POLS3311 FINAL

Closed list proportional representation

A voting system in which political parties present a pre-determined list of candidates to voters; seats are allocated to each party according to the proportion of votes they receive, and voters cannot influence the order of candidates on the list

Open list proportional representation

A voting system that allows voters to select individual candidates from a party's list, giving them direct influence over which candidates are elected instead of following a fixed order

Alternative vote

An electoral system where voters rank candidates in order of preference; if no candidate receives a simple majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to remaining candidates until one candidate achieves a majority

Mixed electoral system

A dual electoral structure that combines majoritarian and proportional representation elements; voters typically cast two votes: one for a candidate in a single-member district and another for a political party, resulting in a balanced representation of interests

Natural threshold

An implicit minimum level of support that a political party must achieve in order to gain representation in the legislature; this threshold arises from the mechanics of the electoral system rather than being an explicit rule

Formal threshold

An explicit minimum percentage of votes or seats required for a political party to qualify for representation in the legislature, typically defined within the electoral law itself

Presidential democracy

A system of government where the president is elected independently of the legislature and holds significant powers, with the administration able to govern without needing legislative majority support

Parliamentary democracy

A democratic system where the executive branch derives its legitimacy from and is held accountable to the legislature (parliament), typically led by a prime minister who is elected from within this legislative body

Semi-presidential democracy

A hybrid form of government that incorporates elements of both presidential and parliamentary systems

Vote of no confidence

A legislative vote that may be initiated by the parliament to remove the executive; if the government fails to secure majority support in this vote, it is obligated to resign

Constructive vote of no confidence

A specific type of no confidence vote where the legislature must propose an alternative government that is ready to take office if the incumbent government is ousted, ensuring continuity of governance

Minority government

A government formed by a political party or coalition that does not hold a majority of legislative seats; often reliant on support from other parties to govern effectively

Surplus majority government

An arrangement where the governing coalition includes more parties than are necessary to secure a majority of legislative seats, often aimed at enhancing stability and reducing potential conflicts

Legislative responsibility

A principle that allows the legislature to remove a government from office without needing to provide a cause; this structure reflects the accountability of the executive to the legislature

Investiture vote

A formal process in the legislature used to determine whether a proposed government can officially take office, generally requiring a majority vote in favor for approval

Formateur

An individual designated to negotiate and form a government in a parliamentary system, typically the leader of the party winning the most votes in an election and tasked with assembling a viable coalition

Office-seeking politician

A politician primarily motivated by the desire to attain and maintain power or governmental office; this focus is often on the benefits and opportunities that come with holding office

Policy-seeking politician

A politician whose main objective is to influence and contribute to the shaping of public policy; this individual prioritizes ideological commitments and policy outcomes over simply holding office

Minimal winning coalition (MWC)

A coalition comprised solely of parties that are essential to retaining a majority in the legislature, with surplus parties excluded to create a more streamlined alliance that reduces unnecessary complexities

Least minimal winning coalition

The smallest possible version of a minimal winning coalition that still maintains the majority; this coalition contains the fewest surplus seats possible beyond those required to win

Connected coalition

A coalition formed by parties whose policy positions are closely aligned or contiguous within the political spectrum, facilitating cooperation and collective action within legislative processes

Presidential decree

An official order issued by the president that possesses the force of law; these decrees allow for policy implementation without requiring legislative approval and can be used to expedite governmental action

Portfolio coalition

A coalition composed of members from different political parties within a legislative body that comes together to support specific policies or legislative initiatives, leading to resultant political stability

Legislative coalition

A strategic alliance formed among members of the legislature who unite to support common legislative goals or secure the passage of particular pieces of legislation, often enhancing the power of minority parties

District magnitude

The number of representatives elected from a single electoral district

Majoritarian electoral system

An electoral structure designed to yield a clear majority winner

Single-member district plurality

A voting system by which the candidate who receives the most votes in a single-member electoral district is elected, frequently leading to the dominance of major political parties and minimizing competition from smaller parties

Single non-transferable vote

An electoral system used in multi-member districts, where each voter casts a single vote; this vote cannot be transferred to another candidate, resulting in multiple winners being elected within the district

Majority runoff two-round system

An electoral procedure where if no candidate achieves a majority in the first voting round, a second round is held among the top candidates to ensure that the eventual winner secures an absolute majority of votes

Proportional representation system

An electoral framework aimed at translating the percentage of votes received by political parties into a corresponding percentage of seats held in the legislature

Cross-cutting cleavages

Social divisions that intersect in multiple ways, resulting in varied and complex groupings; these connections can diminish the isolating impacts of any single cleavage on political behavior and affiliations

Reinforcing cleavages

Social divisions that align and strengthen each other, leading to more polarized groups within society that can significantly influence political processes, voting patterns, and party alignments

Duverger’s Law

A political theory suggesting that electoral systems based on single-member district plurality encourage the emergence of two dominant political parties while marginalizing smaller parties in the political landscape

Duverger’s theory

A broader political theory positing that the number of political parties in a system is influenced by both social cleavages and the rules governing electoral systems, shaping the context of party competition and stability

Mechanical effects of electoral laws

The tangible impacts of electoral rules on the translation of votes into legislative seats; these mechanics can advantage larger political parties while disadvantaging smaller ones, shaping overall election outcomes

Strategic effects of electoral laws

The influences that electoral laws exert on voter behavior and political strategies; these laws can alter the choices of voters and political elites, as they anticipate how votes will be converted into seats in the legislature

Federal state

A political entity where sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and various constituent political units; this distribution of power allows for a framework of governance that accommodates regional diversity

Congruent federalism

A form of federalism in which territorial units maintain similar demographic characteristics, promoting uniform policy-making and governance practices across those units and minimizing disparities between regions

Incongruent federalism

A type of federal structure characterized by significant demographic differences among territorial units, often leading to unique political dynamics and presenting challenges in policy formulation and implementation

Symmetric federalism

A federal governance model in which all constituent political units possess equal powers and autonomy relative to the central government; this symmetry encourages equality and balance among regions

Asymmetric federalism

A variant of federalism where some regions or states are granted different degrees of autonomy and powers, often due to historical, cultural, or demographic differences that necessitate tailored governance models

Capabilities approach

A theoretical framework that evaluates political systems based on their ability to promote the characteristics of a 'good society'; this approach focuses on enhancing individuals' capabilities to achieve their potential and improve well-being

Corporatist interest group system

A political system in which organized interest groups, often representing specific sectors of society, engage in negotiations with the government to influence policy based on collective interests, ensuring that major groups are included in decision-making processes

Pluralist interest group system

A political environment that permits multiple organized interest groups to compete for influence over public policy; this competition reflects a diversity of opinions and interests, fostering dialogue and debate in the political sphere

Universal entitlements (social policy)

A social policy framework that guarantees all citizens access to certain benefits or services regardless of their individual income or needs; this universal accessibility aims to ensure equity in fundamental rights and services

Social insurance (social policy)

A system of welfare programs designed to provide economic security and assistance through government-funded initiatives, often predicated on individual contributions and aimed at safeguarding citizens from financial risks

Means tested public assistance (social policy)

A welfare approach where access to benefits is determined based on income and assets; means testing enables tailored assistance targeting those who need support the most in society

Power-sharing (ethnically divided societies)

A governance strategy aimed at resolving conflict in ethnically divided societies, where multiple groups negotiate the distribution of power among themselves ensuring that no single group dominates the political landscape

Resource curse

A phenomenon where nations rich in natural resources, such as oil or minerals, tend to experience poorer economic growth and governance outcomes compared to those with fewer natural resources, often leading to corruption and mismanagement