Electoral System Analysis
Uk's different electoral systems.
Different electoral systems in the UK include FPTP for general elections, STV for Northern Ireland Assembly elections, AMS for Scotland, Wales and London Assembly elections and SV for mayoral elections.
First Past the Post use
- FPTP is used for UK general elections because it is simple, easy for voters to use and often produces a strong government.
- Labour and the Conservatives benefit from the voting system, and changing it would likely harm their election success.
- The AV referendum in 2011, which voted against changing the system, suggests there is limited popular support to move away from FPTP.
Single Transferable Vote use
- STV prevents one party dominating in the Northern Ireland Assembly and ensures the government which forms shares power from numerous parties.
- This is important in Northern Ireland where there has traditionally been a conflict between nationalist and unionist communities.
Additional Member System use
- AMS is used because it has representative results and is more proportional than FPTP, without as radical a change as STV.
Supplementary Vote use
- SV is used for electing Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners.
- SV is used because it is simple.
- By only enabling two candidates through to the final round, it means that candidates need a large amount of positive support and a clear mandate to win.
Impact of Electoral Systems
Electoral systems impact on the type of government that is appointed, voter choice and party representation.
Government type: coalition
- Proportional systems such as STV and AMS have increased the number of coalition governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
- The AMS voting system brought about a Scottish Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition in Scotland in 1999 and 2003, which removed tuition fees for university students and introduced free nursing care for elderly people, which did not exist in England.
Government type: minority
- Proportional systems, such as in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, have encouraged more negotiations between political parties.
- AMS has led to an SNP minority government from 2007-2011, in the most recent 2016 election and there has been a Labour minority government from 2011-2016 in Wales.
Voter choice
- AMS gives voters two votes, one for their constituency member and one for a party’s list candidates.
- STV gives voters a preferential vote on a number of candidates, including multiple candidates from the same party.
Party representation
- In FPTP parties are less successful if their vote is thinly spread rather than concentrated in specific areas.
1 Democracy & Participation
1.1 Representative & Direct Democracy
1.1.1 Direct Democracy
1.1.2 Pros & Cons of Direct Democracy
1.1.3 Representative Democracy
1.1.4 Pros & Cons of Representative Democracy
1.1.5 Comparing Types of Democracy
1.1.6 Case for Democratic Reform
1.1.7 End of Topic Test - Types of Democracy
1.1.8 Top Grade AO3/4 - Types of Democracy
1.2 Wider Franchise & Suffrage
1.2.1 History of the UK Franchise
1.2.2 Campaigns for Suffrage
1.2.3 End of Topic Test - Franchise & Suffrage
1.3 Pressure Groups & Other Influences
1.3.1 Types of Pressure Group
1.3.2 Functions of Pressure Groups
1.3.3 How Pressure Groups Influence
1.3.4 Case-Study Examples
1.3.5 Other Collective Orgs & Groups
1.3.6 End of Topic Test - Pressure Groups & Influences
1.3.7 Application Questions - Pressure Groups
1.4 Rights in Context
1.4.1 Development of Rights in the UK
1.4.2 The UK's Rights-Based Culture
1.4.3 End of Topic Test - Rights in Context
2 Political Parties
2.1 How Political Parties Work
2.1.1 Functions & Features of UK Political Parties
2.1.2 Funding of UK Political Parties
2.1.3 UK Funding Reform
2.1.4 End of Topic Test - Political Parties
2.1.5 Top Grade AO3/4 - Political Parties
2.2 Established Political Parties
2.2.1 The Conservative Party: History
2.2.2 The Conservative Party: Recent Leaders
2.2.3 The Labour Party
2.2.4 The Liberal Democrat Party
2.2.5 Ideas & Policies of UK Parties
2.2.6 End of Topic Test - Established Parties
2.2.7 Application Questions - Established Parties
2.3 Emerging & Minor Political Parties
2.3.1 Minority Parties
2.3.2 Minority Parties Case Studies
2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Minor Parties
2.4 UK Political Parties in Context
2.4.1 Different Party Systems
2.4.2 Political Spectrum
2.4.3 Factors Affecting Party Success
2.4.4 End of Topic Test - Parties in Context
2.4.5 Application Questions - Parties in Context
3 Electoral Systems
3.1 Different Electoral Systems
3.1.1 FPTP & STV
3.1.2 AMS & SV
3.1.3 End of Topic Test - Electoral Systems
3.1.4 Top Grade AO3/4 - Electoral Systems
3.2 Referendums & How They Are Used
3.2.1 Case For & Against Referendums
3.2.2 End of Topic Test - Referendums
3.2.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Referendums
3.3 Electoral System Analysis
3.3.1 Electoral System Analysis
3.3.2 End of Topic Test - System Analysis
3.3.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Electoral System Analysis
