Political Participation and Electoral Systems

Flashcards covering concepts related to political participation, electoral systems, and political parties.

Political Participation

All political actions by groups and individuals intended to influence the action/selection of political rulers.

Direct Participation

Forms of participation including contact with government officials through letters, town hall meetings, etc.

Indirect Participation

Involves party membership or interest groups, such as donating or volunteering.

Protests

Effective forms of political demonstration like street demonstrations, consumer boycotts, and labor strikes.

Voting

The process by which voters communicate their desired candidates and policies during elections.

Electoral Systems

The rules determining how votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in legislatures.

Single Member District Plurality (SMDP)

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a district wins.

Wasted Votes

Votes for candidates who do not win, thereby eliminating representation for those voters.

Proportional Representation (PR)

An electoral system where parties receive seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Mixed Member Systems

A system where voters cast two ballots, one for a candidate in single-member districts and another for a party list.

Ranked Choice Voting

Allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than making a single choice.

Political Cleavage

The emergence of groups of voters displaying similar electoral preferences based on national, ethnic, religious, or social differences.

Party Identification

A long-term attachment to a particular political party, impacting voter behavior and loyalty.

Partisan Dealignment

The weakening of the bond between voters and parties, leading to electoral volatility.

Cadre Party

An early type of political party comprised of elites, often described as caucus parties.

Mass Party

A type of political party that draws in large numbers of people and is funded by its members.

Catch-all Party

A party that works to attract voters with a wide variety of political views and ideologies.

Niche Party

A party appealing to a narrow selection of the electorate, focusing on specific non-economic issues.

Constitutional Party System

A system allowing multiple parties to compete in elections, though one party continues to dominate.

Dominant Party System

A system where multiple parties exist, but one remains in power for an extended period.

Two Party System

A political system where two major parties dominate the political landscape and alternate in power.

Multiparty System

A system where multiple parties exist, none achieving a majority, often reflecting social divisions.

Iron Law of Oligarchy

A principle stating that all forms of organization, including political parties, will eventually be dominated by a small elite.

Closed Primary

An election limited to a party's registered supporters to select candidates for the general election.

Cartel Party

A leading party that exploits its dominance of the political market to maintain its position and limit competition.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's political participation can influence political processes.

Socioeconomic Factors

Factors such as education and income levels that correlate with political engagement.