Key Concepts in Electoral Systems, Political Parties, and Social Movements

Proportional representation

Election system in which the party appoints legislative members proportional to the election results.

Gender quotas

Requirements that a certain percentage of candidates or representatives placed in seats in proportional representation systems be women.

Single-member district, plurality system

Election system in which one candidate with the most votes wins the sole representative seat.

Hybrid (mixed) election system

The use of a combination of single-member district and proportional elections for legislative elections.

Executive election plurality system

Election system in which one candidate wins the election as the sole executive by winning the most votes.

Second round, runoff election system

Election system in which a candidate must win a majority of the vote to secure a position.

Majoritarian rules

Winning candidate must win a majority of the vote.

Multi-party system

When elections feature more than two parties competing for governing power.

Two-party system

When elections feature two major parties competing for governing power.

Dominant party system

When elections allow multiple parties to run, but one major party inevitably wins governing power.

One party system

When only one party is allowed to control governing power even if other parties exist.

Catch-all political parties

Often the dominant party in a dominant party system that earns support from groups with different characteristics.

El dedazo

Metaphor from Mexico describing the nomination process of a new PRI candidate by the outgoing PRI president.

Patronage

Allows government officials to distribute jobs and services in return for voter loyalty.

Social movements

Large groups of people pushing collectively for significant political or social change.

Interest groups

Groups organized to represent and advocate for a specific interest or policy issue.

Grassroots social movements

Exert their power up from the local level to the regional, national, or international level.

Single peak associations (SPAs)

A type of interest group that commonly represents professional or commercial groups.

Political access

Ability to contact government officials to shape policies.