Unitary Systems

unitary system

power is concentrated in national government, **Don’t say federal**

what makes a good electoral system?

accountability, equality of votes, fairness, representation

single member plurality

candidate who wins plurality wins, no majority needed, two seats per district, used in us, Canada, India (two party system)

Northern Irish Assembly

executive has the power shared

single member majority

election for members of parliament, higher local representation, creates two larger parties

alternative vote

Whichever candidate gets the most support becomes MP, used in Australia to elect a house in their Parliament, used to elect the President of Ireland, and used in American cities.

proportional representation

This occurs when regions vote for representatives, and areas can have more than one candidate per party. This is used in Ireland, Scotland, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and Malta.

paralell system

These systems combine proportional representation and winner-take-all systems, this system is used in around twenty countries, with some using the First Past The Post alongside a PR system or a single member district with a PR system.

1-line whip

a guide to what party’s policy would say, non-binding for attendance or voting, notification of when vote needs to take place

2-line whip

instruction to attend and vote, partially binding for voting according to party’s position, attendance required unless given prior permission

3-line whip

strict instruction to attend and vote, breach of this has serious consequences, expulsion from party

center

national government

periphery

sub-national government

devolution

the transfer of power to subordinate elected body, parliament keeps power to suspend devolved groups, powers limited, not the same as separatism

1970s

Nationalist parties such as SNP and Plaid Cymru had successes

1979

Referendums in Wales and Scotland had little support, Labour fianlly granted ability. Scotland didn’t have the necessary 40% of electorate spending

1980s and 90s democratic deficit

Failed to elect MP in Scotland

1997

New Labour had manifesto pledge for greater regional powers, conservative won 0 Scottish votes

September 1997 Referendum Questions

Should Scotland have parliament and should they have tax-varying powers?

Scotland Act of 1998

Scottish parliament came into power 1999, primary legislative and limited-tax raising powers, uses mixed member proportional representation system