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Summary All Possible Essay Plans for Unit 1 Topic 3 A-Level Politics- Edexcel
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Unit 1.3- Electoral systems- Essay PlansEvaluate the view that FPTP is an effective voting system for Westminster
elections.
Paragraph 1:
It is effective as it is easy to understand and produces strong majorities.
• It is a simple system and voters can understand exactly what they are voting
for.
• FPTP arguably, for the most part, introduces clear majorities. Such as
Labour’s majority in 1997. Allows clear and decisive government. People have
faith in this and thus they vote. BJ 365 seats. Plurality system- winner takes
all. Can get real change through- HRA 1999 and Brexit.
It does not produce strong majorities.
• When the Conservatives and liberal democrats entered in a coalition, it could
be argued that there was no mandate at all. No voters had voted for a
coalition, despite the two parties receiving 59% of the vote.
• System has not been working in recent years - two coalition governments
produced in the past 3 elections. Cameron 2010 and May S+C agreement-
made governing difficult particularly with Brexit which saw May defeated 36
times.
Paragraph 2:
It is effective as it is representative in terms of people’s desires- MPs
• It ensures that MPs are closely bound to the needs and concerns of their
constituents. FPTP ensures the MP - Constituency link, MPs are highly
accountable and scrutinised, which leads to effective governance.
• Constituency meetings- anyone can meet w MP.
• For five years, MPs are responsible to the electorate. In this way they are held
accountable to them. If they fail to perform they can be removed by the people
of their constituency. The people exercise control over their representatives.
o This means that the voters ultimately retain sovereignty because they
decide whether or not to renew the mandate of their representatives.
• MPs are accountable through by-elections. A by-election is held when a seat
becomes vacant when an MP is convicted of a serious criminal offence, for
example.
o In North Shropshire, Owen Paterson, Dec 2021.
• MPs run constituency clinics and are very accessible to the public through
letters, the internet and emails.
• Representative democracy is based on the principle that elected politicians
should represent the interests of all their constituents. As a result of this, MPs
, spend a significant amount of time in their constituencies listening to the
concerns of their constituents in public meetings and surgeries.
• In a representative democracy, elected politicians balance conflicting interests
when reaching decisions. This is important in protecting the rights of all
citizens, especially minorities, and ensuring that the implications of a decision
for all members of the community have been thoroughly examined.
It is ineffective as it is unrepresentative in terms of people’s desire- MPS
• Some MPs believe that they should act in accordance to their conscience
regardless of party and electorate stance. This gives such an MP the flexibility
to ignore the wishes of both his party and his constituency – this is not
democratic.
• Peter viggers, duck house expenditure. 2009 expenses scandal
• Uncodified constitution does not bind MPs to anything- lack of faith
• It is common for MPs to vote the way their party tells them to (climb the
greasy pole), and not in the best interest of their constituency.
• Powerful pressure groups and lobbyists and the London-based media
establish a self-perpetuating Westminster ‘bubble’ which disconnects the
voters from their representatives.
• MPs can have outside interests, including second jobs (as long as they
declare them), which can further contribute to a conflict of interests and
compromise their ability to fully represent their constituents. George Osborne,
the former chancellor of the exchequer, for example, became editor of the
Evening Standard while still an MP.
• Every five years- not accountable
• Fusion of powers- whips and careerism. Link to FPTP indirectly electing the
PM.
Paragraph 3:
It is effective as it prevents extremism and is better than other proposed
electoral systems.
• It prevents extremist parties like UKIP or the EDL from coming to power. Need
concentrated support to win which is unlikely for extremist parties who are
more likely to have dispersed support due to their precise policies.
• Everyone has the right to vote, some people just choose not to. Freedom of
choice.
• FPTP is more democratic than the reform proposals such as proportional
representation systems which make coalitions more likely and harder to hold
to account. For example, Stormont uses STV and has had unworking
governments for example from 2017-2020. The lines of accountability are not
clear with 6 representatives.
• Under AMS, It is more complex than the FPTP- having two votes may confuse
some voters.
It is ineffective as it creates political inertia and is disproportional.
, • FPTP produces disproportional results. It causes many votes to be ‘wasted’
effectively, and the results can be disregarded as unfair. It elects
governments with a relatively small proportion of the popular vote.
o FOR EXAMPLE: 2019 - in the 2019 general election the Liberal
Democrats won 11.5% of the vote and only won 11 seats whilst the
Scottish National Party won a lower percentage of the votes (3.9%) but
won 48 seats.
o In 2005, Labour won a comfortable majority of seats under FPTP but
only had the support of 35% of those who had voted, given the low
turnout, there were far more non-voters than Labour voters.
• It favours parties with concentrated support.
o FOR EXAMPLE: Green party support is widely dispersed - 2.7% of the
vote with only 1 seat won, but plaid cymru (only contest seats in Wales
- very concentrated) won 4 seats with only 0.5% of the vote won.
• It discriminates against smaller parties and prevents new parties breaking into
the system - produces a political ‘inertia’.
o FOR EXAMPLE: Labour and Conservative dominate. Between 1945
and 1970, Conservative and Labour parties consistently won over 90%
of the vote and also dominated the commons with over 90% of MPs.
• Also, as a whole, these numerous flaws in the system create a lack of political
participation - with a lack of citizens contributing to the system of government,
it is arguably not democratic.
o FOR EXAMPLE: Voter turnout - all time low in recent years - 2001:
59.4%, 2010 - 65.2%, 2019 - 67.3%
• Voters feel ignored/unheard/ineffective - as a result the participation crisis will
become worse.
• Minority seats and safe seats.
• Marginal seats- 121 in 2019- votes overvalued.
• AMS- It produces a broadly proportional outcome and so is fair to all parties. It gives
voters two choices- so more choice.
Evaluate the view that proportional representation would improve the quality
of democracy in the UK
Evaluate the view that reform to the electoral system in the UK would improve
party representation and voter choice
Evaluate the view that the use of alternative electoral systems has improved
democracy in the UK
Evaluate the view that the use of a more proportional electoral system has had
a positive impact on the political process in the UK.
Paragraph 1:
FPTP is effective as it is easy to understand and produces strong majorities
unlike PR systems.
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