Politics Booklet-Electoral Systems

Front 1

Give 2 examples of local referendums:

Back 1

Council tax increase 2015- proposal made by the Police and crime commissioner was rejected by voters in Bedfordshire

Congestion charges in Edinburgh (2005) and Manchester (2008)- both rejected so the proposals were dropped

Front 2

Give a reason for the decision to hold the EU and AV referendum:

Back 2

-Political pressure- rise of UKIP/ media campaigns to leave EU

-AV referendum was a central feature of the 2010 coalition agreement

Front 3

What are 3 referendum regulations?

Back 3

-groups and individuals who expect to spend more than £10,000 on campaigns must register as participants with the electoral commission.

-commission ensure that organizations and individuals adhere to limits on funding/spending.

-commission comments on the intelligibility of proposed referendum questions.

Front 4

Give 2 ways that the Scottish Independence Referendum of 2014 strengthened the case for referendums:

Back 4

-high turnout 84.5%

-extended franchise to 16&17 year olds

Front 5

Give 2 reasons to support the agreement that referendums have enhanced representative democracy in the UK:

Back 5

-have introduced direct democracy ensuring that citizens have the final say and not politicians.

-extended political participation e.g Scottish Referendum 20014

Front 6

Give 2 reasons to support the argument that referendums have reduced representative democracy in the UK:

Back 6

-have undermined representative democracy by taking decision making on complex issues away from this with the most political knowledge/ experience. E.g Brexit

-undermine parliamentary sovereignty and can create tension between the parliament and the people.

Front 7

What does it for elections to be competitive, free and fair?

Back 7

- that voters have a meaningful choice between different political parties

-free election require basic civil liberties e.g freedom of speech and association

-fair = 1 person 1 vote

Front 8

How do democratic and elitist theorists differ over the role of elections?

Back 8

-elitist - provide authority and stability for the political system allowing elites to get on with the task of governing

-democratic- priories the role of people in the political processes. They focus on bottom-up functions.

Front 9

Which parts of the UK political system are not elected?

Back 9

-Head of State (Monarch)

-upper chamber (HoL)

-The judiciary

Front 10

How does a majoritarian system work?

Back 10

Winning candidate needs an absolute majority (50% + 1)

Front 11

How does a plurality system work?

Back 11

Winner needs only a plurality of votes cast (one more than their closest rival) e.g FPTP

Front 12

How does a proportional representation work?

Back 12

Covers many systems that produce a close fit between votes and seats

Front 13

How does a mixed system work?

Back 13

Combines elements of plurality/majoritarian/proportional representation.

Front 14

Distinguish between safe and marginal seats

Back 14

Safe seats- same party wins time and time again because incumbents’s majority is so big.

Marginal seats- where incumbent party has a small majority so nearest rivalry has a realistic chance of overturning

Front 15

Give 3 reasons to why votes can be bias to one major party:

Back 15

-Tactical voting

-difference in constituency size

-differential turnout (lower turnout in Labour seat (62% to 69%)

Front 16

What is a winners bonus?

Back 16

The share of seats that the first party placed wins an excess of the vote under FPTP