Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
In the 1990s, preceding the widespread adoption of AWS, women constituted less than 10% of Members of Parliament in the UK House of Commons.
Answer: True
Explanation: Prior to the significant implementation of all-women shortlists in the 1990s, the representation of women in the UK House of Commons was notably low, accounting for less than 10% of all MPs.
What is the fundamental definition and primary objective of 'all-women shortlists' (AWS) as delineated in the provided source material?
Answer: An affirmative action practice in the UK aimed at increasing the proportion of female MPs by allowing only women candidates in specific constituencies.
Explanation: The source identifies all-women shortlists (AWS) as an affirmative action practice in the United Kingdom. Their principal aim is to augment the proportion of female Members of Parliament (MPs) by permitting only women to contend as candidates in designated constituencies for a given political party. This approach constitutes a form of positive discrimination intended to mitigate the historical underrepresentation of women in political spheres.
Prior to the significant implementation of AWS in the 1990s, what proportion of MPs in the UK House of Commons were women?
Answer: Less than 10%
Explanation: Before the widespread adoption of all-women shortlists in the 1990s, the representation of women in the UK House of Commons was below 10%, highlighting the historical underrepresentation that such policies sought to address.
What does the concept of 'critical mass,' mentioned in the article, refer to in the context of representation?
Answer: The minimum number of women needed within a body to influence decision-making.
Explanation: In the context of representation, 'critical mass' refers to the minimum threshold of individuals from a particular group, such as women, required within an institution to exert influence on decision-making processes and policy outcomes.
The Labour Party ceased utilizing all-women shortlists for general elections in March 2022.
Answer: True
Explanation: In March 2022, the Labour Party discontinued the use of all-women shortlists for general election purposes, reportedly due to legal advice concerning potential unlawfulness under the Equality Act, particularly after achieving a majority of female MPs.
The Conservative Party actively implemented mandatory all-women shortlists across a majority of constituencies during the 1990s.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Conservative Party did not actively implement mandatory all-women shortlists across most constituencies in the 1990s; instead, they favored alternative strategies such as encouraging voluntary selection of female candidates.
For the 1997 general election, the Labour Party utilized all-women shortlists to select candidates in half of its winnable seats.
Answer: True
Explanation: In preparation for the 1997 general election, the Labour Party implemented all-women shortlists for candidate selection in approximately 50% of its winnable constituencies.
The Liberal Democrats employed a 'zipping' method, alternating male and female candidates, prior to the 1999 European Parliament elections.
Answer: True
Explanation: Prior to the 1999 European Parliament elections, the Liberal Democrats utilized a 'zipping' strategy, which involved alternating male and female candidates on their electoral lists to ensure gender balance.
In 2001, the Liberal Democrats adopted all-women shortlists as their primary strategy to enhance female representation.
Answer: False
Explanation: In 2001, the Liberal Democrats rejected the use of all-women shortlists, deeming them 'illiberal,' and instead focused on setting targets for female candidates in winnable seats.
David Cameron reversed his initial opposition to AWS and later indicated he would consider imposing them due to the slow pace of representation progress.
Answer: True
Explanation: David Cameron, initially opposed to all-women shortlists, later reversed his stance, stating he would consider their imposition due to the perceived slow progress in achieving adequate representation for women.
For the 2015 general election, the Conservative Party utilized all-women shortlists for the selection of all its candidates.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Conservative Party used all-women shortlists for the selection of only a limited number of candidates for the 2015 general election, not for all its candidates.
In March 2022, the Labour Party decided to cease utilizing all-women shortlists. What was the reported rationale for this decision?
Answer: Legal advice suggested potential unlawfulness under the Equality Act, particularly after achieving a majority of female MPs.
Explanation: The Labour Party's decision in March 2022 to discontinue all-women shortlists was reportedly influenced by legal counsel indicating potential contravention of the Equality Act, especially given the party's attainment of a majority of female MPs.