4 Voting Behaviour & the Media
4.1 General Election Case Studies
4.1.1 Case Studies of Elections
4.1.2 Factors Influencing Voting in Elections
4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Case Studies & Factors
4.1.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - Case Studies & Voting
4.2 Media Influence
4.2.1 Media Influence
4.2.2 End of Topic Test - Media Influence
5 Conservatism
5.1 Conservatism: Core Ideas & Principles
5.1.1 Pragmatism & Tradition
5.1.2 Human Imperfection & Organic Society/State
5.1.3 Authority & Hierarchy
5.1.4 Paternalism
5.1.5 Empiricism
5.1.6 Anti-Permissiveness
5.1.7 Radical Conservative Ideas
5.1.8 End of Topic Test - Core Conservatism
5.2 Conservatism: Differing Views & Tensions
5.2.1 Traditional Conservatism
5.2.2 One-Nation Conservatism
5.2.3 New Right Conservatism
5.2.4 End of Topic Test - Different Views
5.3 Conservative Thinkers & Ideas
5.3.1 Thomas Hobbes & Edmund Burke
5.3.2 Michael Oakeshott & Ayn Rand
5.3.3 Robert Nozick
5.3.4 End of Topic Test - Conservative Thinkers
5.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Conservatism
6 Liberalism
6.1 Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles
6.1.1 Individualism & Freedom/Liberty
6.1.2 The State & Rationalism
6.1.3 Equality & Social Justice
6.1.4 Liberal Democracy
6.1.5 Other Important Liberal Ideas
6.1.6 End of Topic Test - Liberalism
6.2 Differing Views And Tensions Within Liberalism
6.2.1 Classical Liberalism
6.2.2 Modern Liberalism
6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Tensions & Views
6.3 Liberal Thinkers & Ideas
6.3.1 John Locke & Mary Wollstonecraft
6.3.2 John Stuart Mill & John Rawls
6.3.3 Betty Friedan
6.3.4 End of Topic Test - Thinkers & Ideas
6.3.5 A-A* - Liberalism
7 Socialism
7.1 Socialism: Core Ideas & Principles
7.1.1 Fraternity & Co-operation
7.1.2 Capitalism & Common Ownership
7.1.3 Communism
7.1.4 Collectivism
7.1.5 Common Humanity
7.1.6 Equality
7.1.7 Social Class & Workers' Control
7.1.8 End of Topic Test - Socialism
7.2 Differing Views And Tensions Within Socialism
7.2.1 Differing Views And Tensions
7.2.2 End of Topic Test - Views & Tensions
7.3 Socialist Thinkers and Their Ideas
7.3.1 Socialist Thinkers: Marx & Engels
7.3.2 Socialist Thinkers: Webb & Luxemburg
7.3.3 Socialist Thinkers: Crosland and Giddens
7.3.4 End of Topic Test - Thinkers & Ideas
7.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Socialism
8 The UK Constitution
8.1 Nature & Sources of UK Constitution
8.1.1 Development of the UK Constitution
8.1.2 Nature of the UK Constitution
8.1.3 Sources of the UK Constitution
8.1.4 End of Topic Test - Nature & Sources
8.2 Constitutional Change since 1997
8.2.1 Constitutional Reform 1997-2010 1
8.2.2 Constitutional Reform 1997-2010 2
8.2.3 Constitutional Reform 2010-15 & Reforms Since 2015
8.2.4 End of Topic Test - Reform
8.2.5 Application Questions - Reform
8.3 Role & Powers of Devolved UK Bodies
8.3.1 Devolution in England & Scotland
8.3.2 Devolution in Wales & Northern Ireland
8.3.3 End of Topic Test - Devolution
8.4 Debates on Constitutional Reform
8.4.1 Constitutional Reform & Devolution
8.4.2 Should the Constitution Be Codified?
8.4.3 End of Topic Test - Reform Debates
8.4.4 Application Questions - Codification & Devolution
9 The UK Parliament
9.1 Houses of Parliament
9.1.1 Houses of Parliament
9.1.2 Functions of the House of Commons
9.1.3 Functions of the House of Lords
9.1.4 End of Topic Test - Parliament
9.1.5 Top Grade AO3/4 - Parliament
9.2 Comparative Powers
9.2.1 Comparative Powers of the Houses
9.2.2 End of Topic Test - Comparative Powers
9.3 Legislative Process
9.3.1 Legislative Stages
9.3.2 Law-Making in the two Houses
9.3.3 End of Topic Test - Legislative Process
9.4 Parliament & Executive Interactions
9.4.1 Backbenchers
9.4.2 Select Committees
9.4.3 The Opposition
9.4.4 Ministerial Question Time
9.4.5 End of Topic Test - Parliament & Executive
9.4.6 Application Questions - Parliament & Executive
10 The Prime Minister & the Executive
10.1 The Executive
10.1.1 Structure of the Executive
10.1.2 Roles of the Executive
10.1.3 Powers of the Executive
10.1.4 End of Topic Test - PM & Executive
10.2 Ministerial Responsibility
10.2.1 Individual Ministerial Responsibility
