January 2009 Elections&Pressure Groups
- Created by: izzyanderson123
- Created on: 17-04-17 18:23
View mindmap
- January 2009 Elections& Pressure Groups
- Outline the workings of the additional member system
- A proportion of the seats are elected by first past the post
- The rest of the seats are elected through a regional list system
- In the list system, voters choose between parties not candidates
- Seats in the list section are awarded according to the proportion of votes for each party, adjusted according to the extent to which parties are discriminated against under FPTP
- How has the use of AMS affected party representation in the UK?
- It has meant that a wider and more diverse range of political parties have been elected than under FPTP
- It has revived and increased representation for the Conservative Party in Scotland especially but also in Wales
- It has enhanced the representation of the Green Party
- Introduces the fact that single party majorities are highly unlikely with AMS
- Should proportional representation be introduced for elections to the House of Commons?
- Under the current FPTP system, power tends to end up with one party no matter how small its majority MPs have been elected despite 75% of their constituency voting against them
- A more proportional system would give minority parties and independent candidates a better chance of getting into parliament
- Fairer treatment of minority parties and independent candidates
- Gives extremist parties power and a voice e.g. UKIP
- Produces weak coalition governments rather than strong majority governments which arguably can lead to indecision, compromise and legislative paralysis
- Reduce accountability to voters, as an ousted party of government can retain office by finding new coalition partners after an election
- Using examples distinguish between sectional and promotional pressure groups
- Sectional: represent a section of society, they are interested only in the interests of that group and have narrow goals E.G. CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY, British Bankers Association, Royal College of Nurses
- Promotional: groups that are concerned with a cause or an issue, they are open to all members of the community and believe their cause or issue will benefit community/society E.G. Freinds of Earth, Unlock Democracy, Action on Smoking and Health
- Explain the methods used by pressure groups to influence government
- They may protest and demonstrate in high profile venues such as Governmental offices and parliament
- Insider groups can be said to have ease of access in directly contacting both ministers and civil servants E.G. National Union of Farmers
- Sectional groups may strike to disrupt economic activity to move the government
- To what extent do pressure groups promote pluralist democracy
- The existence of vaired and numerous pressure groups support the theory of pluralism
- Opposing pressure groups compete in open forum for public and governmental attention
- The government openly accept the existence of pressure groups and involve them in decision making
- Pressure group activity can be viewed as elitist from several perspectives
- Governments favour certain groups who share their views or are at the time 'electorally' beneficial to their cause
- Some groups can afford advertising to get their message across and thus they buy power
- Outline the workings of the additional member system
Comments
No comments have yet been made