Unit 4- Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

What is the role of electoral rules in different regimes?

Electoral rules can be structured to either allow for competitive selection of representatives or be frequently changed to advance political interests.

How do authoritarian regimes use elections?

Authoritarian regimes hosting elections increase their legitimacy.

What is the correlation between the number of political parties and democracy?

There is a general correlation: more political parties usually indicate a more democratic country.

Describe China’s electoral rules.

The National People’s Congress of China selects members indirectly through a series of local and regional elections.

What type of system does Iran have regarding political parties?

Iran does not have political parties but operates through factions with ideological differences.

What electoral system does Mexico use for its Chamber of Deputies?

300 members are elected in single-member districts by plurality, and an additional 200 members are elected through a proportional representation party list.

How are members elected in Nigeria's Senate?

Three members are directly elected from each of Nigeria's 36 states.

Describe Russia’s changes to state Duma elections.

The Duma has half of its representatives directly elected from single-member districts and the other half chosen through proportional representation with a threshold.

What is the United Kingdom's electoral system for the House of Commons?

Members are directly elected under single-member district, first-past-the-post rules.

Explain the Single Member District Plurality (SMDP) system.

In SMDP, individual districts elect one representative, and whoever wins a plurality wins that district's seat(s).

What is Proportional Representation (PR)?

In PR, parties publish a list and seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes they receive.

What is required for presidential candidates in Nigeria to win?

Candidates must win the most votes and secure at least 25% of the vote in two-thirds of Nigeria's states.

How does the Guardian Council affect elections in Iran?

The Guardian Council vets candidates, limiting electoral competition by excluding reform-minded candidates.

What system did Mexico and Nigeria create to enhance electoral competition?

They created independent election commissions to reduce voter fraud and manipulation.

Describe China's party system.

China has a one-party system dominated by the Communist Party of China with limited power for eight other minor parties.

What was a major feature of Mexico’s political transition from 1946 to 2000?

The elimination of 'el dedazo' and the establishment of the National Electoral Institute (IFE) helped to transition away from one-party dominance.

Describe the party system in Nigeria.

Nigeria's multiparty system includes 30 registered parties, dominated by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

What is characterized as a Dominant party system in Russia?

United Russia dominates the political landscape through increasing regulation that limits opposition.

What role do social movements have in political changes?

Social movements involve large groups advocating for significant political or social change.

What are the differences between interest groups and social movements?

Interest groups are organized to represent specific interests, while social movements advocate for broader social changes.

What is pluralism in the context of interest group representation?

Pluralism promotes competition among autonomous interest groups not linked to the state, common in democratic systems.

What does corporatism in interest group representation entail?

In corporatism, the government controls access to policymaking via state-sanctioned groups, typical in authoritarian systems.