10.2.2 Collective Ministerial Responsibility
10.2.3 End of Topic Test - Ministerial Responsibility
10.3 Prime Minister & the Cabinet
10.3.1 Role of the Prime Minister
10.3.2 Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.3 Limits on the Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.4 Role of the Cabinet
10.3.5 Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations
10.3.6 Prime Minister & Cabinet: Balance of Power
10.3.7 Prime Minister & Cabinet: Case Studies
10.3.8 End of Topic Test - PM & Cabinet
10.3.9 Top Grade AO3/4 - PM & Cabinet
11 Relationships Between Government Branches
11.1 The Supreme Court
11.1.1 Role & Composition
11.1.2 Principles & Influence of the Supreme Court
11.1.3 End of Topic Test - Supreme Court
11.2 Parliament & Executive Relations
11.2.1 Parliament & Executive: Questions
11.2.2 Parliament & Executive: Committees
11.2.3 Parliament & Executive: Voting
11.2.4 Executive Dominance Over Parliament
11.2.5 Balance of Power
11.2.6 End of Topic Test - Parliament & Executive
11.2.7 A-A* (AO3/4) - Relationships Between Government
11.3 The European Union & the UK
11.3.1 Aims & Policy Making of the European Union
11.3.2 End of Topic Test - EU & UK
11.4 Sovereignty in the UK Political System
11.4.1 Sovereignty in the UK Political System
11.4.2 End of Topic Test - Sovereignty
12 US Constitution & Federalism
12.1 Nature of the US Constitution
12.1.1 Nature of the US Constitution
12.1.2 Nature: Positives & Negatives
12.1.3 Constitutional Framework
12.1.4 The Amendment Process
12.1.5 End of Topic Test - Nature US Constitution
12.2 Principles of the US Constitution
12.2.1 Federalism
12.2.2 Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances
12.2.3 Bipartisanship
12.2.4 Limited Government
12.2.5 End of Topic Test - Constitutional Principles
12.3 Federalism
12.3.1 Main Characteristics
12.3.2 Federal Government and the States
12.3.3 End of Topic Test - Federalism
12.4 Interpretations & Debates
12.4.1 Democracy in the Constitution
12.4.2 Federalism
12.4.3 End of Topic Test - Debates
12.4.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - US Constitution
13 US Congress
13.1 Structure of Congress
13.1.1 Structure of Congress
13.1.2 Distribution of Powers
13.1.3 End of Topic Test - Congress Structure
13.2 Functions of Congress
13.2.1 Representation
13.2.2 Legislative
13.2.3 Oversight
13.2.4 End of Topic Test - Functions of Congress
13.3 Interpretations & Debates
13.3.1 Changing Roles & Powers
13.3.2 Changing Significance of Parties & of Powers
13.3.3 End of Topic Test - Debates
13.3.4 Application Questions - US Congress
14 US Presidency
14.1 Presidential Power
14.1.1 Formal Sources of Presidential Power
14.1.2 Informal Sources of Presidential Power
14.1.3 Powers of Persuasion
14.1.4 End of Topic Test - Presidential Power
14.2 The Presidency
14.2.1 President Relationship with Other Institutions
14.2.2 Limitations on Presidential Power
14.2.3 US Presidents Achieving Their Aims
14.2.4 End of Topic Test - Presidency
14.3 Interpretations & Debates of the US Presidency
14.3.1 The Imperial Presidency
14.3.2 The President in Foreign Policy
14.3.3 End of Topic Test - Debates
14.3.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - US Presidency
15 US Supreme Court & Civil Rights
15.1 Nature & Role of Supreme Court
15.1.1 Nature & Role of the Supreme Court
15.1.2 End of Topic Test - Nature & Role
15.2 Supreme Court Appointment Process
15.2.1 Appointment Process
15.2.2 Supreme Court Membership
15.2.3 End of Topic Test - Appointments
15.3 The Supreme Court & Public Policy
15.3.1 Supreme Court & Public Policy
15.3.2 End of Topic Test - Public Policy
15.4 Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
15.4.1 Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
15.4.2 Race & Rights in Contemporary US Politics
15.4.3 End of Topic Test - Rights & Liberties
15.5 Debates & Interpretations of the Supreme Court
15.5.1 Political Nature of the Supreme Court
15.5.2 Judicial Interpretation
15.5.3 Supreme Court Checks & Balances
15.5.4 End of Topic Test - Debates
15.5.5 Application Questions - The Supreme Court
16 US Democracy & Participation
16.1 Presidential Elections
16.1.1 Presidential Elections
16.1.2 Primaries
16.1.3 National Party Conventions
