Higher Modern Studies 2012-13: Discussion and Help Thread

Wouldn't advise staying up v. late, but you could wake up early.

AMS and STV furnish the voter with greater representation than FPTP. However, certain aspects of these systems of proportional representation can be criticised due to the nature of the representation they create.

Both the AMS and STV give the voter more choice. Under AMS the elector has two votes; one for there local msp and one for the regional msp and STV votes in order if preference 1,2,3,4 etc. This is a sharp contrast to FPTP where voters vote once. It can also be argued that STV leads to a more competitive election encouraging parties to stand because they have a better chance of gaining some form of representation. Small parties such as the greens and senior citizens have never won a seat with FPTP but stand better chances with AMS or STV.

One of the greatest strengths are there ability to produce a fairer and more proportionate result. As a system if proportional representation it attempts to provide a result that the percentage of seats won is a try reflection of the percentage if votes cast. Fptp fails to provide this as in 2005 labour won 35% of the vote but 55% of the seats.

Smaller parties are also given the chance to gain representation. For the first time in the uk the greens and senior citizens won seats in Holyrood under AMS. Never with FPTP. This is important in a pluralistic society, with diverse groups of people living in a complex society.

AMS is used in scotland and STV in Ireland to elect a coalition government; labour/lib dem. this allows more representation in government and prevents one party becoming an 'elected dictatorship' which is nearly all parties since WW2. Since the 1950's if only FPTP was used labour would win all elections outright in Scotland. However it can be argued that under fptp it is the electorate who decided who forms the government and not party leaders.

In conclusion, the systems of PR clearly provide a more fairer and propionate result that FPTP and enable smaller parties to gain representation. However, the major Criticism is that it leads to a confused result that decides who the government is and not the electorate.

Hope that helps



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my teacher thinks that health and wealth government policys will come up xx

Wouldn't advise staying up v. late, but you could wake up early.

Non governmental organisations and united nations organisations.

seriously are people gonna stay up all night and cram or are you all sleeping ?

my teacher thinks that health and wealth government policys will come up xx

I'm going to bed in like 30 minutes, getting up at half 5!