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45 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Give 2 examples of local referendums: |
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 |
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Give a reason for the decision to hold the EU and AV referendum: |
-Political pressure- rise of UKIP/ media campaigns to leave EU -AV referendum was a central feature of the 2010 coalition agreement |
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What are 3 referendum regulations? |
-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. |
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Give 2 ways that the Scottish Independence Referendum of 2014 strengthened the case for referendums: |
-high turnout 84.5% -extended franchise to 16&17 year olds |
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Give 2 reasons to support the agreement that referendums have enhanced representative democracy in the UK: |
-have introduced direct democracy ensuring that citizens have the final say and not politicians. -extended political participation e.g Scottish Referendum 20014 |
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Give 2 reasons to support the argument that referendums have reduced representative democracy in the UK: |
-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. |
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What does it for elections to be competitive, free and fair? |
- 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 |
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How do democratic and elitist theorists differ over the role of elections? |
-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. |
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Which parts of the UK political system are not elected? |
-Head of State (Monarch) -upper chamber (HoL) -The judiciary |
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How does a majoritarian system work? |
Winning candidate needs an absolute majority (50% + 1) |
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How does a plurality system work? |
Winner needs only a plurality of votes cast (one more than their closest rival) e.g FPTP |
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How does a proportional representation work? |
Covers many systems that produce a close fit between votes and seats |
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How does a mixed system work? |
Combines elements of plurality/majoritarian/proportional representation. |
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Distinguish between safe and marginal seats |
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 |
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Give 3 reasons to why votes can be bias to one major party: |
-Tactical voting -difference in constituency size -differential turnout (lower turnout in Labour seat (62% to 69%) |
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What is a winners bonus? |
The share of seats that the first party placed wins an excess of the vote under FPTP (giving the party more seats than what is proportional to the number of votes- exaggerating its support) |
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What are 6 advantages of First Past the Post? |
Easy to understand and operate Normally produces a clear winner Produces a strong and stable government (single party gov with working maj excerised significant control) Produces a responsible gov Keeps out extremist parties
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What are 5 disadvantages of the first Past the post system? |
Disproportionate outcomes Electoral deserts Plurality rather maj support Votes are of unequal value Limited choice (2 party system)
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What type of system is supplementary vote and where is it used? |
The majoritarian system is used to elect the mayor of London. |
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What type of system is supplementary vote and where is it used? |
The majoritarian system is used to elect the mayor of London. |
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How does SV work ? |
Voters put their first and second preferences on their ballot papers, if no candidate wins it = maj, then all but the top two candidates are eliminated. The first and second place preference votes are added to the remaining candidates. |
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What are 2 advantages of SV? |
The winning candidate must achieve broad support (equals legitimacy) Supporters of smaller parties can use their first preference to express their allegiance. |
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What are 2 disadvantages of SV |
The winning candidate maybe elected without wining a maj of first preference votes The system does not deliver a proportional outcome of used in a general election. |
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What type of system is single transferable vote? |
Proportional system |
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What type of system is single transferable vote? |
Proportional system |
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What is STV used |
Northern Ireland assembly elections and local elections in Scotland. |
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How does STV work |
Representatives are in elected in large multi member constituencies . Electors can show their preferences by writing 1, 2, 3, 4 etc next to the name of their choice. (Electors can vote for as many or as few candidates as they like) A candidate must achieve a quoter in order to be elected.( any votes in excess of this quoter are redistributed. If no candidate reaches the quoter on the first count, the lowest place candidate is eliminated and the votes are distributed to the remaining preferences) |
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What are 3 ads of STV? |
Delivers proportional outcomes The gov is likely to consist of a party/group of parties that win over 50% of the vote Voters choose between a range of candidates (including different candidates from the same party) |
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What are 3 ads of STV? |
Delivers proportional outcomes The gov is likely to consist of a party/group of parties that win over 50% of the vote Voters choose between a range of candidates (including different candidates from the same party) |
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What are 4 disadvantages of STV? |
It can be less accurate in transferring votes into seats Large multi member constituency weaken the link between the individual MPs and their constituency Likely to produce a coalition gov (could be unstable and give disproportional influence to minor parties) Counting process is lengthy and complex |
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What are 3 ads of STV? |
Delivers proportional outcomes The gov is likely to consist of a party/group of parties that win over 50% of the vote Voters choose between a range of candidates (including different candidates from the same party) |
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What are 4 disadvantages of STV? |
It can be less accurate in transferring votes into seats Large multi member constituency weaken the link between the individual MPs and their constituency Likely to produce a coalition gov (could be unstable and give disproportional influence to minor parties) Counting process is lengthy and complex |
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What type of system is the additional member system |
Mixed system |
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What are 3 ads of STV? |
Delivers proportional outcomes The gov is likely to consist of a party/group of parties that win over 50% of the vote Voters choose between a range of candidates (including different candidates from the same party) |
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What are 4 disadvantages of STV? |
It can be less accurate in transferring votes into seats Large multi member constituency weaken the link between the individual MPs and their constituency Likely to produce a coalition gov (could be unstable and give disproportional influence to minor parties) Counting process is lengthy and complex |
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What type of system is the additional member system |
Mixed system |
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When is AMS used? |
Used to elect Scottish parliament, welsh assembly and London assembly. |
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What are 3 ads of STV? |
Delivers proportional outcomes The gov is likely to consist of a party/group of parties that win over 50% of the vote Voters choose between a range of candidates (including different candidates from the same party) |
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What are 4 disadvantages of STV? |
It can be less accurate in transferring votes into seats Large multi member constituency weaken the link between the individual MPs and their constituency Likely to produce a coalition gov (could be unstable and give disproportional influence to minor parties) Counting process is lengthy and complex |
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What type of system is the additional member system |
Mixed system |
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When is AMS used? |
Used to elect Scottish parliament, welsh assembly and London assembly. |
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How does AMS work |
A proportion of seats in the legislative assembly are elected using FPTP in single member constituencies. A smaller number of representatives (known as additional members) are elected in multi member constituencies. Electors cast two votes, one for their fav candidate in a single member constituency and one from a closed party list in a multi membered constituency. |
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What are 3 ads if AMS |
Combines the features of FPTP and proportional representation Votes are broadly proportional and are less likely to be wasted Voters have greater choice Some parties have used the system to improve the representation of women. |
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What are 2 disadvantages of AMS |
Creates two categories of MP’s (one with constituency duties and one without) Smaller parties are often unrepresented, because in many multi member seats are only a few representatives are elected from small parties
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What are 2 negative impacts that AMS has had on party representation and voters choice. |
146 thousand ballots were completed incorrectly in Scottish parliament In the London mayor election 1.5 million second preference votes were not for the top two candidates and therefore has no effect on the outcome. |
