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Where and why have proportional electoral systems been used since 1997? - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 3
Where and why have proportional electoral systems been used since 1997?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Where and why have proportional electoral systems been used since 1997? - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Where have proportional electoral systems been used since 1997?
Answer
Proportional electoral systems have been employed in several notable elections since 1997. These include:
- Elections to the European Parliament.
- Elections to the Scottish Parliament.
- Elections to the Welsh Assembly.
- Elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
- Elections for the Police Commissioners.
Step 2
Why have proportional electoral systems been used since 1997?
Answer
The implementation of proportional electoral systems has been driven by several key factors:
- An attempt to encourage higher voter participation by creating a more representative system.
- A significant element in the discussions with all parties involved, particularly regarding the structure for new governmental bodies.
- In Northern Ireland, the system was vital for ensuring collaboration within the power-sharing executive, choosing Single Transferable Vote (STV) to foster effective governance.
- To build a system that accurately reflected how individuals voted, establishing fair and representative electoral results.
- An assessment of electoral systems utilized for Westminster elections to evaluate their effectiveness in comparison.
- Aligning the UK's representation within the European Union, as proportional systems were used to maintain compliance with EU member standards.