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Analyse the ability of any one electoral system used in the UK to provide fair representation - Scottish Highers Modern Studies - Question b - 2022
Question b
Analyse the ability of any one electoral system used in the UK to provide fair representation. You should refer to Scotland or the United Kingdom or both in your ans... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Analyse the ability of any one electoral system used in the UK to provide fair representation - Scottish Highers Modern Studies - Question b - 2022
Step 1
Analyse the ability of the Additional Member System (AMS) to provide fair representation.
Answer
The Additional Member System (AMS) is used to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament. It combines elements of both proportional representation and first-past-the-post systems, aiming to balance the advantages of both.
Fair Representation Through AMS
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Proportional Representation: AMS allows voters to cast two votes—one for a candidate in their constituency (FPTP) and another for a party list in a larger regional context. This dual mechanism helps ensure that the overall results reflect the proportion of votes each party receives, offering a more balanced representation than a purely FPTP system.
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Reducing Wasted Votes: By incorporating a party list component, AMS effectively reduces the number of wasted votes, as parties that gather a significant proportion of votes can still gain seats, even if they do not win in specific constituencies.
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Diverse Representation: AMS has been shown to enhance the representation of smaller parties and independent candidates, which might struggle to win under a traditional FPTP system. This diversity contributes to a more inclusive political landscape.
Limitations of AMS
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Complexity: The dual voting system can confuse voters, making it more challenging for them to understand how their vote translates into representation.
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Coalition Governments: While AMS may lead to fair representation, it often results in coalition governments. This can dilute accountability since voters may struggle to identify who is responsible for specific policies.
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Regional Disparities: Despite its design, AMS may still perpetuate regional disparities. Areas that predominantly support larger parties could lack representation for smaller parties or independent candidates.
Conclusion
In summary, the Additional Member System demonstrates a notable ability to provide fair representation in Scotland by marrying the strengths of proportional representation and reducing wasted votes. However, it does have limitations, including increased complexity and potential for coalition governance, which can affect political accountability.