Unit 4: Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

Electoral systems and rules

These are the set of laws and regulations that govern the process of electing representatives to public office.

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)

A voting system where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins a seat in parliament. It is a winner-takes-all system that tends to favor larger parties and can result in a disproportionate representation of smaller parties.

Proportional Representation (PR)

A voting system where the number of seats a party wins in parliament is proportional to the number of votes they receive. It aims to provide a more accurate representation of the electorate's views and can result in a greater diversity of parties in parliament.

Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP)

A hybrid voting system that combines elements of FPTP and PR. Voters cast two votes, one for a constituency representative and one for a party. The number of seats a party receives is determined by a combination of the number of constituency seats won and the number of party votes received, with additional seats allocated to ensure proportionality.

Political party systems

This refer to the ways in which political parties are organized and operate within a political system.

One-Party System

A political system where only one political party is legally allowed to hold power and govern the country.

Two-Party System

A political system where two major political parties dominate the political landscape and compete for power through elections.

Multi-Party System

A political system where multiple political parties compete for power and representation in government through elections.

Dominant-Party System

A political system where multiple political parties exist, but one party consistently wins elections and holds power for an extended period of time.

Labour Party - A political party in the United Kingdom that advocates for social democracy and the interests of the working class.

Liberal Democrats

A political party in the United Kingdom that advocates for liberalism, social democracy, and European integration.

Scottish National Party

A political party in Scotland that advocates for Scottish independence and social democracy.

Democratic Unionist Party

A political party in Northern Ireland that advocates for unionism and conservative values.

United Russia

A political party in Russia that advocates for conservatism, Russian nationalism, and support for President Vladimir Putin.

Communist Party of the Russian Federation

A political party in Russia that advocates for communism and the interests of the working class.

Liberal Democratic Party of Russia

A political party in Russia that advocates for liberalism, nationalism, and conservative values.

A Just Russia

A political party in Russia that advocates for social democracy and the interests of the working class.

Communist Party of China

The ruling political party in China that advocates for socialism with Chinese characteristics and the interests of the Chinese people.

Democratic Parties

Political parties that advocate for democracy and democratic values.

Islamic Republic Party

A political party in Iran that advocates for Islamic democracy and the interests of the Islamic Republic.

Reformist Party

A political party in Iran that advocates for reform, democracy, and social justice.

Moderation and Development Party

A political party in Turkey that advocates for moderate Islamism and conservative values.

National Action Party

A political party in Mexico that advocates for conservatism and the interests of the Mexican people.

Institutional Revolutionary Party

A political party in Mexico that advocates for social democracy and the interests of the Mexican people.

Party of the Democratic Revolution

A political party in Mexico that advocates for social democracy, progressivism, and the interests of the Mexican people.

All Progressives Congress

A political party in Nigeria that advocates for progressivism, democracy, and the interests of the Nigerian people.

People's Democratic Party

A political party in Nigeria that advocates for social democracy and the interests of the Nigerian people.

All Progressives Grand Alliance

A political party in Nigeria that advocates for progressivism, democracy, and the interests of the Nigerian people.

social movement

a group of people who come together to promote or resist a social change.

Interest groups

These are organizations that seek to influence public policy on behalf of a particular interest or group.

Civil Rights Movement

A social movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s that aimed to end racial discrimination and segregation against African Americans.

Women's Suffrage Movement

A political movement in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries that fought for women's right to vote and equality under the law.

Anti-Apartheid Movement

A global movement against racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa, which lasted from the 1940s to the 1990s.

Arab Spring Movement

A series of protests and uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa that began in 2010, calling for democracy, human rights, and social justice.

National Rifle Association (NRA)

A powerful lobbying group in the United States that advocates for gun rights and opposes gun control.

American Medical Association (AMA)

A professional organization for physicians in the United States that works to promote public health and advance the medical profession.

Sierra Club

A grassroots environmental organization in the United States that works to protect wilderness areas and promote conservation.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

A nonprofit organization in the United States that advocates for the rights and interests of older Americans.

Pluralism

a theory that suggests that power in society is distributed among various groups and interests.

Corporatism

a theory that suggests that power in society is concentrated in a few large interest groups that work closely with government.