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Elections

Elections. Lecture Notes produced By Dr Peter Jepson Read & précis Chapter 2 of ‘AS UK Government & Politics’ by Garnett & Lynch (2005). 1. Functions of elections. According to Garnett & Lynch “In a liberal democracy elections should be competitive, free and fair.”

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Elections

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  1. Elections Lecture Notes produced By Dr Peter Jepson Read & précis Chapter 2 of ‘AS UK Government & Politics’ by Garnett & Lynch (2005). 1

  2. Functions of elections • According to Garnett & Lynch “In a liberal democracy elections should be competitive, free and fair.” • We will not briefly consider each of these three elements - thinking about how we operate in the UK and asking ourselves - What about our elections? 2

  3. Competitive elections … • Competitive means - a meaningful choice between different political parties. • But - what if those parties are offering more or less the same thing - all supporting a capitalist system - with broadly similar political aims? 3

  4. Free elections … • Free elections - require basic civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and association, the right to join and and stand for a party of one’s choice and a free press. • Do we have freedom of speech in the UK? Do we have freedom of association (What about Hizb-ut-Tahira?)? Do we have a free press? 4

  5. Fair elections … • The maxim ‘one person, one vote, on value’ is a key criterion for a fair election: all citizens have one vote that is of the same worth. • Do we in the UK? If I vote Conservative in a safe Labour seat - I am wasting my vote. But if I vote the same in a marginal seat - it could influence the outcome. 5

  6. Electoral system • According to Garnett and Lynch … “the electoral system should translate votes cast into seats won in the legislature in a reasonably accurate manner.” • What we will need consider is if the FPTP, or any other system of elections, provides or can guarantee such an outcome. 6

  7. Functions of elections … • Representation - indirect election. • Choosing a government - Do we in the UK? • Participation of the electorate. • Influence over policy. Does a loss influence policy (e.g. Labour’s unilateral nuclear disarmament policy)? 7

  8. Functions of elections … • Government accountability Is an MP made to account? Is the govt called to account? • Citizen education - inform the public on policy. • Legitimacy - free and fair elections give authority to the political system. • Elite recruitment - What is it? 8

  9. Break into Pressure Groups • One group to be a ‘Top-down theorist’ - another a ‘bottom-up theorist’ group. [See page 29 of Garnett & Lynch). • Report back to the class.. 9

  10. Types of UK Elections … • Elections take place at different levels in UK politics. • General Election - House of Commons 659 MP’s. Do we elect the Prime Minister? When are they held? • EU elections - Who does this elect? 10

  11. Types of election … • Elections to devolved assemblies - Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly both elected directly (via the additional member system). Northern Ireland Assembly (via STV). • Local elections - Can you name them? • By-elections - What are they? 11

  12. The mechanics of voting • See page 31-32 of Garnett & Lynch - produce a diagram/chart based upon Box 2.1 - Milestones in UK democracy. Which milestone do you think is the most important and why? 12

  13. Who votes and how? • Produce a list of people who vote and who do not vote. • Which Government Department is responsible for voting and what is the role of the Electoral Commission? 13

  14. Break into Pressure Groups • Break into pressure groups to discuss and agree the alternative methods of voting (see page 33-34 of Garnett & Lynch) …Assess/discuss each one - then recommend to the class some changes to the voting arrangements.

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