POLITICAL
POLITICAL
SCIENCE
SCIENCE
FPTP
SYSTEM
CLASS
CLASS
— Sampurna Ganguly
XI
XI
INTRODUCTION
It is one of the simplest and oldest methods
of election.
The country/state is divided into
constituencies.
Each constituency elects one
representative.
The candidate who gets the highest number
of votes wins, even without majority.
It is used in countries like India, UK,
Canada.
It is easy, quick, and helps form stable
government.
HOW DOES IT WORKS ?
In the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, the whole
country is divided into constituencies.
Each constituency elects one representative.
Political parties put up their candidates to contest
elections.
Voters cast their vote for the candidate they prefer.
After voting, the votes are counted.
The candidate who gets the highest number of votes is
declared the winner, even if they do not have more
than half of the total votes.
This process is repeated in all constituencies, and the
party with the most winners usually forms the
government.
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FEATURES OF FPTP SYSTEM
The country is divided into different areas
(constituencies).
Each area chooses one leader (representative).
The person who gets the most votes wins, even
if it is not more than half.
People vote for only one candidate.
Counting votes is easy and quick.
Mostly, big parties benefit more than small ones.
It usually gives a stable government.
The winning leader is responsible to the people
of that area.
Many countries like India and UK use this system.
THE FPTP SYSTEM
FLOW CHART
Country is divided into constituencies
⬇️
Each constituency elects ONE representative
⬇️
Candidates contest elections
⬇️
Voters cast their votes
⬇️
Votes are counted
⬇️
Candidate with the HIGHEST number of votes wins
⬇️
Party with most winners usually forms the Government
ADVANTAGES OF FPTP SYSTEM
It’s easy to understand: the one with the most votes is the winner.
Counting is quick, so winners are known without much waiting.
Usually, one party gets a clear majority, so governments don’t fall again and again.
Every area has its own representative, so people know who to question or approach.
Since it’s straightforward, elections are cheaper and easier to conduct.
Very small or extreme parties rarely win, so politics stays more balanced.
Helps national-level parties to get more seats, which makes ruling smoother.
DISADVANTAGES OF FPTP SYSTEM
A candidate can win even if most people didn’t vote for them, just because they got
“the biggest slice of the pie.”
Lots of votes get wasted since only the winner’s votes really matter in the end.
Smaller parties or independent candidates often get sidelined, even if people actually
like them.
The system usually favors the big parties, while minority voices get drowned out.
Sometimes voters feel like, “Why bother? My vote won’t change anything,” especially
if their candidate keeps losing.
A party can end up forming the government even without true majority support from
all voters—just by winning in more constituencies.
THE FPTP SYSTEM
MIND MAP
CONCLUSION
The First-Past-The-Post system gets the job done,
but it's not perfect. It's easy to understand, and it
often leads to stable governments. However, it
can also mean that some voices aren't heard, and
smaller groups get left behind. It's a trade-off, and
whether it's the right fit depends on what a
country values most in its democracy.
Maza Aaya
Maza Aaya ??
Thank You
— Sampurna Ganguly
— Sampurna Ganguly