For the 1997 general election, what specific policy did the Labour Party implement regarding candidate shortlists?
Answer: They ensured at least one statutory female candidate was on each shortlist.
Explanation: For the 1997 general election, the Labour Party implemented a policy ensuring that at least one statutory female candidate was included on each shortlist. This was a precursor to the more extensive use of all-women shortlists.
Which strategy did the Conservative Party prefer over mandatory gender quotas like AWS for increasing female representation?
Answer: Actively persuading constituencies to select female candidates voluntarily.
Explanation: The Conservative Party favored a strategy of actively persuading constituency associations to voluntarily select female candidates, rather than implementing mandatory gender quotas or all-women shortlists.
What system did the Liberal Democrats employ before the 1999 European Parliament elections to ensure gender balance?
Answer: A 'zipping' method of alternating candidates
Explanation: Prior to the 1999 European Parliament elections, the Liberal Democrats utilized a 'zipping' method, which involved alternating male and female candidates on their electoral lists to achieve gender balance.
How did the Liberal Democrats' approach to increasing female representation in 2001 differ from Labour's AWS policy?
Answer: They rejected AWS as 'illiberal' and set a target of 40% female candidates in winnable seats.
Explanation: In 2001, the Liberal Democrats rejected all-women shortlists, characterizing them as 'illiberal.' Instead, they established a target of selecting 40% female candidates in winnable seats, arguing the issue was a lack of candidates rather than overt discrimination.
Which political party utilized all-women shortlists for the selection of a limited number of candidates in the 2015 general election?
Answer: Conservative Party
Explanation: The Conservative Party employed all-women shortlists for the selection of a restricted number of candidates during the 2015 general election.
In December 1995, an industrial tribunal ruled that Labour's all-women shortlist policy was lawful under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to the statement, an industrial tribunal ruled in January 1996 (following a challenge initiated in December 1995) that Labour's all-women shortlist policy was unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as it prevented men from consideration.
The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 prohibited political parties from utilizing positive discrimination in candidate selection.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 did not prohibit positive discrimination; rather, it legalized the use of such practices, including all-women shortlists, by political parties in candidate selection.
The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 initially legalized AWS with a 'sunset clause' expiring at the end of 2015.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 included a 'sunset clause' that initially permitted the legalization of all-women shortlists only until the conclusion of 2015.
The Equality Act 2010 extended the legal allowance for practices like AWS until the year 2030.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Equality Act 2010 incorporated a 'sunset clause' that extended the legal permissibility of practices such as all-women shortlists, originally set to expire in 2015, to the year 2030.
The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 had a significant effect on candidate selection policies. What was its primary impact?
Answer: It legalized the use of positive discrimination, such as AWS, by political parties.
Explanation: The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 legalized the practice of positive discrimination by political parties in candidate selection, thereby providing a legal basis for measures like all-women shortlists.
What was the initial expiration date stipulated by the 'sunset clause' within the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002?
Answer: End of 2015
Explanation: The 'sunset clause' within the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 initially set the expiration date for the legalization of practices like all-women shortlists to the end of 2015.
What does the 'sunset clause' associated with the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 imply regarding the legality of AWS?
Answer: It indicated that the legalization of AWS was temporary and scheduled to expire.
Explanation: The 'sunset clause' within the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 signified that the legalization of practices like all-women shortlists was intended to be temporary, with a predetermined expiration date.
Labour's objective of achieving 100 female MPs following the 1997 general election was successfully attained.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Labour Party's strategic use of all-women shortlists for the 1997 general election contributed to the successful achievement of its goal to have 100 female MPs elected.
In the 1997 general election, the majority of Labour candidates selected via AWS were unsuccessful in securing election.
Answer: False
Explanation: In the 1997 general election, a significant majority of Labour candidates selected through all-women shortlists were successful, with 35 out of 38 candidates elected to Parliament.
Labour's AWS policy contributed to an increase in the total number of female MPs to 128 following the 2005 general election.
