starter activity
How many different types of elections can you name? What voting system is used? Does having variety help or hinder democracy?
What are the What are the main alternatives main alternatives
to FPTP?to FPTP?
To assess the strengths and To assess the strengths and weaknesses of alternative weaknesses of alternative voting systems in the UKvoting systems in the UK
To assess the impact of To assess the impact of alternative systems on the alternative systems on the outcome of UK electionsoutcome of UK elections
LOs
Your taskYour task Read the information on p.48-50 and Read the information on p.48-50 and
complete the chart your teacher provides.complete the chart your teacher provides. Gather up-to-date evidence on the Gather up-to-date evidence on the
outcome of recent elections to outcome of recent elections to supplements your notessupplements your notes
Evaluating electoral Evaluating electoral systemssystems
McNaughton has suggested 4 McNaughton has suggested 4 principal objectives:principal objectives: Decisive govt.Decisive govt. Political representation, with seats in Political representation, with seats in
prop. to votesprop. to votes Social representation, with Social representation, with
representatives in prop. to social make representatives in prop. to social make up of societyup of society
Choice between candidates & partiesChoice between candidates & parties
Your taskYour task
Look at the table on the next slide, Look at the table on the next slide, and apply Naughton’s criteria to the and apply Naughton’s criteria to the different voting systems. What score different voting systems. What score do you give each system? Compare do you give each system? Compare your results with the Box 4.7 in your results with the Box 4.7 in Roberts, p.66.Roberts, p.66.
10 points allocated to each aim. 10 points if objective is totally reached and 0 if 10 points allocated to each aim. 10 points if objective is totally reached and 0 if the objective is totally ignored.the objective is totally ignored.
SysteSystemm
11 22 33 44 TotalTotal
FPTPFPTP
SVSV
PRPR
STVSTV
AMSAMS
10 points allocated to each aim. 10 points if objective is totally reached and 0 if 10 points allocated to each aim. 10 points if objective is totally reached and 0 if the objective is totally ignored.the objective is totally ignored.
SysteSystemm
11 22 33 44 TotalTotal
FPTPFPTP 99 55 55 33 2222
SVSV 77 77 66 77 2727
PRPR 22 1010 77 66 2525
STVSTV 55 88 88 99 3030
AMSAMS 66 77 77 77 2727
PlenaryPlenary
Briefly summarise the advantages & Briefly summarise the advantages & disadvantages of the 4 alternative disadvantages of the 4 alternative voting systems we have analysedvoting systems we have analysed
What are the 4 categories What are the 4 categories McNaughton uses for assessing the McNaughton uses for assessing the viability of alternative voting systemsviability of alternative voting systems
What has been the experience of new What has been the experience of new systems in devolved assemblies & systems in devolved assemblies & European elections?European elections?
Extension taskExtension task
Use the weblinks on Studyhistory to find Use the weblinks on Studyhistory to find out the current make-up of the devolved out the current make-up of the devolved assemblies and European Parliamentassemblies and European Parliament
HomeworkHomework
Prepare for a slip test on electoral Prepare for a slip test on electoral systems – revise p.40-56 in your text booksystems – revise p.40-56 in your text book