AP COGO 4.1-4.2 Terms

Electoral system

The formal rules and procedures for selecting the executive or members of the legislature

Mandate

The broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies

Runoff election

A second and final election held between the top two vote-getters when no candidate has won the majority

Multimember district system (MMD)

A system for selecting the members of the legislature where 2 or more candidates are elected from a district

Single-member district system (SMD)

A system for electing members of the legislature where the candidate who wins the most votes in a district earns a seat in the legislature

• UK

Plurality

The most votes, but not necessarily the majority

First-past-the-post (FPTP)

An election rule in the SMD system where the candidate with a plurality of votes wins a seat

• UK, Nigeria (Legislature)

Proportional representation system (PR)

A system for electing members of the legislature where seats are awarded based on the percentage of votes a party receives

• Mexico (Legislature), Russia (State Duma)

Mixed electoral system

A system for electing members of the legislature that includes aspects of both the SMD and PR systems

• Russia, Iran

One-party system

A country where only one party is allowed to control the government

• China

Dominant party system

A party system where multiple parties exist, but one party dominates the executive and wins most of the seats in the legislature

• Russia

Two-party system

A party system where only 2 parties are able to garner enough votes to win an election, although more may compete

Multiparty system

A party system where more than 2 parties can win a national election and control the government

• Mexico, UK, Nigeria

Catch-all party

A party that takes ideologically diverse positions to capture as many voters as possible

Duverger’s law

A theory that states in political systems with single-member districts and the plurality voting system, two main parties tend to emerge