Answer: True
Explanation: The implementation of Labour's all-women shortlist policy was a contributing factor to the rise in the total number of female MPs to 128 after the 2005 general election.
By the 2019 general election, the percentage of female representation in the UK House of Commons had surpassed 33%.
Answer: True
Explanation: The data indicates that by the 2019 general election, the proportion of women serving as MPs in the UK House of Commons had exceeded 33%.
According to the provided table, the Liberal Democrats had the highest percentage of women MPs among their elected members in 2019.
Answer: True
Explanation: The table data shows that in 2019, the Liberal Democrats recorded the highest proportion of women MPs within their parliamentary contingent, with 64% of their elected members being women.
A credited positive impact of AWS is that they reinforced societal prejudices that previously hindered women's selection as candidates.
Answer: False
Explanation: A credited positive impact of AWS is the dismantling, rather than reinforcement, of societal prejudices that previously impeded women's selection as candidates. The statement incorrectly posits reinforcement of prejudices.
Jacqui Smith, who became the first female UK Home Secretary, was elected to Parliament utilizing an all-women shortlist.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source indicates that Jacqui Smith, who later served as the UK's first female Home Secretary, was elected to Parliament through the mechanism of an all-women shortlist.
The overall percentage of women MPs in the UK House of Commons increased from approximately 22% in 2010 to 34% in 2019.
Answer: True
Explanation: Data indicates a progressive increase in female representation within the UK House of Commons, rising from approximately 22% in 2010 to 34% by the 2019 general election.
How many Labour candidates selected via all-women shortlists were elected in the 1997 general election?
Answer: 35
Explanation: In the 1997 general election, 35 out of the 38 candidates selected by Labour through all-women shortlists were successful in gaining election to Parliament.
Which of the following is identified in the source as a positive impact of all-women shortlists?
Answer: Increased parliamentary focus on issues such as women's health and childcare.
Explanation: A positively attributed impact of all-women shortlists is the increased attention within Parliament dedicated to issues pertinent to women, including healthcare and childcare.
According to the table data, what percentage of MPs were women in the House of Commons in 2019?
Answer: 34%
Explanation: The data presented in the table indicates that by the 2019 general election, 34% of the Members of Parliament in the House of Commons were women.
In 2019, which party, according to the table, had the highest proportion of its own MPs being women?
Answer: Liberal Democrats
Explanation: According to the table data for 2019, the Liberal Democrats exhibited the highest proportion of women among their elected Members of Parliament, with 64% of their MPs being women.
What connection does the article suggest between an increase in female MPs and parliamentary priorities?
Answer: Increased attention to issues such as women's health and childcare.
Explanation: The article posits a connection between the rise in the number of female MPs and a subsequent increase in parliamentary focus on issues such as women's health and childcare.
All-women shortlists (AWS) are primarily employed in the United Kingdom with the objective of increasing the representation of male Members of Parliament.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary purpose of all-women shortlists (AWS) is to increase the proportion of female Members of Parliament, not male MPs, by allowing only women candidates in designated constituencies. This affirmative action strategy aims to address historical underrepresentation.
The loss of the Blaenau Gwent seat for Labour in the 2005 election was attributed to the strong performance of their AWS candidate.
Answer: False
Explanation: The loss of the Blaenau Gwent seat for Labour in the 2005 election was attributed to the success of an independent candidate running on an anti-AWS platform, rather than the performance of the AWS candidate.
Diane Abbott praised AWS for effectively recruiting numerous ethnic minority women into politics.
Answer: False
Explanation: Diane Abbott, while an early supporter, criticized all-women shortlists for inadvertently becoming 'all white women shortlists,' failing to adequately recruit ethnic minority women into politics.
Ann Widdecombe argued that all-women shortlists represented the type of special privileges the suffragettes actively opposed.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ann Widdecombe articulated a critique of all-women shortlists, positing that they constituted special privileges, which she argued the suffragettes would have opposed in their fight for equal opportunities.
