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Topic 3: electoral system - Coggle Diagram
Topic 3: electoral system
3.1 First-past-the-post (FPTP), Additional Member System (AMS), Single Transferable Vote (STV), and Supplementary Vote (SV). The advantages and disadvantages of these different systems.
First past the post (FPTP)
This is a simple system where the winner is the one with most votes.
Advanatges
Simple system to understand and vote
Creates reliable and strong majority governments (mostly)
Disadvanatages
Not proptional
Could result in winners who got less then 50% of the vote
Usually results in a two party system (EG: Conservatives vs Labour in the UK)
Additional member system (AMS)
Voters have two votes, one for their constituency and one for their region. Consistency is done using FPTP and Region is done to make the results more proptional
Advanatges
Somewhat Proptional
Ensures more votes arent wasted
Disadvantages
Constituency seats still mean FPTP is used
Still somewhat encourages tactical voting
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Voters rank candidates based on how they like them, there is a set quota for how many people get elected per seat. If any candidates get over 50% of the first preference votes then they automatically get elected, otherwise the candidate with the lowest votes are eliminated. Redistribute the votes to their second favripoute and keep going until all seats are filled.
Advanatges
Most proportional out of all the systems
ENsures candidates that are broadly popular but not manys favorites get a chance to win.
Disadvantages
Loses the link between consciticey and public
Most complex system
Supplementary Vote (SV)
Voters have 2 votes - if no one gets over 50% of the vote then the top two continue to a second round where votes are redistributed.
Advantages
Leaves less votes to waste
Still a somewhat easy and simple system to understand
Disadvantages
Still a lot of wasted votes
Still encourages tactical voting
3.2 Referendums and how they are used. The case for and against referendums in a representative democracy. How referendums have been used in the UK and their impact on UK political life since 1997.
Referendums
These are sort of mini elections where voters decide on a issue - usually complex and controversial such as brexit - which is used to inform government policy
For and against
For
Helps legitimise political decisions
EG: Devolution referendums in Scotland in 1997 helped to put weight under devolution in Scotland as it showed that the public wanted it.
Gives politicians clarity on certain issues
EG: Brexit referendum finally helped give us a direction for our EU membership
Against
May not end debate around a issue/issue stays contversial
EG: Brexit referendum resulted in us leaving the EU but the EU debate still goes on.
Not legally binding
Technically, since parliament has supremacy, it could just ignore the referendum result. In practise, this will most likely not work out well but theoretically they could.
Usage since 1997
Devolution Referendums (1997-2011)
These have been used to see if the populations of Wales, Scotland and Northern ireland were interested in devolution among others, this was mostly passed with ease excerpt for Wales (where the yes vote barely won) and the north east in 2004 which was easily defeated
AV Vote 2011
Part of a bargaining chip used to get Liberal Democrats into Cameroon's coalition, the referendum aimed to ask voters if we should switch our voting system from FPTP to AV. It had a low turnout and was easily defeated due to both Conservatives and Labour campaigning against it
Brexit 2016
Probably the most famous and infamous referendum in recent times. Asked whether to leave the EU or not which had been a bitter debate since we joined in the 70's. Overall, leave got a small majority and the rest is history
3.3 Debates on why different electoral systems are used in the UK. The impact of different systems on party representation and of electoral systems on voter choice. The impact of the electoral system on the government or type of government appointed.
Debates on electroal system
1997-2011
There was minor attempts at voting system debate between 1997 and 2011
Jenkins commission
Set up by the government in 1997 to see if we could change our voting system. Recommended we change to AMS but government ignored it basically.
2011 AV referendum
As part of the agreement for the Lib Dems to enter coalition with the Conservatives after the 2010 election, the government held a referendum of changing the voting system from FPTP to AV. This failed due to opposition from major parties as well as general apthay
Since 2011
There have been numerous times of smaller parties such as the Lib Dems trying to get protional representation across
It was in focus after the 2015 election when UKIP won a lot of votes but only won 1 seat and again in 2024 where Green and Reform UK did well but got 4 and 5 seats respectfully, showing that FPTP may not be fit for purpose anymore
Impact on party representation
Generally less propotional systems have less parties in national parliaments while over rewarding parties with small but concentrated support base, while punishing parties with large but scattered support base (EG: Reform UK got 14% of the vote in 2024 but only 5 seats)
On the other hand, more proportional systems generally increase representation for smaller parties as they need to get less votes in order to get into parliament
Electoral system impact on voter choice
Generally less proportional systems like FPTP has less choice as most candidates have little chance of winning and so most voters tactically vote for the main big parties.
Generally more proportional systems such as AMS have better voter choice as more candidates can realistically win and so therefore there are usually more candiates
Impact on government/type of government produced
Less proportional: FPTP + SV
Generally one party government most of the time (EG: Labour majority in 2024 and 1997)
Not always the case, rarely there is coalition government (EG: COnservtives + Lib Dems in UK 2010-2015)
More proportional: AMS + STV
Generally coalitions and two or more parties (EG: Germany 2025)
Rarely this results in a one party majority (SNP in Scotland in 2011)