16.1.4 End of Topic Test - Presidential Elections
16.2 Electoral College
16.2.1 Electoral College System
16.2.2 Reforms
16.2.3 End of Topic Test - Electoral College
16.3 Electoral Campaigns
16.3.1 Issues in Elections
16.3.2 End of Topic Test - Campaigns
16.4 Incumbency
16.4.1 Elections & Incumbency
16.4.2 End of Topic Test - Incumbency
16.4.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Elections & Electoral College
16.5 Democrats & Republicans
16.5.1 National & State Level Organisation
16.5.2 Democratic & Republican Policies
16.5.3 Changing Party Significance
16.5.4 End of Topic Test - Democrats & Republicans
16.6 Internal Conflict & Ideology
16.6.1 Types of Democrats
16.6.2 Types of Republicans
16.6.3 End of Topic Test - Internal Conflict
16.7 Support & Demographics
16.7.1 Coalition of Supporters
16.7.2 End of Topic Test - Party Support
16.8 Interest Groups
16.8.1 Political Significance of Interest Groups
16.8.2 Interest Group Influence & Impact on Democracy
16.8.3 End of Topic Test - Interest Groups
16.8.4 Application Questions - Parties, Ideology & Groups
17 Comparing Democracies
17.1 Theoretical Approaches
17.1.1 Theoretical Approaches
17.1.2 End of Topic Test - Approaches
17.2 UK & USA Similarities & Differences
17.2.1 Constitution: Nature
17.2.2 Constitution: Provisions & Principles
17.2.3 Federal System & Devolution
17.2.4 Legislative: Lower Houses of Government
17.2.5 Legislative: Upper Houses of Government
17.2.6 Legislative: Powers & Functions
17.2.7 Executive
17.2.8 Supreme Court
17.2.9 Supreme Court: Judicial Independence
17.2.10 Civil Rights
17.2.11 Civil Rights: Interest Groups
17.2.12 Party Systems & Parties
17.2.13 Campaign Finance & Pressure Groups
17.2.14 End of Topic Test - Comparing UK & US
17.2.15 Application Questions - UK & USA
18 Feminism
18.1 Feminism: Core Ideas & Principles
18.1.1 Context of Feminism
18.1.2 Sex & Gender
18.1.3 Patriarchy & The Personal is the Political
18.1.4 Difference, Egalitarian & Intersectionality
18.1.5 Key Themes
18.1.6 End of Topic Test - Core Ideas & Principles
18.2 Different Types of Feminism
18.2.1 The Waves of Feminism
18.2.2 Socialist & Radical Feminism
18.2.3 Post-Modern Feminism
18.2.4 End of Topic Test - Different Types of Feminism
18.3 Feminist Thinkers & Their Ideas
18.3.1 Charlotte Gilman & Simone de Beauvoir
18.3.2 Kate Millett
18.3.3 Sheila Rowbotham & bell hooks
18.3.4 End of Topic Test - Feminist Thinkers & Ideas
18.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Feminism
19 Nationalism
19.1 Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles
19.1.1 Nations & Self-Determination
19.1.2 Nation-States & Culturalism
19.1.3 Racialism & Internationalism
19.1.4 Civic & Ethnic Nationalism
19.1.5 Liberal & Socialist Internationalism
19.1.6 Key Themes
19.1.7 End of Topic Test - Core Ideas & Principles
19.2 Different Types of Nationalism
19.2.1 Liberal & Conservative Nationalism
19.2.2 Post-Colonial & Expansionist Nationalism
19.2.3 Progressive & Regressive Nationalism
19.2.4 Inclusive & Exclusive Nationalism
19.2.5 End of Topic Test -Different Types of Nationalism
19.3 Nationalist Thinkers & Their Ideas
19.3.1 Jean-Jacques Rousseau & Gottfried von Herder
19.3.2 Giuseppe Mazzini & Charles Maurras
19.3.3 Marcus Garvey
19.3.4 End of Topic Test - Nationalist Thinkers & Ideas
19.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Nationalism
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A-A* (AO3/4) - Referendums
End of Topic Test - System Analysis
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Edexcel Past Questions and Topic Tracker
Paper 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas
Democracy and Participation | Political Parties | Electoral Systems | Voting Behaviour | Socialism | Conservatism | Liberalism | |
Sample Paper | X | X | X (x2) | X | X | ||
Specimen Paper | X | X | X (x2) | X (x2) | |||
2022 Mock Paper | X | X (x2) | X | X | X | ||
2019 Paper | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
2020 Paper | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
2021 Paper | X | X | X (x2) | X | X | ||
2022 Paper | X (x2) | X | X | X | X | ||
2023 Paper | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Using the source, evaluate the view that UK democracy is in crisis (Sample).
