Electoral Systems

Explain FPTP

Explain FPTP

• Plurality system used for UK general elections.

• 650 single member constituencies with around 70,000 people in each. They are represented by 1 seat in the HoC and each party puts 1 candidate up to be voted on.

• Votes cast for the person, not the party.

• The party with the majority of MPs (at least 326/650) forms the government.

• If there is no majority, a coalition or minority government can be formed.

What are the effects of FPTP?

First Past The Post

• A 2 party system as you just need the most votes.

• A ‘winner’s bonus’ since FPTP over-rewards the winning party.

• Strong single party govts.

• Safe seats and swing seats.

An example of little support being needed to win.

In 2019, 12 seats were won with margins of less than 1% with 1 seat being won with 57 votes.

Difference in location of labour and conservative support.

Labour - urban

Conservative - rural

An example of the ‘winner’s bonus’

In 2019, the conservative party won 44% of the vote share but gained 56% of westminster seats.

Pros of FPTP

• Simple

• Provides strong governments

• MP-constituency links

• Centrist policies

Cons of FPTP

• Lack of voter choice

• Unequal vote value

• Lack of majority

• Disproportionate result

Explain AMS

Additional Member System

• Proportional system.

• Vote for a constituency member and a regional party separately.

• Used in elections for scottish and welsh assemblies.

• The constituency is won in the same way as FPTP.

• The regional vote uses the d’Hondt formula to fill all seats.

How many constituencies does Scotland have?

73

How many constituencies does Wales have?

40

What is the d’Hondt formula?

Number of regional votes gained for a given party.

---

Number of seats a party has gained at constituency level + 1.

Pros of AMS.

• Proportional

• Split-ticket voting

• Greater representation

• MP-constituency link

Cons of AMS

• Complicated

• Party control

• It is unlikely to have a single-party government

• FPTP is used for the constituency vote.

Explain STV

Single Transferable Vote

• Proportional system.

• Used in NI.

• 18 regions that each elect 6 representatives through ranking candidates.

• Those who meet the ‘Droop quota’ gain a seat and the remaining votes are redistributed and so on.

What is the ‘Droop quota’

(Total number of valid votes cast in a region + 1)

---

(Number of seats available in a region + 1)

+ 1

Pros of STV

• Proportional

• Voter choice

• Greater representation.

Cons of STV

• No constituency link

• Complicated

• It is unlikely to have a single-party government

Explain SV

Supplementary vote

• Majoritan system

• Used in mayoral elections.

• The first and second choice are voted for and the majority wins. If no one has a majority, all but the top 2 are forgotten about and all votes are redistributed.

Pros of SV

• Majority

• Voter choice

• Simple

Cons of SV

• 2 part dominance

• Wasted votes

• False majority

Why do governments call referendums?

• To respond to public pressure

• To resolve controversial issues dividing a party by handing the decision to the people.

• Part of a party argument.

• They can lend legitimacy to large constitutional changes.

An example of a referendum called in response to public pressure.

In 2014, Westminster was under pressure from the majority SNP government in Scotland, so allowed IndyRef.

An example of a referendum called to resolve controversial issues dividing a party by handing the decision to the people.

The Conservative’s were divided over Brexit but the referendum proved unsuccessful and divisive.

What referendums have happened since 1997?

1997 - Wales - Creating a welsh assembly.

1998 - NI - Good Friday Agreement

1998 - London - Elected mayor creation

2011 - Wales - Primary legislative powers.

2011 - UK - Replacing FPTP with AV

2014 - Scotland - Independence

2016 - UK - Brexit

What have the consequences of UK referendums been?

• Notable political change

• Parliament is always sovereign so isn’t bound to follow decisions.

• Referendums aren’t legally binding.

• Ignoring outcomes questions the legitimacy and accountability of government.

Pros of referendums.

• Encourages participation and education

• Provides clear answers.

• Results have been successfully implemented.

• Enhanced liberal democracy by limiting government power.

• Management overseen in the same manner as election, limiting govt. manipulation.

• Enhanced representation

• Public engagement.

Cons of referendums.

• Decreasing turnout undermines legitimacy.

• Close result can be more divisive.

• Campaigns have been misleading

• Govt. chooses if and when to call it concentrating power rather than limiting it.

• They have undermined representative democracy, challenging the Burkean principle.

• Simplifies complex issues.

• Parliamentary sovereignty is undermined.