Quiz – Do we live in a democracy?

Growing up in this country, we’re taught that we live in a democracy. Great! Take this quiz, see how many you get right. Then decide if we really do (and please let us know what you think):

1. What proportion/percentage of current British MPs were elected with 50% or more of the votes cast in their constituency?

2. Who directs/controls the business of the Commons a, b, or c?

a)    Cross party committee of party whips

b)    Speaker plus Senior Select Committee chairmen

c)     Government of the day

3. In the Lords, of 737 members how many are:

a) appointed

b) hereditary

d)    elected?

4. At British General Elections – in practice – the party that gets the most votes wins. True or false?

5. Of the 27 member states in the EU, how many use the first-past-the-post system of elections?

6. How many have a fixed term for parliaments so everyone knows when an election will be held?

7. At the last General Election in 2005 – what was the Labour majority (in seats)?

8. And what was the Labour share of the vote?

9. And the turnout?

10. Most British people are in favour of keeping FPTP.  True/false?

 

Answers (many thanks to Barry Slater for quiz)

Answers

1. 34%

2. c – the Government

3. a) 620 – for life!

b) 92 – for ever

c) Nil

oh, and 25 Bishops

4. False (3 times in 20^th C – 1929, 1951, Feb 1974 – the party with the most votes lost).

5. One – UK

6. 23 out of 27 (exeptions, UK, Denmark, Malta and Ireland)

7. 66

8. 35%

9. 61%

10. False – ICM poll for the Guardian said 52% for electoral reform, 43% against.

How did you do? Did anything surprise you? Would you like the system to change so it’s fair, or even just so that it’s democratic?

Please let us know what you think…