Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Additional member system AMS
- Additional member system is a hybrid system of both majoritarian and
proportional elements.
- Voters mark an "X" next to the candidate they would like to represent
their constituency (FPTP) and proportional representation where voters
elect candidates from several parties to represent them at a regional
level.
- Advantages
- At least one effective vote so votes less likely to be wasted
- Extends voter choice
- The number of votes a party gains is reflected on the amount of
seats they are given ( proportional represenation).
- Eliminates safe seats -> may encourage some people to vote
- Proportional representation allows smaller parties to gain seats and representation in parliament
- Coalitions are more likely- this may be a benefit because coalitions
collide two parties therefore may be more representative
- Avoids situation where few marginal seats control the whole result
- Disadvantages
- Voter confusion - more complex method of
allocating seats, takes a longer time to
calculate so longer waiting time
- The system of allocating seats is complex and many will
not understand what is happening to their votes.
- Proportional representation gives area more than one
representative ( this may lead to constituents being confused about
who their constituency MP's and regional MP's ) -------> weak MP and
constituent link
- Coalition governments may be less stable than majority government- if the government disagree and
are divided over certain issues the government will fail
- Smaller parties holding the balance of power between two larger parties
- Extremist parties have more of a chance to gain seats then under FPTP
- Accountability maybe lost in a coalition where the smaller party is dictating however the larger party takes responsibility
- Unrepresentative political party activists deciding who goes on the list
- Used in the Scottish parliament, Welsh assembly, greater London assembly
- Some AMS systems use a threshold- (percentage of the vote a
party must gain to win any seats