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Government and politics of the usa and comparative politics

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What are the 3 Main Types of Electoral Systems? A-Level Politics for Kids

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What are the 3 Main Types of Electoral Systems? A-Level Politics for Kids

Tanvir Ahmed

@txnvir_ahmed

72 Followers

Electoral Systems: An Overview of Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages

This document provides a comprehensive examination of various electoral systems used in government and politics. It covers the main types of electoral systems, their functions, and specific examples used in different parts of the UK. The text delves into the advantages and disadvantages of each system, with a particular focus on the First Past the Post (FPTP) system and its alternatives.

Key points:

Functions of elections and electoral systems
Types of electoral systems: plurality, majoritarian, hybrid, and proportional
Detailed analysis of FPTP, including its pros and cons
Exploration of safe seats and marginal seats in FPTP
Overview of alternative systems like Additional Member System (AMS) and Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Comparison of different systems used in UK politics

This guide is particularly useful for students studying electoral systems for A-level Politics, especially those following the Edexcel curriculum. It provides insights into why different electoral systems are used in the UK and explores the advantages and disadvantages of various electoral systems.

31/03/2023

325

Electoral Systems H/W Electoral Systems
Different Electoral Systems
→ Functions of an Elections/ES
the
views
•Used to choose representatives

The Additional Member System (AMS)

This page explains the Additional Member System (AMS), a hybrid electoral system that combines elements of First Past the Post with proportional representation.

Key Features of AMS:

Used in the Scottish Parliament
Voters have two votes: one for a constituency candidate and one for a party
Combines FPTP constituencies with proportional party lists

Definition: The Additional Member System is a mixed electoral system that aims to achieve a balance between local representation and overall proportionality.

Structure of AMS in Scotland:

73 seats elected by FPTP in constituencies
56 additional seats allocated based on party vote to increase proportionality

Advantages of AMS:

Produces a broadly proportional outcome
Provides voters with more choice through two votes
Preserves the MP-constituency relationship
Supports smaller parties that may struggle in FPTP contests

Highlight: AMS is designed as a compromise, aiming to make the system partly proportional while maintaining some benefits of FPTP.

Disadvantages of AMS:

More complex than FPTP, potentially confusing for voters
Can result in the election of extremist candidates through party lists
Creates two classes of representatives (constituency and list MPs)

Example: In the Scottish Parliament, some elected representatives have a specific constituency to look after, while others (elected from party lists) do not have constituency responsibilities.

The page concludes by noting that while AMS increases proportionality and legitimacy, it also introduces complexities and potential issues with accountability.

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Electoral Systems

This page serves as the title page for the document on electoral systems. It introduces the topic that will be discussed in detail in the following pages.

Definition: Electoral systems are the methods used to conduct elections and determine the allocation of seats or positions based on the votes cast.

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Different Electoral Systems

This page provides an overview of the functions of elections and electoral systems, as well as the main types of electoral systems used in various contexts.

Functions of Elections and Electoral Systems:

Choose representatives based on citizens' views
Often the primary form of political participation for citizens
Hold government accountable
Serve an educative function
Provide a mandate and grant democratic legitimacy to winners

Highlight: Electoral systems play a crucial role in democratic societies by translating votes into representation and power.

Types of Electoral Systems:

Plurality systems (e.g., First Past the Post - FPTP)
Majoritarian systems (designed to secure an absolute majority)
Hybrid systems (combining plurality and proportional elements)
Proportional systems (allocating seats in proportion to votes cast)

Example: The UK General Elections use the First Past the Post system, while the Scottish Parliament uses the Additional Member System (AMS), a hybrid system.

The page then focuses on the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, which is used in UK General Elections. It outlines the basic principles of FPTP and discusses its advantages and disadvantages.

Definition: First Past the Post is a simple electoral system where voters choose a single candidate to represent their constituency, and the candidate with the most votes wins the seat, regardless of the proportion of votes received.

Advantages of FPTP:

Simple system
Ensures a close MP-Constituent relationship
Creates strong and stable governments
Disadvantageous to extremist parties

Highlight: FPTP tends to produce an outright winner, providing a clear mandate and increasing legislative powers.

Disadvantages of FPTP:

Favors large parties and creates a two-party system
Can lead to tactical voting and wasted votes
Produces a "winner's bonus" where parties win more seats than their proportionate share of the vote

Example: In the 2015 UK General Election, UKIP won over 12% of the votes but only secured one seat, highlighting the disproportionality of the FPTP system.

