other FPTP

• First-past-the-post (FPTP)

  1. The country is divided into constituencies

  2. Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP)

  3. Each party can nominate only one candidate to stand for election in each constituency

  4. Voters have only one vote each and they choose their candidate by marking an X next to their favoured candidate's name

  5. The winner of the election is the candidate who wins more votes than any other candidate (plurality)

  6. The winner does not require an absolute majority (50%+) of the votes cast
• This system is used for elections to the Westminster Parliament
• Plurality means they have won more votes than others
• Majority government


  One party is in power and enjoys a majority of seats in the House of Commons
• Hung parliament

  Occurs when no party has a majority of seats; either a minority government or a coalition government is formed
• Coalition government

  Where two or more parties are in power. While no party enjoys a majority of seats on their own, combining the seats of the parties in power gives them a majority of seats overall
• Minority government


  One party makes up the government, but it does not have a majority of seats. It often governs by making deals with other parties to support it on key votes, which is what the Conservatives did with the DUP between 2017 and 2019
• Confidence and supply arrangements

  Deals where a minority government is supported by other parties on key votes