Using the source, evaluate the view that the major parties still remain the dominant force in UK politics (Sample).
Evaluate the view that general elections in the UK are lost by the government rather than won by the opposition (Sample).
Evaluate the view that social factors determine voting behaviour (Sample).
To what extent do modern and classical liberals agree over the role of the state? (Sample).
To what extent are different socialists committed to ‘equality of outcome’? (Sample).
Using the source, evaluate the view that the outcomes of general elections are stable and predictable (2019).
Using the source, evaluate the view that proportional representation would improve elections to the House of Commons (2019).
Evaluate the view that think-tanks, lobbyists and pressure groups have little impact on government decisions (2019).
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system are the Labour and Conservative parties (2019).
To what extent do socialists have conflicting views over how the economy should operate? (2019)
To what extent are conservatives united in their view of society? (2019)
Using the source, evaluate the view that a person’s age and the media have now replaced social class and region as clear indicators of voting behaviour (2020).
Using the source, evaluate the view that state funding of political parties would be preferable to a situation in which a party can win a general election because it has more members and income than other parties (2020).
Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK (2020).
Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in use in the UK make significant differences to party representation (2020).
To what extent do modern liberals accept the ideas of classical liberals? (2020).
To what extent does socialism depend on a view of society based only on class? (2020).
Using the source, evaluate the view that opinion polls bring more advantages than disadvantages to elections and referendums (2021).
Using the source, evaluate the view that in a democracy MPs are free to ignore referendum results and their own political party’s manifesto (2021).
Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means that the Westminster electoral system must be changed (2021).
Evaluate the view that the influence of the media in politics is exaggerated; it is not heavily biased and has little power of persuasion (2021).
To what extent is liberalism more concerned with society than with the economy? (2021).
To what extent is there more to unite rather than divide the New Right from One-Nation conservatives? (2021).
Using the source, evaluate the view that ‘pick-and-mix’ politics is replacing ‘Left-Right’ politics and political parties are becoming more internally divided than ever. (2022)
Using the source, evaluate the view – with specific reference to at least one devolved region using an alternative electoral system – that the case for PR to replace the Westminster FPTP voting system has now been established (2022)
Evaluate the view that it is the media not pressure groups that has the greater influence on governments (2022)
Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK are adequately protected and guaranteed (2022)
To what extent are conservatives united in their attitude towards the state? (2022)
To what extent is socialism more disunited than united? (2022)
Specimen Papers (Locked – Topics only, not questions)
Source 1 – Democracy and Participation
Source 2 – Electoral Systems
Essay 1 – Political Parties
Essay 2 – Electoral Systems
Ideologies 1 – Conservatism
Ideologies 2 – Conservatism
2022 Mock Papers (Locked – Topics only, not questions
Source 1 – Political Parties
Source 2 – Democracy and Participation
Essay 1 – Voting Behaviour
Essay 2 – Democracy and Participation
Ideologies 2 – Socialism
2023 Papers (Locked – Topics only, not questions)
Essay 1 – Electoral Systems
Essay 2 – Political Parties
Ideologies 1 – Liberalism
Paper 2: UK Government and Optional Political Ideologies
Paper 3A: US and Comparative Government and Politics
Paper 3B: Global Politics
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Debating Electoral Systems
Debating electoral systems.
