Unit 4: Party & Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations Cartes | Quizlet

catch-all party

a party that takes ideologically diverse, usually middle-of-the-road, positions to capture as many voters as possible

corporatism

a system in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize

electoral system

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

"first past the post" (FPTP)

an election rule in an SMD system in which the candidate with a plurality of votes wins a seat in the legislature

grassroots movement

citizens at the local level banding together to advocate for a cause

interest group

an association of individuals or businesses that attempts to influence government

mandate

the broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies

mixed electoral system

a system for electing members of the legislature that includes both single member districts and seats awarded through proportional representation

multimember district (MMD) system

a method for electing members of a legislature in which two or more representatives are elected from a district

multiparty system

a party system in which more than two parties can win a national election and control the government

one-party state

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

party system

the number of and strength of political parties within a country

pluralism

a system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside government control

plurality

the most votes, but not necessarily a majority

proportional representation (PR) system

a system for electing members of the legislature in which seats are awarded according to the percentage of votes a party receives

runoff election

a second and final election held between the top two vote-getters when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first round of voting

single member district (SMD) system

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

single-peak association

an organization that brings together all interest groups in a particular sector to influence and negotiate agreements with the government

social movement

a group that has a loosely defined organizational structure and seeks major socioeconomic or political change through collective action

two-party system

a party system in which only two parties are able to garner enough votes to win an election, although more may compete

Countries with a plurality system

Mexico

Countries with a two round system

Russia, Nigeria & Iran

Countries that use a mixed system

Mexico, Russia, Iran

Process for National People's Congress of China

members selected indirectly through a series of local and regional elections.

Process for Majles

members directly elected in single-member and multimember districts, which sometimes requires a second round of voting; Guardian Council vets all candidates

Process for Duma

half of the representatives are directly elected from single-member districts and the other half are chosen through elections that use proportional representation with a threshold

Process for National Assembly

House of Representatives are directly elected in single-member districts with representatives from each of Nigeria's states; the number of representatives elected from each state is based on population size, whereas the Senate has three members directly elected from each of Nigeria's 36 states

Process for Congress of the Union

the Chamber of Deputies, which has 300 members directly elected in single-member districts by plurality and an additional 200 members elected by a proportional representation, party list system, while the Chamber of Senators, which has 96 members elected in three- seat constituencies and 32 by proportional representation

Mexico's requirements for party lists

Uses gender quotas to increase female representation

UK Parliament

House of Commons members are directly elected under single-member district, first-past-the-post rules; House of Lords is an appointment process

how election rules serve different regimes

increase the legitimacy, authority or power of the regime

independent election commissions

the goal in Mexico and Nigeria has been to use these to increase democratization and legitimize the election process

Countries with a one-party state

China

Countries with a dominant party system

Russia; formerly Mexico

Duverger's Law

SMD electoral systems result in a two party system, because only two major parties can successfully compete for control of government, while smaller parties never gain enough support to be competitive for control of government

Communist Party of China

ruling party of China; minor parties have limited power to fill minor political offices

United Russia

Dominant political party in Russia formed in 2001. Currently holds a large majority of seats in the State Duma, along with many other top elected and appointed positions. Considered to be the party of Putin, it focuses on self-described "Russian conservatism", statism, and Russian nationalism

People's Democratic Party (PDP)

one of Nigeria's two major parties

All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APC)

second of Nigeria's two major parties; currently controls executive branch

Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

political party that dominated Mexico's government for much of the 1900s

Morena (National Regeneration Movement)

New leftist political party formed by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a two-time presidential candidate for the PRD; currently holds the presidency and large % of the legislature

National Action Party (PAN)

A Mexican political party that emerged to compete with the PRI in the 1990s. Its leader, Vincente Fox, argued for free markets, fewer tariffs, and a privatization of the Mexican government's oil company.

Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)

Mexican liberal opposition party founded in 1989, center-left to left-wing on the political spectrum focusing on social democracy and economic nationalism.

Conservative party

Britain's most important right-of-center party, in power more often than not for two centuries.

Labour party

British political party founded in 1900 with the help of trade unions to represent the interests of the urban working class; currently in power

Reform UK

A right-wing populist political party in the UK; Nigel Farage is MP

Guardian Council

Iranian appointed body that vets candidates for office and can overturn legislation

Russian Federation Council

Upper house of legislature whereby members are appointed by the governors of each federation.

House of Lords

the upper house of the British parliament consisting of the aristocracy and appointed members. They can veto legislation.

Green Movement (Iran)

a political movement that arose after the 2009 Iranian presidential election, in which protesters demanded the removal of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from office

Zapatistas (Mexico)

uprising in Mexico in response to socioeconomic inequality (indigenous population) and the negative impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

MEND (Nigeria)

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, a militant group in Nigeria.

MOSOP (Nigeria)

is an umbrella organization representing about 700,000 Ogoni in a non-violent campaign for environmental justice in the Niger Delta.

Boko Haram (Nigeria)

a Nigerian militant Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Shariah law throughout all 36 states of Nigeria

centrifugal party

Parties or movements that push the political system away from the center, emphasizing differences and divisions within society.

centripetal party

Parties or coalitions that draw different groups together, emphasizing national unity, moderation, and stability. Sometimes called “catch all parties”