, one for the party and one for MP Used in: Mayoral elections
-Proportionally represents votes
-Major parties are over-represented, taking all of the original number of seats (650 seats)
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