Comparative Elections Mid

Parliamentary System

A system where the executive (government) is elected by the legislature and can be removed by a vote of the legislature.

Presidential System

A system where the executive is elected by direct vote and cannot be removed by the legislature.

Semi-Presidential System

A political system combining aspects of both parliamentary and presidential systems; features both a president and a prime minister.

Division of Powers in France

The separation of powers between the President, who heads the armed forces and negotiates treaties, and the Prime Minister, who handles domestic affairs.

Unicameral

A legislative system with one legislative house favoring majority decisions, leading to more transparency but fewer points of view.

Bicameral

A legislative system with two houses that can facilitate broader representation but may be less transparent.

Coalition

An agreement between two or more non-majority parties to pool their parliamentary strength to create a majority bloc.

Electoral Threshold

The minimum percentage of votes a party must receive to gain representation in a legislature, primarily used in proportional representation systems.

Strategic Voting

Casting a ballot for a candidate or party believed to have a better chance of winning rather than for a preferred choice.

Primary Elections

Preliminary elections where voters select a party's candidate for a general election, aimed at democratizing candidate selection.

Compulsory Primaries (Argentina)

A system where all parties participate in simultaneous primaries, which excludes parties receiving less than 1.5% of the vote from the main elections.

Plurality/Majority System Primaries

Elections where one candidate is elected, resembling a general election.

PR-List System Primaries

Elections where a list of candidates is chosen, allowing multiple winners.

Participation (voter)

Can lead into either

 -> Legal Disenfranchisement

   -> Voluntary non-participation 

Participation (Candidates)

Can either lead to

-> Systemic obstacle

-> Legal disqualification