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The Single Transferable Vote (STV) and Supplementary Vote (SV)

This final page covers two additional electoral systems: the Single Transferable Vote (STV) and the Supplementary Vote (SV).

Single Transferable Vote (STV):

Used in Northern Ireland Assembly elections
Proportional system with a complex counting method
Ensures voters' preferences are aggregated

Advantages of STV:

Produces broadly proportional results
Offers voters a wide choice of candidates
Helps smaller parties and independent candidates get elected

Highlight: STV is considered one of the most proportional electoral systems, aiming to closely match seats to votes cast.

Disadvantages of STV:

Complex system for voters to understand
Complicated and lengthy vote counting process
Can help candidates with extremist views get elected
Unclear lines of accountability with multiple representatives per constituency

Supplementary Vote (SV):

Used to elect single candidates, mainly for city mayors in the UK
Voters have two choices
If no candidate achieves an absolute majority (>50%), a second round of counting occurs

Definition: The Supplementary Vote is a majoritarian system designed to ensure the winning candidate has broad support.

The page briefly outlines the SV system but does not provide detailed advantages or disadvantages.

Example: The Supplementary Vote system is used to elect the Mayor of London, allowing voters to express a first and second preference.

This concluding page highlights the diversity of electoral systems used within the UK, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses in terms of representation, proportionality, and voter engagement.

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Safe Seats and Marginal Seats

This page delves into the concepts of safe seats and marginal seats within the First Past the Post electoral system, explaining their implications for voter behavior and political representation.

Safe Seats:

Constituencies where the same party is almost certain to win in every election
Estimated that 316 out of 650 seats in the UK are considered safe seats
Implications for voter engagement and representation

Definition: A safe seat is a constituency where a particular party has such a strong historical voting pattern that it is highly unlikely to change hands in an election.

Effects of Safe Seats:

Voters in safe seats may feel their votes are wasted
Less attention and information provided to voters in these areas
Can lead to a cycle of disengagement

Marginal Seats:

Constituencies where the outcome of the election is in doubt
Elections are often won or lost in these marginal seats
Attract more attention from parties and candidates

Highlight: In the 2019 UK General Election, an estimated 77.6% of votes were considered "wasted" due to the FPTP system and the prevalence of safe seats.

Implications of Marginal Seats:

Increased importance of individual candidates
More valuable votes in terms of influencing election outcomes
Often lead to tactical voting

Definition: Tactical voting occurs when voters choose a candidate or party that is not their first preference in order to prevent a less desirable outcome.

The page emphasizes how the FPTP system creates disparities in the value of votes across different constituencies, potentially undermining the principle of equal representation.

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Subjects

Politics

Government and politics of the usa and comparative politics

Comparative politics

What are the 3 Main Types of Electoral Systems? A-Level Politics for Kids

Tanvir Ahmed

@txnvir_ahmed

72 Followers

Electoral Systems: An Overview of Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Key points:

Functions of elections and electoral systems
Types of electoral systems: plurality, majoritarian, hybrid, and proportional
Detailed analysis of FPTP, including its pros and cons
Exploration of safe seats and marginal seats in FPTP
Overview of alternative systems like Additional Member System (AMS) and Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Comparison of different systems used in UK politics

31/03/2023

325

12/13

Politics

The Additional Member System (AMS)

This page explains the Additional Member System (AMS), a hybrid electoral system that combines elements of First Past the Post with proportional representation.

Key Features of AMS:

Used in the Scottish Parliament
Voters have two votes: one for a constituency candidate and one for a party
Combines FPTP constituencies with proportional party lists

Definition: The Additional Member System is a mixed electoral system that aims to achieve a balance between local representation and overall proportionality.

Structure of AMS in Scotland:

73 seats elected by FPTP in constituencies
56 additional seats allocated based on party vote to increase proportionality

Advantages of AMS:

Produces a broadly proportional outcome
Provides voters with more choice through two votes
Preserves the MP-constituency relationship
Supports smaller parties that may struggle in FPTP contests

Highlight: AMS is designed as a compromise, aiming to make the system partly proportional while maintaining some benefits of FPTP.

Disadvantages of AMS:

More complex than FPTP, potentially confusing for voters
Can result in the election of extremist candidates through party lists
Creates two classes of representatives (constituency and list MPs)

Example: In the Scottish Parliament, some elected representatives have a specific constituency to look after, while others (elected from party lists) do not have constituency responsibilities.

The page concludes by noting that while AMS increases proportionality and legitimacy, it also introduces complexities and potential issues with accountability.

