electoral systems

• what’s a majoritarian system?

  an electoral system in which the winning candidate must achieve an absolute majority of votes cast in a single-member constituency
• what’s a plurality system?

  the winner only needs a plurality of votes
• what’s a mixed system?

  combines elements of plurality or majoritarian systems with proportional representation
• who determines constituency boundaries?

  independent boundary commissions
• what’s a safe seat?

  a constituency where the incumbent party has a large majority and which is retained by the same party every election
• which seat was the safest in 2017?

  Liverpool, Walton: Labour won 86%
• what’s a marginal seat?

  a constituency where the incumbent party has a small majority and which may be won by a different party at the next election
• what was the most marginal seat in 2017?

  North East Fife, SNP won by 2 votes
• what are the key features of FPTP?

  2-party system, winner’ bonus, bias to one party, discrimination against smaller parties, single-party government
• what are the arguments for FPTP?


  -simplicity: electors only vote once

  -clear outcome

  -strong and stable gov

  -responsible gov

  -keeps out extremism
• what are the arguments against FPTP?


  -disproportionate outcomes: the number of parl. seats won by parties at general elections doesn’t accurately represent the share of the vote they receive

  -plurality rather than majority e.g in 2005 Labour won a parl. majority with 35% of vote

  -limited choice: only one candidate stands for each party