Edexcel A Level Politics Electoral Systems
Questions with Correct Answers 2026-2027
First Past the Post (FPTP) - correct answer-- An electoral system, sometimes known as a plurality system
- candidate with the largest number of votes is elected
- Victory is achieved by having at least one more vote than other contenders
Criteria for Voting Systems - correct answer-- A fair result that givingvvotes equal value
- A choice of candidates
- Link between representatives and the constituency
- Strong government that can pass laws
- Government can be held to account by the electorate
Advantages of FPTP - correct answer--
Quick and simple (easy to use and quickvresult) May 2010 election exception due to coalition (took 5 days
)
-
Provides a strong and stable government (two party system) (usually gives clear majority to a party when
then has a mandate, unlikely to lead to coalitions)
-
Exclusion of extremists (due to restricting smaller parties it prohibits extreme partiesv(racists, xenophobic
) to gain a foothold.
-
Promotes a strongvlink between MPs and constituencies (MPs can communicate with constituents and h
old surgeries tovmake themselves available to those seeking help and advice.
Disadvantages of FPTP - correct answer--
MPs and government don't need majority (e.g. 2015 election Belfast South Alasdair McDonnell polled 14
.7% of the electorate)
- Conservatives (David Cameron) house majority with 36.9% of popular vote
- UKIP got 12.7% but 1 seat
-
Lack of proportionality (FPTP doesn't translate the number of votes into seats for each party with any rea
l accuracy) 2015 UKIP won 3.9 million votes and 1 seat
, - Limited voter choice (each party only puts forward one candidate) - may lead to tactical voting
- Safe seats leads to unequal votes
Marginal Seats - correct answer-- Seats held by a small majority
- Small swing to an opposition candidate can cause the seatvto change hands
- E.g. Watford
Safe Seats -vcorrect answer-- Constituencies in which the sitting MP has a secure majority
- E.g. Newcastle North
Electoral Deserts - correct answer-- Areas of the country where a party cannot win seats
- E.g. South-East England is a desert for Labour
Additional Member System (AMS) - correct answer--vA hybrid electoral system
- The voter makes two choices
- First, the voter selects a representative by FPTP
- A second vote is made for a party
- Additional members would be elected by these votes
- Additional members don't have a constituency
Single Transferable Vote (STV) - correct answer--
An electoral system where preferencesvare ranked numerically
- In order to win a seat, a candidate must obtain a quota (number of votes)
-
After the votes are cast, if a candidate meets the quota, their excess votes are transferred to other candid
ates based on second preference
-
The candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and votesvredistributed based on next prefere
nce
- Repeated until all seats are filled
Questions with Correct Answers 2026-2027
First Past the Post (FPTP) - correct answer-- An electoral system, sometimes known as a plurality system
- candidate with the largest number of votes is elected
- Victory is achieved by having at least one more vote than other contenders
Criteria for Voting Systems - correct answer-- A fair result that givingvvotes equal value
- A choice of candidates
- Link between representatives and the constituency
- Strong government that can pass laws
- Government can be held to account by the electorate
Advantages of FPTP - correct answer--
Quick and simple (easy to use and quickvresult) May 2010 election exception due to coalition (took 5 days
)
-
Provides a strong and stable government (two party system) (usually gives clear majority to a party when
then has a mandate, unlikely to lead to coalitions)
-
Exclusion of extremists (due to restricting smaller parties it prohibits extreme partiesv(racists, xenophobic
) to gain a foothold.
-
Promotes a strongvlink between MPs and constituencies (MPs can communicate with constituents and h
old surgeries tovmake themselves available to those seeking help and advice.
Disadvantages of FPTP - correct answer--
MPs and government don't need majority (e.g. 2015 election Belfast South Alasdair McDonnell polled 14
.7% of the electorate)
- Conservatives (David Cameron) house majority with 36.9% of popular vote
- UKIP got 12.7% but 1 seat
-
Lack of proportionality (FPTP doesn't translate the number of votes into seats for each party with any rea
l accuracy) 2015 UKIP won 3.9 million votes and 1 seat
, - Limited voter choice (each party only puts forward one candidate) - may lead to tactical voting
- Safe seats leads to unequal votes
Marginal Seats - correct answer-- Seats held by a small majority
- Small swing to an opposition candidate can cause the seatvto change hands
- E.g. Watford
Safe Seats -vcorrect answer-- Constituencies in which the sitting MP has a secure majority
- E.g. Newcastle North
Electoral Deserts - correct answer-- Areas of the country where a party cannot win seats
- E.g. South-East England is a desert for Labour
Additional Member System (AMS) - correct answer--vA hybrid electoral system
- The voter makes two choices
- First, the voter selects a representative by FPTP
- A second vote is made for a party
- Additional members would be elected by these votes
- Additional members don't have a constituency
Single Transferable Vote (STV) - correct answer--
An electoral system where preferencesvare ranked numerically
- In order to win a seat, a candidate must obtain a quota (number of votes)
-
After the votes are cast, if a candidate meets the quota, their excess votes are transferred to other candid
ates based on second preference
-
The candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and votesvredistributed based on next prefere
nce
- Repeated until all seats are filled