A primary criticism of AWS is that they are inherently democratic and consistently uphold meritocratic principles in candidate selection.
Answer: False
Explanation: A principal criticism leveled against all-women shortlists is that they are considered undemocratic and potentially undermine meritocratic principles in candidate selection, rather than upholding them.
The loss of the Blaenau Gwent seat for Labour in the 2005 general election was notably linked to what factor concerning AWS?
Answer: An independent candidate ran successfully on an anti-AWS platform.
Explanation: The loss of the Labour seat in Blaenau Gwent during the 2005 general election was significantly linked to the successful campaign of an independent candidate who ran on an anti-all-women shortlist platform.
What criticism did Diane Abbott voice regarding the impact of AWS on ethnic minority representation?
Answer: AWS had inadvertently become 'all white women shortlists,' failing to include ethnic minority women.
Explanation: Diane Abbott expressed criticism that all-women shortlists had inadvertently resulted in 'all white women shortlists,' highlighting their failure to adequately incorporate ethnic minority women into political representation.
What was a primary criticism directed at all-women shortlists?
Answer: They were considered undemocratic and potentially discriminatory against men.
Explanation: A principal criticism leveled against all-women shortlists is that they are perceived as undemocratic and potentially discriminatory against men, as they restrict candidacy based on gender.
The 'zipper quota' system involves alternating male and female candidates on a party's list of preferred candidates.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 'zipper quota' system is characterized by the alternating placement of male and female candidates on a political party's list, ensuring a balanced gender representation in the order of selection.
In Iraq's January 2005 parliamentary elections, the electoral law mandated the compulsory integration of women onto candidate lists.
Answer: True
Explanation: Iraq's electoral legislation for the January 2005 parliamentary elections stipulated the mandatory inclusion of women on candidate lists as a measure to enhance female representation.
South Korea's National Assembly requires women to hold 50% of the seats in single-member constituencies.
Answer: False
Explanation: South Korea's National Assembly requires women to hold 30% of the seats in single-member constituencies, not 50%. The 50% requirement applies to proportionally elected seats.
What does the 'zipper quota' system, mentioned in relation to Scandinavian countries, entail?
Answer: Alternating male and female candidates on party lists.
Explanation: The 'zipper quota' system, observed in contexts like Scandinavian countries, involves the practice of alternating male and female candidates on political party lists to ensure balanced gender representation.
What measure did Iraq adopt in its January 2005 parliamentary elections to enhance female representation?
Answer: Compulsorily including women on candidate lists.
Explanation: In its January 2005 parliamentary elections, Iraq implemented a measure requiring the compulsory inclusion of women on candidate lists, a strategy aimed at increasing female representation.
According to the source, approximately how many Latin American countries have implemented legislative gender quotas?
Answer: Fourteen
Explanation: The source indicates that fourteen Latin American countries have implemented gender quotas within their legislative frameworks.
What challenge impedes the effective implementation of gender quotas in South Korea's National Assembly, according to the text?
Answer: Party leaders can often circumvent the quotas during candidate selection.
Explanation: A significant challenge to the effective implementation of gender quotas in South Korea's National Assembly stems from the candidate selection process, where party leaders possess considerable influence and can circumvent established quotas.
Which Canadian federal political parties initiated targets for female candidates during the 1990s?
Answer: Liberal Party and New Democratic Party (NDP)
Explanation: During the 1990s, the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP) at both federal and provincial levels in Canada began establishing targets to increase the number of female candidates, utilizing informal and internal mechanisms.
In 2020, the Ontario Liberal Party instituted a specific rule concerning candidate nominations. What was this rule?
Answer: A 'Women-only' nomination rule for designated electoral districts.
Explanation: In 2020, the Ontario Liberal Party implemented a 'Women-only Nomination' rule, which permitted the designation of specific electoral districts where only female nomination contestants were eligible to participate in the nomination process.