Electoral reform has been seriously discussed in the UK since the 1980s , with the emergence of a strong third party (the Liberal Party, then the Liberal/SDP Alliance, and finally the Liberal Democrats) which struggled to turn its support into representation. As a result, the Lib Dems have consistently supported electoral reform. The Labour Party developed an appetite for this during its long time in opposition ( 1979-1997 ) when there was a belief that the only way to return to power would be through a coalition. However, this appetite diminished following the three Labour election victories in 1997 , 2001 __and __2005 .
The Conservative Party has consistently been the most strongly opposed to electoral reform, likely because FPTP __consistently over-represents its support. In __2010 __however, an agreement was reached with the Lib Dems that a referendum on changing the Westminster voting system would be held. The AV proposal was a compromise- the Lib Dems wished to introduce __STV , the Conservatives to retain FPTP .
AV was argued to be a good alternative to FPTP - the existing constituency system would remain, and the possibility of strong, single-party government would persist. In addition, MPs would be elected on the basis of at least 50% support in their constituency, ensuring strong representation. However, critics of AV argued that it was not significantly more proportional than FPTP . If the system had been in place in 1997 , Labour’s majority would have been 245 (rather than 178)- an even more disproportional outcome.
The defeat of AV in __2011 __seemed to put the issue of electoral reform to rest. However, the __2015 __election has been described as the most disproportional in history, __FPTP __being very unsuited to an age of multi-party politics. 24.2% of Commons seats were won by MPs who would not have won under a proportional system. 63% of voters voted for losing candidates.
Debates over electoral systems can be summarised as a debate between what is more important:
- An effective government (much more likely to be achieved through simple plurality systems such as FPTP ) which can get things done, has a strong mandate and can fulfil manifesto commitments
- A representative government (more likely to be achieved through proportional governments) which may be a coalition, represents a broader percentage of the electorate and actually reflects how the population voted
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Example UK Politics Essay: Discuss the view that the electoral system for Westminster should change to proportional representation
17th May 2016
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In simple terms, a proportional representation system is one in which the proportion of seats allocated to a particular party is the same as the proportion of votes won by that party. Each vote, therefore, carries equal weight, and typically there is a need for a multi-member constituency . Elections for the House of Commons currently use the “ winner take all ” approach of First Past The Post , which has been criticised for failing to represent the views of significant minorities and preventing smaller parties from having much influence in Parliament , thus ensuring a continued two-party system . Proportional representation can take a number of forms (and is already used in some parts of the UK) e.g. Single Transferable Vote in the NI Assembly, Additional Member System in the Scottish Parliament, and the Closed Party List for elections to the European Parliament. It will be argued in this essay that whilst proportional representation may enhance some elements of representative democracy , it may actually lead to more fragmented and unstable government and is therefore not desirable in the UK’s Westminster elections.
- Westminster Model
- First Past The Post (FPTP)
- Additional Member System (AMS)
- Supplementary Vote (SV)
- Closed party list
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Politics A-Level Edexcel DETAILED Essay Plans
Subject: Government and politics
Age range: 16+
Resource type: Assessment and revision
Last updated
8 April 2023
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Comprehensive Government and Politics essay plans covering topics:
- democracy and participation,
- political parties,
- electoral systems,
- voting behaviour and media
- the constitution,
- parliament,
- Prime Minister and executive,
- relationships between the branches.
Includes 4+ devoloped points with relevant evidence (AO1
I personally, comfortably secured an A* with these essay plans
*If you would like to purchase individual units, check out my other resources.
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Democracy challenged
‘A Crisis Coming’: The Twin Threats to American Democracy
Credit... Photo illustration by Matt Chase
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By David Leonhardt
David Leonhardt is a senior writer at The Times who won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Great Recession.
