Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
First Past the Post tends to lead to a two-party system because...
People might be encouraged to vote strategically rather than for the party they support most because...
POINT
Extremes of government in power can lead to
Some argue FPTP is unfair because a party can win a majority in the House of Commons but receive less than 50% of the votes. This can be seen as undemocratic because less than half the population voted in favour of the winning party.
EXPLAIN
Constituency B (safe)
This happens because FPTP measures the number of constituencies won not the number of votes cast.
EXAMPLE
Constituency A (marginal)
Labour 30,000 votes
Conservative 10,226 vote
Liberal Democrats 4,333 votes
SNP 3,266 votes
Labour 21,200 votes
Consevative 21,999 votes
Liberal Democrats 8,656 votes
SNP 3,821 votes
For example, in the 2005 general election the Labour party won a majority of over 55% of seats but only around 35% of votes.
It is simple and easy to understand - one cross against one candidate's name and produces a quick and understandable results.
Each constituency has an MP whose responsibility is to directly represent them.
Usually one party gains a clear majority and can form a government. This avoids coalition governments which can lead to political gridlock, as seen in many German political coalitions.
FPTP is tried and tested, producing some of the oldest and most stable democracies in the world.
This is because FPTP measures the constituencies won not the percentage of votes cast to give parties seats in the House of Commons.
A party may win many ______ with a very small ____________, meaning the party coming second gathers many ______ but few seats.
Some argue this is unfair to _________ parties because it creates a two-horse-race between the ___________ Party and _______________ Party.
In the 2010 UK General Election, the Lib Dems won 23% of the vote, but only gained 57 seats. Whereas the Labour party won 258 seats and had only 29% of the vote.
First Past the Post (FPTP) is the electoral system used in the UK.
How it works:
- One ballot paper. One X against the person we wish to be our MP.
- All votes are counted. The person with the most votes becomes MP.
- Only 1 vote more than the runner up is needed to win.
- This happens in each of the 650 seats in the UK.
In groups try to explain how the UK voting system works
650
Electors = The voters.
Candidate =The person wishing to represent the public.
Constituency = An area that an MP (or MSP) represents.
Seat = Another name for a Constituency.
I will be able to;
- explain how FPTP works
- state advantages and disadvantages of FPTP
- confidently answer an exam question on FPTP