I hope you are well.
I would like to request your assistance in writing a 1900-word essay for me. The essay should address on the following three questions where you feel most comfortable with, which are related to the Lecture: The general election of 1945 (and the invention of psephology) and seminar theme: The operation of the British electoral system – votes and seats
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For several general elections up to 2010, Labour won more seats in the House of Commons per thousand votes than did the Conservatives. What were the most important reasons for this “bias” in the electoral system?
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How does the “First Past the Post” electoral system influence the form and structure of politics in Britain?
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How might the course of politics in Britain since 1945 have differed if a proportional representation system had been used for general elections?
For each question, please incorporate some insights from the following readings:
Ron Johnston and Charles Pattie, Putting Voters in Their Place : Geography and Elections in Great Britain. Oxford: O.U.P., 2006, ch. 8.
- This chapter will provide insights into the geographical distribution of votes and seats and help explain the bias in seat allocation between Labour and Conservatives.
David Butler, ‘Electoral Systems’ in David Butler, Howard Penniman and Austin Ranney, Democracy at the Polls. Washington DC, American Enterprise Institute, 1981, pp. 7-25.
- This reading covers the fundamentals of various electoral systems and their effects, providing a solid background for understanding the implications of the “First Past the Post” system.
Dick Leonard and Roger Mortimore, Elections in Britain: A Voter’s Guide, 5th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, ch. 4.
- This chapter offers detailed insights into British electoral practices and their outcomes, which will be useful for analyzing the effects of the electoral system on political structures.
Simon Hix, Ron Johnston, and Iain McLean, ‘Choosing An Electoral System’. British Academy, March 2010.
- This publication discusses the considerations and consequences of different electoral systems, providing context for discussing hypothetical changes to proportional representation.
Alan Renwick, The Alternative Vote: A Briefing Paper. London: Political Studies Association, 2011.
- This paper will help understand alternative electoral systems and their potential impact, useful for discussing how British politics might differ under proportional representation.
Please ensure that the essay is well-structured, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion and no plagiarism or AI. Additionally, use proper citations and references for the sources mentioned above.
Thank you very much for your help!