- Published Sept. 17, 2022 Updated June 21, 2023
Listen to This Article
The United States has experienced deep political turmoil several times before over the past century. The Great Depression caused Americans to doubt the country’s economic system. World War II and the Cold War presented threats from global totalitarian movements. The 1960s and ’70s were marred by assassinations, riots, a losing war and a disgraced president.
These earlier periods were each more alarming in some ways than anything that has happened in the United States recently. Yet during each of those previous times of tumult, the basic dynamics of American democracy held firm. Candidates who won the most votes were able to take power and attempt to address the country’s problems.
The current period is different. As a result, the United States today finds itself in a situation with little historical precedent. American democracy is facing two distinct threats, which together represent the most serious challenge to the country’s governing ideals in decades.
The first threat is acute: a growing movement inside one of the country’s two major parties — the Republican Party — to refuse to accept defeat in an election.
The violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress , meant to prevent the certification of President Biden’s election, was the clearest manifestation of this movement, but it has continued since then. Hundreds of elected Republican officials around the country falsely claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Some of them are running for statewide offices that would oversee future elections, potentially putting them in position to overturn an election in 2024 or beyond.
“There is the possibility, for the first time in American history, that a legitimately elected president will not be able to take office,” said Yascha Mounk, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University who studies democracy.
Vote Margins by State in Presidential Elections since 1988
Senate representation by state.
Residents of less populated states like Wyoming and North Dakota, who are disproportionately white, have outsize influence.
1 voter in Wyoming
has similar representation as
1 voter in North Dakota
6 voters in Connecticut
7 voters in Alabama
18 voters in Michigan
59 voters in California
has similar
representation as
Landslides in 2020 House Elections
There were about twice as many districts where a Democratic House candidate won by at least 50 percentage points as there were districts where a Republican candidate won by as much.
Landslide (one candidate won
by at least 50 percentage points)
Barbara Lee
Calif. District 13
Jerry Nadler
N.Y. District 10
Diana DeGette
Colo. District 1
Donald Payne Jr.
N.J. District 10
Jesús García
Ill. District 4
Landslide (one candidate won by at least 50 percentage points)
Presidential Appointments of Supreme Court Justices
Supreme Court appointments
Presidential election winners
Popular vote
Electoral College
Party that nominated a justice
David H. Souter (until 2009)
Clarence Thomas
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (until 2020)
Stephen G. Breyer (until 2022)
John G. Roberts Jr.
Samuel A. Alito Jr.
Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan
Neil M. Gorsuch
Brett M. Kavanaugh
Amy Coney Barrett
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Supreme Court
Presidential election
nominated a justice
Souter (until 2009)
Ginsburg (until 2020)
Breyer (until 2022)
State Legislators and Election Lies
The share of Republican state legislators who have taken steps, as of May 2022, to discredit or overturn the 2020 presidential election results
Pennsylvania
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COMMENTS
In order to repair the state of UK democracy, profound changes need to be made to Westminster electoral system, to reinstate democracy in the UK once again. Sadiyah Akther. Essay 2. The electoral system that has been used for UK general elections and by-elections, by Westminster since 1945, has been the First Past the Post system (FPTP).
Edexcel A-Level Politics Revision Guide Component 1 (UK Politics) - Electoral Systems 2023/24
Voter choice. Proportional systems such as AMS and STV give more choice to voters than FPTP where voters have one vote for one candidate. AMS gives voters two votes, one for their constituency member and one for a party's list candidates. STV gives voters a preferential vote on a number of candidates, including multiple candidates from the ...
Summary of A level politics complete with essay plans. electoral systems what are the functions of uk elections? representation participation accountability mp. Skip to document. University; ... Elections to Scottish local government (councils) use an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote (STV). STV was first used in Scotland in ...
🔗 https://www.politicsexplained.co.uk/everything - Visit the Politics Explained website to access the PDF that accompanies this video, free essay plans and...
Source 2 - Electoral Systems. Essay 1 - Political Parties. Essay 2 - Electoral Systems. Ideologies 1 - Conservatism. Ideologies 2 - Conservatism. 2022 Mock Papers (Locked - Topics only, not questions. Source 1 - Political Parties. Source 2 - Democracy and Participation. Essay 1 - Voting Behaviour. Essay 2 - Democracy and ...
Electoral System Analysis Implications for the UK of FPTP. FPTP is not proportional, so it is possible for a party to form a government despite gaining fewer votes than its opponent- this happened in February 1974, when Labour formed a minority government despite winning fewer votes than the Conservatives.FPTP also favours larger parties, due to the 'winner-takes-all' effect- large parties ...
