1.3.3 Electoral system analysis Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Politics, Unit 1

The 20 questions

1. Which UK electoral system strongly favours the two largest political parties?

   • First Past the Post
   • Closed List System
   • Additional Member System
   • Single Transferable Vote

2. A party winning 30% of votes but only 15% of seats demonstrates what feature?

   • Under-representation
   • Proportional representation
   • Absolute majority
   • Over-representation

3. A party winning 60% of seats from 40% of votes demonstrates what outcome?

   • Under-representation
   • Proportional outcome
   • Marginal defeat
   • Over-representation

4. Why were proportional systems chosen for devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales?

   • Single-party majorities
   • Strong executive power
   • Lower voter turnout
   • Wider party representation

5. What is a key advantage of the Single Transferable Vote system?

   • Single party rule
   • Zero wasted votes
   • High voter choice
   • Instant election results

6. What is a key criticism of the Additional Member System?

   • High wasted votes
   • Two-tier representative system
   • Highly disproportionate results
   • Reduced voter choice

7. Replacing FPTP with proportional representation makes which government type most likely?

   • Absolute monarchy
   • Coalition government
   • Single-party majority
   • Presidential executive

8. Which concept describes the difference between a party's vote share and seat share?

   • Differential turnout
   • Disproportionality
   • Governing competency
   • Partisan dealignment

9. A party receiving 12% of votes but 1% of seats illustrates what effect of FPTP?

   • Concentrated support bonus
   • Mandatory seat allocation
   • Dispersed support penalty
   • Proportional representation

10. Under First Past the Post, what are votes cast for losing candidates called?

    • List votes
    • Supplementary votes
    • Wasted votes
    • Transferable votes

11. Which electoral system allocates seats based on fixed party lists without individual candidate choice?

    • Closed list PR
    • Open list PR
    • Single Transferable Vote
    • Alternative Vote

12. What primary mechanism determines changes to electoral systems used in the UK?

    • Judicial review
    • Monarchical decree
    • Automated review
    • Legislation by Parliament

13. How does the Additional Member System reduce disproportionality in election outcomes?

    • First-preference thresholds
    • Compensatory list seats
    • Multi-member ranking
    • Majoritarian runoff rounds

14. Why do major governing parties in the UK typically defend First Past the Post?

    • Greater candidate choice
    • Electoral winner's bonus
    • Mandatory voter turnout
    • Proportional coalition outcomes

15. What feature of an electoral system is shown when vote share greatly exceeds seat share?

    • Partisan dealignment
    • Disproportionality
    • Proportionality
    • Majoritarianism

16. How is the proportionality of an electoral system primarily measured?

    • Executive power share
    • Voter turnout rate
    • Number of candidates
    • Vote-to-seat ratio

17. What type of government is most likely under a proportional electoral system?

    • Presidential executive
    • Coalition government
    • Single-party majority
    • Absolute monarchy

18. Which type of government does First Past the Post usually produce?

    • Grand alliance
    • Minority coalition
    • Single-party government
    • Coalition government

19. Why is First Past the Post often criticised regarding voter representation?

    • Disproportionate seat outcomes
    • High voter turnout
    • Excessive voter choice
    • Frequent coalition governments

20. Why do political parties often disagree on changing the electoral system?

    • Monarchic disapproval
    • Constitutional illegality
    • Self-interest in outcomes
    • Mandatory international rules

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