UK POLITICS 3 Flashcards

1
Q

What’s the 7 functions of elections ?

A
  • Participation
  • Representation, choice
  • Divisive to ensure majority
  • Confer legitimacy
  • Form/choose gov
  • Hold gov to account
  • Influence over policy
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2
Q

Advantages of FPTP ?(6)

A

1) speed and simplicity
2) strong and stable government
3) exclusion of extremists
4) a strong link (MP’s- constituencies)
5) popular candidate wins
6) produces quick response

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3
Q

Disadvantages of FPTP ?(6)

A

1) Elected on less than 50%of the vote
2) Favour two-party system
3) Votes wasted (safe seats) unequal value
4) Other systems have good links AMS..
5) Electronic voting ease speed
6) Discriminates against moderate small parties

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4
Q

What are marginal seats?

What are safe seats ? problem?

A

Seats held by a small majority, money campaigning focused here.

Constituency has a secure majority over, MP’s don’t have to try/voters votes wasted

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5
Q

What’s the supplementary vote (SV)?
1st/2nd choice- need 50% if not got to 2nd choice

what is it used for?

A

A majoritarian electoral system

London mayor and commissioners

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6
Q

AMS,(constituency vote/party vote= 1 local 1 regional representative, party list system makes result more proportionate)

What is AMS a hybrid of ?

Where is AMS used?(3)

A

proportional rep (FPTP) and list system

1) Scottish Parliament
2) welsh assembly
3) Greater London assembly

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7
Q

STV, (MMC’s vote 1,2,3 need to reach quota, surplus votes redistributed to 2nd preferences. Least pop eliminated till quota reached)

Where is the STV used?(2)
and is highly….?

A
  • Northern Ireland assembly
  • Scottish council elections

proportional

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8
Q

What is a mandate?

What is a plurality electoral system?

A

authority extended to winning candidate confirming they can legislate in accordance with manifesto

voter has one vote
winner takes all
could have less than 50%of vote

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9
Q

Elections promote democracy (6)

A
  • Educate public
  • Encourage participation
  • Choice
  • MP’s responsible, represent interests of electorate
  • Peaceful change of power
  • Ultimate expression of popular will
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10
Q

Elections don’t promote democracy (4)

A
  • Can fail to educate, misinform
  • Take decision-making away from ppl
  • Mandate, but doesn’t specify likes/dislikes in manifesto
  • Choice is illusion no diff between parties
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11
Q

Advantages of SV? (5)

A
  • moderate campaigning (2nd choice value)
  • simple, could replace FPTP
  • all MP’s have to support majority of voters
  • reduces tactical voting no wasted votes
  • uses single member constituencies goof links
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12
Q

Disadvantages of SV? (3)

A
  • promotes 2-party system
  • tactical voting for 2nd choice
  • not majority support as some 2nd choice votes for previously eliminated candidates
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13
Q

Advantages of AMS? (4)

A
  • it is proportional (seats reflects votes)
  • voter has accountable representative
  • wider choice (fairer to 3rd parties)
  • coalition government proven to be good
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14
Q

Disadvantages of AMS? (4)

A
  • list chosen by party giving them power
  • 2 representatives creates animosity
  • complicated
  • small parties less represented than under a fully proportional system
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15
Q

Advantages of STV? (6)

A
  • fewer votes wasted
  • greater choice
  • more than 1 representative
  • no safe seats
  • no need for tactical voting
  • coalition gov likely
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16
Q

Disadvantages of STV? (5)

A
  • takes a long time to count votes
  • ‘donkey voting’ vote in order on paper
  • ballot papers big and confusing
  • MMC’s line of accountability less clear
  • multiparty systems complex power share e.g. unionist/nationalist
17
Q
  • Majoritarian systems
  • electoral reform
  • gender balance
  • spoiled ballots
A
  • stronger individual mandate
  • doesn’t necessarily increase turnout
  • encourages descriptive representation
  • increase