FPTP, AMS, STV, and SV Voting Systems (OCR A-Level Politics): Revision Notes
3.1.1 FPTP, AMS, STV, and SV Voting Systems
Functions of Electoral Systems
Elections allow citizens to be involved in the democratic system through votes. They provide a mandate, giving a party legal authority to rule and form the government.
There are different types of electoral systems, such as FPTP, STV, SV, and AMS:
- FPTP: The person with the highest number of votes is elected.
- AMS: Voters make two choices. The first is through FPTP and the second is another representative.
- STV: Voters rank their preferences.
First Past the Post (FPTP)
The First-Past-The-Post system is used for UK general elections. Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, these elections are held every five years.
Note: An election can be called earlier if two-thirds of Members of Parliament (MPs) vote for one. This provision allowed early elections in 2017 and 2019, driven by the political turmoil surrounding Brexit.
How it Works
At Constituency Level
- The UK is divided into 650 constituencies, each representing approximately 70,000 people.
- Each constituency elects one MP to the House of Commons.
- Voters cast a single ballot, marking an 'X' next to their chosen candidate. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat and represents the constituency.
At National Level
- MPs from each constituency form the House of Commons.
- A party needs at least 326 out of 650 seats to hold a majority and form a government.
- In the absence of a majority, parties may form coalitions or a minority government.
Note: The Conservative Party's coalition with the Liberal Democrats in 2010 and reliance on the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in 2017 are examples of such arrangements.
The Effects of Using FPTP
Two-Party System
FPTP tends to favour larger parties with broad geographic support, leading to a two-party dominance, primarily benefiting Labour and the Conservatives. Smaller parties often struggle to gain proportional representation.
Winner's Bonus: FPTP often results in the winning party receiving a higher percentage of seats than votes. For example, in the 2019 election, the Conservative Party secured 43.6% of the vote but 56.2% of the seats.
Strong, Single-Party Government
Typically, FPTP yields a single-party majority government in the UK House of Commons. This has been evident in recent general elections (2010, 2015, 2017), though with variations.
Confidence and Supply: A confidence and supply agreement occurs when one party supports another in key votes, particularly budget (supply) and votes of no confidence.
Coalition vs. Confidence and Supply
| Coalition | Confidence and Supply |
|---|---|
| A formal agreement between two or more parties forming the government. | A more informal agreement between the governing party and one or more other parties. |
| Results in joint policy creation and shared governmental roles. | Results in support for specific issues in exchange for agreed-upon policies. |
| The government includes members from all coalition parties. | The government is formed solely by members of the dominant party. |
Safe and Swing Seats
FPTP creates safe seats, where a party has strong support, almost guaranteeing victory. Conversely, marginal or swing seats are competitive and often determine the election outcome.
Recent Examples:
2017 General Election: Resulted in a hung parliament, showcasing FPTP's flexibility in managing complex political landscapes.
2019 General Election: Highlighted the potential for dramatic shifts in power, with the Conservative Party achieving a significant majority.
2024 General Election: Demonstrated how FPTP allows parties to be easily removed from government based on public satisfaction, with Labour achieving a "landslide" victory.
Additional Member System (AMS)
How it Works
- Two Votes: Voters have two votes; one for a constituency representative (local MSP) and one for a regional representative.
- Constituency Vote: The first vote works like FPTP.
- Regional Vote: The second vote is proportional. Regions are divided into multi-member constituencies, and seats are allocated using the D'Hondt formula.
Example: In the 2016 Scottish Parliament Election, the proportional element allowed smaller parties like the Greens to gain representation.
Effects of Using AMS
- Proportional Representation: AMS promotes a more proportional outcome, helping smaller parties gain seats.
- Coalition Governments: Often leads to coalition or minority governments due to the difficulty of achieving an outright majority.
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
How it Works
- Preference Voting: Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
- Multi-Member Constituencies: Northern Ireland is divided into 18 constituencies, each electing six representatives.
- Droop Quota: Candidates must achieve a set quota of votes to be elected. Excess votes and those from eliminated candidates are transferred according to preferences.
Example: Northern Ireland Assembly Elections use STV to provide proportional representation, reflecting voter preferences more accurately than FPTP.
Effects of Using STV
- Proportional Outcomes: Ensures fairer representation of smaller parties and independents.
- Coalition Governments: Often results in coalition governments, reflecting the diverse political landscape. Recent Examples:
2017 UK General Election: Resulted in a hung parliament, leading to a confidence and supply agreement.
2019 UK General Election: Demonstrated FPTP's potential for dramatic swings in power.
2016 Scottish Parliament Election: AMS's ability to provide proportional outcomes with SNP winning a plurality but not a majority.