First-Past-the-Post
An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority.
Explanation
First-past-the-post (FPTP), also called simple plurality, is an electoral system where each constituency elects one representative — whoever gets the most votes wins, even without a majority. This system tends to produce two-party dominance, since votes for smaller parties are often "wasted." It is used for national elections in the United Kingdom, the United States (House elections), Canada, and India. Critics argue it distorts representation (a party can win a majority of seats with a minority of votes), while defenders say it produces clear winners and stable single-party governments. The UK's 2015 election is a classic case: UKIP won 12.6% of the vote but only 1 seat (0.15% of seats).
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