Aqa govp1 17/05/13

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Background on FPTP - Majoritarian, Non-Preferential, Non-Transferable Vote

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Majoritarian systems favour main parties, proportional systems allow minority parties to perform well

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Voters for minority parties are spread out and not concentrated in one area, therefore minority parties find it hard to gain a majority in a constituency

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Little voter choice as there is only really two real parties with a chance of winning so often people feel votes for minority parties are wasted

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What a referendum is and how they are used in UK, how they are brought about and referendums in other countries including initiative

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Most pure form of direct democracy, 'power to the people', classic tool of direct democracy, enhances voter views being represented which can lead to increased participation

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Prevent dangerous divisions within a party as they give a clear answer either way - discussed how some MP's in Conservative party want Referendum on Europe and how this would help to stop the disputes

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Can provide answers in parliamentary deadlock and solve tricky moral questions - mentioned 1995 Referendum in Eire on whether to legalise divorce

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Inconsistent with our representative democracy, undermining our traditions and taking the decisions out of the governments hands which is what we wanted as shown in the rejection of the AV system in 2011 in which we favoured a majoritarian system under representative democracy

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Regular use can lead to apathy - discussed Switzerland averaging 4 per year and how voter turnout to these referendums has decreased

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Most questions are too complicated for the general public to understand and many are too hard for a simple yes/no - discussed if public would know full implications of joining the Euro Currency or leaving the EU

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Decisions are not always final - discussed the Referendum for a Scottish Parliament in 1979 and again in 1997

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Conclusion summing up main points and suggested that they were in fact bad for UK as they could cause more harm than they are worth and we should let the Government make the decisions under our representative democracy

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Summed up what a political party is - people with same ideological beliefs and principles seeking power through political office

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Represent views of public - yes: many members join as they agree with their beliefs and policies - no: some believe parties are out of touch e.g bedroom tax

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Formulate policy and manifesto - yes: Conservatives have managed to reduce welfare handouts through means testing and bedroom tax - no: Labour failed full electoral reform promised in 1997 manifesto and Liberal Democrats failed on their university fees promise

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Political recruitment - yes: many members and many local councilors, MP's and let local supports get involved in canvassing and campaigning - no: some people are not allowed to run for election, discussed Emma Lewell-Buck being elected MP of Shields and her local council seat opening up in Primrose where Labour are proposing an all-women candidate list

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Conclusion - summed up all parties perform roles well, but all parties also fail to perform these roles and functions at least once in history