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Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in use in the UK make significant differences to party representation - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 2
Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in use in the UK make significant differences to party representation. You must consider this view and the alte... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in use in the UK make significant differences to party representation - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
First past the post (FPTP) makes a significant difference to party representation.
Answer
FPTP is known for favoring larger parties and creating a two-party system, which can lead to significant disparities in representation. In elections, the candidate with the most votes wins, meaning that smaller parties often struggle to gain seats, even if they have considerable support nationwide.
Step 2
Alternative Vote (AV) makes a considerable difference to party representation.
Answer
The Alternative Vote system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, which can lead to more diverse representation. AV tends to eliminate the issue of 'wasting' votes, allowing smaller and regional parties to gain a foothold in Parliament.
Step 3
Single Transferable Vote (STV) offers a different form of representation.
Answer
STV is designed to provide more proportional representation than FPTP or AV. By allowing voters to rank candidates in multi-member constituencies, it ensures that a wider variety of political views can be represented, thus reflecting the electorate's preferences more accurately.
Step 4
Disagreement with FPTP's impact on party representation.
Answer
Some argue that FPTP does not significantly impact party representation in instances where smaller parties exhibit strong regional support. The argument posits that votes within certain areas may still allow these parties to hold influence without altering the overall parliamentary structure.
Step 5
Assessing the argument against significance.
Answer
Critics of FPTP suggest that while it favors larger parties, it simultaneously creates stable governments. Hence, the simplicity of FPTP may lead some to argue that its advantages outweigh issues of representation, emphasizing the current governmental stability.