Electoral Systems

This page serves as the title page for the document on electoral systems. It introduces the topic that will be discussed in detail in the following pages.

Definition: Electoral systems are the methods used to conduct elections and determine the allocation of seats or positions based on the votes cast.

Different Electoral Systems

This page provides an overview of the functions of elections and electoral systems, as well as the main types of electoral systems used in various contexts.

Functions of Elections and Electoral Systems:

Choose representatives based on citizens' views
Often the primary form of political participation for citizens
Hold government accountable
Serve an educative function
Provide a mandate and grant democratic legitimacy to winners

Highlight: Electoral systems play a crucial role in democratic societies by translating votes into representation and power.

Types of Electoral Systems:

Plurality systems (e.g., First Past the Post - FPTP)
Majoritarian systems (designed to secure an absolute majority)
Hybrid systems (combining plurality and proportional elements)
Proportional systems (allocating seats in proportion to votes cast)

Example: The UK General Elections use the First Past the Post system, while the Scottish Parliament uses the Additional Member System (AMS), a hybrid system.

The page then focuses on the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, which is used in UK General Elections. It outlines the basic principles of FPTP and discusses its advantages and disadvantages.

Definition: First Past the Post is a simple electoral system where voters choose a single candidate to represent their constituency, and the candidate with the most votes wins the seat, regardless of the proportion of votes received.

Advantages of FPTP:

Simple system
Ensures a close MP-Constituent relationship
Creates strong and stable governments
Disadvantageous to extremist parties

Highlight: FPTP tends to produce an outright winner, providing a clear mandate and increasing legislative powers.

Disadvantages of FPTP:

Favors large parties and creates a two-party system
Can lead to tactical voting and wasted votes
Produces a "winner's bonus" where parties win more seats than their proportionate share of the vote

Example: In the 2015 UK General Election, UKIP won over 12% of the votes but only secured one seat, highlighting the disproportionality of the FPTP system.

The Single Transferable Vote (STV) and Supplementary Vote (SV)

This final page covers two additional electoral systems: the Single Transferable Vote (STV) and the Supplementary Vote (SV).

Single Transferable Vote (STV):

Used in Northern Ireland Assembly elections
Proportional system with a complex counting method
Ensures voters' preferences are aggregated

Advantages of STV:

Produces broadly proportional results
Offers voters a wide choice of candidates
Helps smaller parties and independent candidates get elected

Highlight: STV is considered one of the most proportional electoral systems, aiming to closely match seats to votes cast.

Disadvantages of STV:

Complex system for voters to understand
Complicated and lengthy vote counting process
Can help candidates with extremist views get elected
Unclear lines of accountability with multiple representatives per constituency

Supplementary Vote (SV):

Used to elect single candidates, mainly for city mayors in the UK
Voters have two choices
If no candidate achieves an absolute majority (>50%), a second round of counting occurs

Definition: The Supplementary Vote is a majoritarian system designed to ensure the winning candidate has broad support.

The page briefly outlines the SV system but does not provide detailed advantages or disadvantages.

Example: The Supplementary Vote system is used to elect the Mayor of London, allowing voters to express a first and second preference.

Safe Seats and Marginal Seats

This page delves into the concepts of safe seats and marginal seats within the First Past the Post electoral system, explaining their implications for voter behavior and political representation.

Safe Seats:

Constituencies where the same party is almost certain to win in every election
Estimated that 316 out of 650 seats in the UK are considered safe seats
Implications for voter engagement and representation

Definition: A safe seat is a constituency where a particular party has such a strong historical voting pattern that it is highly unlikely to change hands in an election.

Effects of Safe Seats:

Voters in safe seats may feel their votes are wasted
Less attention and information provided to voters in these areas
Can lead to a cycle of disengagement

Marginal Seats:

Constituencies where the outcome of the election is in doubt
Elections are often won or lost in these marginal seats
Attract more attention from parties and candidates

Highlight: In the 2019 UK General Election, an estimated 77.6% of votes were considered "wasted" due to the FPTP system and the prevalence of safe seats.

Implications of Marginal Seats:

Increased importance of individual candidates
More valuable votes in terms of influencing election outcomes
Often lead to tactical voting

Definition: Tactical voting occurs when voters choose a candidate or party that is not their first preference in order to prevent a less desirable outcome.

The page emphasizes how the FPTP system creates disparities in the value of votes across different constituencies, potentially undermining the principle of equal representation.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user