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13 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the features of 'First Past The Post'? |
Used in the UK general elections
It's a plurality system.
The country is divided into 650 constituencies.
Each voter has one vote
The candidate with the most votes wins the seat
The party with the most seats forms the government. |
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What are the advantages of FPTP? |
Easy for voters to understand.
Cheap and inexpensive.
Links maintained with constituencies.
Usually provides a strong government as it usually provides a majority government. E.g conservatives in 2015.
Parties can carry out their manifesto promises.
It has been proven to work efficiently.
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What are the disadvantages of 'FPTP'? |
Parties who don't come in First place are underrepresented.
Winning parties create a 'tyranny of the majority'.
Winning governments regularly only 40% of votes.
Votes are Regularly 'wasted'. |
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What is the alternative vote system? ( AV ) |
Majority system.
Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Any candidate with 50%+ votes are elected.
If no one gets 50% votes are redistributed by the 'least successful candidate being eliminated and their voters second preferences getting the vote instead until someone does get 50%. |
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What are the advantages of AV? |
Creates a multi-party system in which they are more represented.
If voters don't get their first choice, they are likely to get their second.
MPs represent more members of their constituencies.
Constituency links are maintained.
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What are the disadvantages of AV? |
Second or third parties can be 'over-represented'.
It can be over complicated for voters.
Ballot system can take a long time to get a result.
More expensive and time consuming. |
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What is the closed Party List system? |
Voters only vote for one party.
It's a proportional system.
The country is split into regions with multiple MPs.
The parties draw up a list of candidates and puts them in order.
Seats are allocated to the party based on the percentage of votes they received.
These seats are then filled from the list. |
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What are the advantages of a proportional system? |
These systems are much fairer.
Small parties are given representation.
Less wasted votes.
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What is the STV system? |
The country is divided into large regions.
Parties stand candidates for all the seats.
Voters put candidates into order.
Those who reach the quota are elected.
Votes of lowest candidates are transferred. H |
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What are the disadvantages of a proportional system? |
STV and Party List are over complicated for Voters.
The regions are larger and therefore can be less Representative.
Much greater chance of a coalition government.
Extremists could get a voice in parliament. |
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What is AMS? ( additional member system ) |
Used in Scotland and Wales.
Voters voting for a constituency MP use FPTP.
They also vote for a party.
The closed party list system is used to allocate some seats to parties. |
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What is AV+? |
Has never been used.
The number of constituencies lowered to 500.
Voters use AV to elect const MP.
There's also a vote for regional MPs using the open list system. |
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Name the functions of elections |
L.E.A.R.E. P.I.G
Legitimacy Elite recruitment Accountability Representation Education
Participation Influence over policy Government |