UK governments win power with 35-40% of the vote, of a turnout in the region of 60-65%. This calls into question how far the government's authority is based on the will of the people. Everything you need to know about Electoral Systems for the A Level Politics Edexcel exam, totally free, with assessment questions, text & videos.
Debating Electoral Systems Debating electoral systems. Electoral reform has been seriously discussed in the UK since the 1980s, with the emergence of a strong third party (the Liberal Party, then the Liberal/SDP Alliance, and finally the Liberal Democrats) which struggled to turn its support into representation.As a result, the Lib Dems have consistently supported electoral reform.
In simple terms, a proportional representation system is one in which the proportion of seats allocated to a particular party is the same as the proportion of votes won by that party. Each vote, therefore, carries equal weight, and typically there is a need for a multi-member constituency. Elections for the House of Commons currently use the "winner take all" approach of First Past The ...
The Politics A level Shed. The Politics Shed. Welcome to the Politics Shed. ... AQA 25 Mark essay Impact of the Judiciary 2022 Paper 1. Case Study Rishi Sunak. AP US Government and Politics. ... Different electoral systems. The function of elections. Election Maps · First Past the Post (FPTP),
Essay Plan - Electoral Systems (Politics) Produces a strong government - there needs to be a majority for the party to be in government. Lots of the wasted votes could come from voters that are already in support of the leading party. FPTP allowed Labour to secure 418 seats out of the 659 available in the 1997 general election (only needed 330 ...
docx, 25.21 KB. A* Politics Paper One - Electoral Systems Essays + Essay Plans. Edexcel Politics. A range of essays and essay plans, including PEEL paragraphs, to highlight the different Assessement Objectives and how to achieve them in an essay. Essays include -. Evaluate the view that FPTP should be replaced with PR for Westminster Elections.
POLITICS A LEVEL PAPER 1 EDEXCEL ESSAY PLANS. 30 terms. tmaclavs. ... • the hard facts of the first past the post electoral system is that smaller parties stand no real chance of getting enough seats to make a difference, for example when the Conservative opposition had their vote radically reduced (1997) they still easily formed the official ...
Global Politics Political ideas Essay Structure ... older essays will not necessarily be formatted correctly, nor will they represent the requirements of the post 2019 linear changes. ... Asses the different criticisms of electoral systems in the UK Read More. Component 1, Elections, Politics, UK Politics Contributor 4/2/15 Component 1 ...
In 2019 the Liberal Democrat's won 11.5% of the vote but just 11 seats out of the 650 available. If the system had been proportional they would have won 75 seats. Representation - Conservatives. In 2019 the Conservatives won 56% of the seats, and therefore a majority, with just 43.6% of the vote.
Component 1, Elections, Politics, UK Politics. Essays: Would a change to the Westminster electoral system improve the state of UK democracy? The state of the current Westminster electoral system has been argued to have created a democratic deficit. It is undeniable that the current system is in need of significant and dire reform, in order to ...
It doesn't translate the number of votes into seats for each party with any real accuracy. Explain AMS. - It is a hybrid electoral system. - It fuses elements of FPTP and proportional representation. - - The public cast two votes one which follows the rules of FPTP - a constituency represented is elected.
political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and media; the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches. Includes 4+ devoloped points with relevant evidence (AO1. I personally, comfortably secured an A* with these essay plans *If you would like to purchase individual units, check out my ...
By the middle of the 1790s, in part driven by competition for the presidency, American politics had divided into two national political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. 20. Problems quickly arose. The Electoral College system was not designed for a world of party politics.
1. Voters have two votes: one vote for a party and one vote for a candidate. 2. A proportion of the number of the total allocated seats are given using FPTP (40% of votes = 40% of seats) 3. The rest of the seats are allocated using the party list system: Voters vote for a party, parties will publish a list of candidates in order of preference ...
The House of Representatives has a more equitable system for allocating political power. It divides the country into 435 districts, each with a broadly similar number of people (currently about ...
A gameable electoral system? The Additional Member System in Scotland. Advantages and Disadvantages. ... Essay plan: 'Evaluate the view that the constituion no longer does the job for which it was intended' (30 marks) ... These resources follow the structure for Edexcel A and AS level Government and Politics.There are three units to be studied ...