WorksheetsFirst Past the Post (FPTP) - Westminster Elections
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
In First Past the Post for UK general elections, how is the winner in a constituency determined?
Top two candidates face a runoff election
Candidate with the most votes wins the seat
Party with most national votes assigns seat
Candidate with over 50 percent of votes wins
Which feature best explains why FPTP produces strong constituency links?
Small, single-member districts with one MP
Large, multi-member regions with many MPs
Nationwide party lists allocate all MPs
Rotating MPs from neighbouring districts
What is a likely effect of many safe seats under FPTP?
Reduced voter choice and devalued votes locally
Higher proportionality across all parties
More frequent coalition governments nationally
Greater success for new minor parties overall
Which statement describes a common criticism of FPTP outcomes?
Minor parties gain seats in line with support
Seat shares can diverge from vote shares
Every vote contributes equally to seat totals
Turnout does not affect representativeness
A party wins 43% of votes nationwide but 56% of seats. Which conclusion fits FPTP dynamics?
Plurality seat bonuses can inflate representation
List thresholds excluded most small parties
Proportional allocation correctly matched votes
Runoff rules boosted the leading party fairly
Which feature best distinguishes the Additional Member System (AMS) from pure First Past the Post?
Single-member constituencies only
Runoff between top two candidates
Closed party list top-up seats
Open list with voter ranking
In Single Transferable Vote (STV), what is the usual purpose of the quota (threshold) calculation?
To assign parties television airtime
To set campaign spending limits
To decide constituency boundaries
To determine how many votes elect a candidate
Under STV in multi-member constituencies, how do voters typically express preferences?
Number candidates 1, 2, 3, and so on
Write in one candidate name
Tick one party box only
Rank parties but not candidates
A likely disadvantage noted for AMS is that some voters may feel uncertain because:
It uses no party lists at any level
It eliminates constituency representation
There is only one candidate per seat
The system can be complex with two votes
Why can STV reduce the number of ‘wasted votes’ compared to plurality systems?
Surplus votes are discarded immediately
Transfers count later preferences toward election
Votes cannot move between candidates
Only first preferences are counted once
Which statement best describes a majoritarian voting system used in UK mayoral elections before recent changes?
Requires only one more vote than any other candidate
Combines plurality features with proportional elements
Allocates seats in close proportion to total party votes
Designed to elect a single candidate with broad majority
Under the Supplementary Vote (SV), how could a candidate achieve an overall majority if no one led on first choices?
Through transfers from voters’ second-choice preferences
By adding blank ballots to the leading candidate’s total
By holding a separate run-off weeks after the first round
Through proportional allocation across multiple districts
What legislative change most notably ended the use of the Supplementary Vote in certain UK elections?
The Representation of the People Act 1983 created SV
The Elections Act 2022 replaced SV with FPTP
The Scotland Act 1998 mandated AMS nationwide
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 restored STV
Which classification correctly matches system type with where it is used in the UK?
Hybrid used for English local councils under FPTP
Proportional used for London Mayor by STV rules
Majoritarian used for Northern Ireland Parliament
Plurality used for General Elections under FPTP
Which statement best describes the Alternative Vote (AV) system?
A single transferable vote across multi‑member districts
A majoritarian method using ranked preferences and eliminations
A proportional list system allocating seats by party totals
A mixed system combining constituency and regional top‑ups
In the 2011 UK referendum on AV, what was the outcome?
The vote was canceled due to low national turnout
The proposal was rejected with about 68% voting No
The proposal passed narrowly with 52% voting Yes
The proposal was tied and rerun the following year
Which factor most plausibly explains why smaller parties might gain from STV compared with FPTP?
STV guarantees a clear single‑party winning mandate
STV uses multi‑member constituencies encouraging broader representation
STV strengthens the single‑member constituency link
STV reduces proportionality below that of FPTP
Which feature best protects voter privacy during UK elections, as shown in the diagram?
Open declaration of individual votes
Secret ballot used at polling stations
Public posting of marked ballots
Shared voting booths for efficiency
According to the visual summary, which institution provides independent oversight of UK elections?
Independent Electoral Commission
Supreme Court judicial panel
Cabinet Office policy unit
Parliamentary party whips office
Which pair of features together most directly expands citizen participation in UK elections, based on the diagram?
Freedom of the media and counting regulation
Universal adult suffrage and candidacy access
Constituency representation and anti-corruption laws
Regular election timing and vote secrecy
